HUNGRY BIRD CAFE - Nicholls, Canberra

Hungry Bird Cafe occupies a corner of Federation Square in Gold Creek Village, at A1/18 O'Hanlon Place in Nicholls, and opens daily from 9am to 4pm. The veranda seating sits right on the village walkway, and dogs are welcome at those outdoor tables, which makes it a natural stop when you are wandering Gold Creek's shops and galleries with a dog on the leash.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outdoors on the veranda, leashed and settled beside your table. The outdoor area is shared with other diners in a fairly compact square, so a calm settle matters more here than at a big open-air courtyard. Water bowls are commonly available around Gold Creek Village, but ask the staff on arrival if you do not see one out; they are generally accommodating with dogs at the tables.

The vibe

This is hearty brunch food rather than delicate plates: the spicy calamari has a following, the eggs benny is a regular order, and the brekkie roll and thick milkshakes cover the rest of the table. There is a kids menu, which combined with the village setting makes it a popular family booking, so the veranda fills on weekends. Later morning on a weekday is the quiet window.

Getting there and parking

Gold Creek Village has plentiful free parking in its car parks and along O'Hanlon Place, so you will not circle for a spot even on weekends. From the car park it is a short on-leash walk through the square to the veranda.

Close by with the dogs

Before breakfast, Franklin Dog Park is a few minutes south for an off-leash run, with Springbank Rise Dog Park as the western Gungahlin alternative. After coffee, the Yerrabi Pond Loop makes a flat, leashed leg-stretch. For other dog-tolerant tables in the village, LAA Cafe and pulp. bookcafe are both worth a look.

More options are listed in the ACT dog friendly cafes guide and on the Nicholls destination page.