The Penny Royal

The Penny Royal at 563 Military Road is a small, trendy brunch spot on the Mosman strip, known for its leafy wall mural, Campos coffee and a Vietnamese-influenced menu. The footpath tables take dogs, so it suits a quick brunch on a neighbourhood walk rather than a long, sprawling sit.

The dog setup

Dogs stay with you at the outdoor footpath seating under the awning; the cafe is small, so indoors is people-only. Staff have a good name with local dog owners, but the tables are tight and the strip fills at brunch, so a large or nervous dog is better off brought outside peak times. No dog menu and no guaranteed bowls, so carry your own water.

On the menu

Campos beans are pulled for the flat whites and lattes, and the food leans Vietnamese: spicy beef pho, rice paper rolls and pulled pork options sit alongside breakfast staples like banana bread, toast with inventive toppings and bacon and egg rolls. Doors open 6am weekdays and 7am on weekends, winding down mid-afternoon.

Getting there

Street parking on Military Road is strictly timed, so use the side streets such as Belmont Road or Bradleys Head Road, or the nearby council car parks, and walk in with the dog. Buses along Military Road stop near the Avenue Road intersection.

Max: It is a tight footpath setup that fills at brunch. Time it for off-peak and take the table at the end so your dog is not in the through-traffic.

While you're out there

Rawson Park is the closest green for an on-lead stretch, and the harbour-side dog areas of Mosman are a short drive away. On the same strip, Heirloom Specialty Coffee and Chaos Cafe both take dogs at outdoor tables if the footpath here is full.

Best outside the weekend brunch peak. Good for a small, settled dog that handles close quarters and passing prams.