Bite Me Bakehouse

Bite Me Bakehouse sits on the Pacific Highway in Mount Colah, at the entry to the Berowra side of the Hawkesbury bushland, and it is a bakery built around its pies rather than a typical brunch cafe. The dog appeal is straightforward: an outdoor seating area out the front where pups are welcome, a bucket of free dog treats often parked at the door and water bowls on request. For anyone walking the bush tracks nearby, it is the natural refuelling stop.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables; indoors is for service only. The treat bucket at the front door is the signature touch and regulars bring their dogs specifically for it, though it is worth checking it has been restocked on a quiet day. Water bowls are typically available, and staff will refill on request. Keep your dog leashed at the table, since the outdoor area fronts the Pacific Highway and the foot traffic includes trucks stopping in.

Worth knowing

The pies are the headline: pepper steak, chicken and mushroom and satay are the ones reviewers keep naming, alongside solid sausage rolls and a sweet cabinet with neenish tarts. Coffee is respectable rather than specialty, which is fine, because most people are here for the bakery. Hours are early, 5:30am weekdays, 6am Saturday and 7:30am Sunday through to 2pm, making it a genuine dawn-stop for anyone heading into the national park early.

Getting there and parking

The bakehouse is on the Pacific Highway at Mount Colah, just off the M1 exit, with parking directly out front. That same position makes it an easy first or last stop for drives up to Berowra or along the Old Pacific Highway.

Close by with the dogs

Asquith Park's fenced dog park is a few minutes south for off-lead time, and Cafe minamisan at Asquith is a dog-friendly sit-down option nearby. Across in Hornsby, Brewhaha covers the specialty-coffee end of the corridor.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Mount Colah destination page, with the state list in the NSW cafes index.