Paper Run Espresso

Paper Run Espresso is a bright neighbourhood cafe on Ridge Street in Merewether, set in the old Merewether newsagency, with dog-friendly street-side tables out front. It opens at 6am every day, which puts it among the earliest coffee stops in Newcastle and makes it a natural first stop on a beach walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor, street-side seating; the indoor dining room is people-only. Water bowls are usually available on request, so ask at the counter, and pack your own on hot days. The footpath tables sit on a quiet residential street rather than a main road, which keeps things relaxed for a settled dog.

The vibe

Reviewers rate the espresso, the quick service and the brunch menu, with avocado toast, acai bowls, brekkie wraps and toasties among the regular picks, and the online ordering keeps the pre-work queue moving. Milk alternatives extend to options like tigernut, which tells you the coffee program takes itself seriously. It closes early in the afternoon, so this is a breakfast-and-lunch venue, not an afternoon one.

Getting there

The cafe is at 59 Ridge Street, tucked into the Merewether backstreets. Street parking is available on Ridge Street and the surrounding residential blocks, and it is an easy walk down from the higher streets towards the beach.

Pair it with

The Merewether Dog Off-Leash Area is the local spot for off-lead time, and Merewether Beach is a short walk downhill for a leashed leg-stretch on the sand. The Bathers Way to Newcastle coastal path starts right here if the dog wants a long one. Sunnyboy Kiosk by the beach and Frothers Espresso cover the other ends of the suburb.

More options around the Hunter are on the NSW cafes page, and everything local is listed under Merewether.