Silver Beach Cafe, Post Office & Newsagency

The Silver Beach Cafe, Post Office and Newsagency sits at 152 Prince Charles Parade on the Kurnell peninsula, directly across from Silver Beach with the Botany Bay outlook running across to La Perouse and the city. It is a casual, family-run spot that doubles as the local post office, which makes it as much neighbourhood fixture as beach cafe.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the undercover outdoor tables out front, which face the beach so you can keep an eye on your dog while you eat. Inside is limited to service animals, so keep dogs to the exterior seating. If a bowl is not out, there is a water fountain across the road at the dog beach entry. The on-leash coastal path runs right past the cafe, so a leash stays on unless you head to the designated off-leash stretch.

The vibe

Unfussy beachfront: coffee, bacon and egg rolls, brekky wraps, burgers and fish and chips, served from 7am. Weekends bring the swim-and-walk crowd and it gets busy; midweek is noticeably more relaxed. Doors close earliest on weekends (2pm), so morning is your window on Saturdays and Sundays.

Getting there and parking

Kurnell sits at the eastern tip of the Sutherland Shire, reached via Captain Cook Drive. Free street parking runs along Prince Charles Parade with more spaces along the beachfront, and the area is flat and easy for strollers and wheelchairs.

Close by with the dogs

The Silver Beach dog off-leash section sits between the third and fourth groynes at the Bonna Point end, a short way along the parade. Note it is a defined section, not the whole beach, so check the council signs before unclipping. The Kurnell Milkhouse is a nearby alternative for coffee. More dog-friendly cafes in NSW or plan the trip via Kurnell.

Best midweek morning: an off-leash run at the groynes, then an outdoor table with the bay in front of you.