ickle coffee

ickle coffee is a specialty roaster on Kingsgrove Road run by sisters Rowena and Kate, and it has quietly become the dog cafe of Sydney's inner southwest. The coffee is ethically sourced and roasted on site, and the welcome for four-legged visitors is the sort that gets a cafe talked about well beyond its suburb.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the covered outdoor patio and, unusually, inside the venue too, so a hot or stormy day does not force a choice between your coffee and your dog's comfort. Water bowls sit ready, and the counter keeps kangaroo chew treats for canine customers. Staff actively make a fuss of the dogs that come through, which sounds like marketing until you watch it happen twice in one visit. Keep a leash on and your dog settled; the space is small and the roaster equipment is right there.

The vibe

The room is artsy and casual, and the food menu punches above its size: Tuga pastries, toasties, avocado toast, kimchi toast, a prawn roll and a gingery chicken congee that regulars order on instinct. Weekend hours run 8am to 2pm, weekdays 7am to 3pm, and it trades seven days. It gets busy, but the queue moves.

Max: Take the inside table if it's offered. Few Kingsgrove cafes can say your dog can cool off indoors with you.

Getting there and parking

The address is 251 Kingsgrove Road, with free street parking usually findable on the main road or side streets. Kingsgrove Station on the T8 Airport line is a short walk, which makes the pre-train coffee run realistic.

Pair it with

Kingsgrove Avenue Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the natural companion stop for an off-lead session either side of your table. If you are working the local coffee circuit, Maison Du Cafe and Frank & Chitch in Earlwood are both dog-owning territory too.

Browse more dog friendly cafes in NSW or start from dog friendly Kingsgrove.