The Shack(Monterey)

The Shack is a wholefoods cafe on Barton Street in Monterey, a short walk back from the Cook Park beachfront. The draw for dog owners is the rear courtyard: a leafy, gated backyard where dogs are welcome, complete with garden beds and a resident chicken coop that gives the place a country feel in the middle of a suburban street.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor courtyard, and regulars mention being able to close the gate and let a calm dog settle without a lead held tight the whole visit. Keep a leash handy anyway, particularly with the chooks just metres away, and leave the indoor dining room for people. Water bowls are usually available on request. Weekend mornings fill quickly with the beach-walking crowd, so a table near the gate early is the move; weekdays are a much quieter session.

Worth knowing

The kitchen leans organic and wholefood: vegan and vegetarian plates, keto options, protein-heavy breakfasts and a strong smoothie and juice list, with generous portions that keep locals coming back. Coffee is robust rather than precious. Hours are 6:30am to 4pm seven days, which makes it workable for early beach walks and late-ish lunches alike.

Getting there and parking

The address is 83 Barton Street, Monterey. Free street parking runs along Barton Street and the surrounding residential blocks, generally easy on weekdays and tighter on sunny weekends when everyone is heading for the water.

While you are out there

The Monterey foreshore and Cook Park are a short stroll away for an on-lead walk before or after. For off-lead time, the Bona Park Off-leash Dog Area at Sans Souci is just up the river, and the Sans Souci Beach Walking Path is a good long-walk option. Further south, Roca Cafe Pink at Ramsgate is another dog-friendly table.

More stops are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Monterey destination page.

Pepsi: A gated yard, chickens for entertainment and a smoothie for the human. I rate this stop five chooks.