The General Sherman (TGS)

The General Sherman (TGS) is a trendy cafe and licensed bar tucked under the Wexford Medical Centre in Murdoch's health precinct, and it has become the de facto dog stop for the precinct's shift workers and visitors. Shady footpath-level seating is where leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

The dog setup

Aim for the outdoor tables, where dogs on a lead are expected and the staff are used to them. Reports of dogs being allowed inside vary, so treat the footpath as the plan and anything else as a bonus. There is no dog menu, so bring a collapsible bowl and keep your dog close and seated: these pathways carry heavy medical-centre foot traffic and the gaps between tables are tight.

Max: park your dog against the wall side, not the walkway. The footpath gets a steady stream of prams and wheelchairs.

The vibe

Specialty coffee and cold brews by day, cocktails, beer and wine by the evening close, and a food menu that runs well past cafe standards: a signature double-beef burger, truffle fungi bruschetta, crispy chicken katsu and poke bowls, with big servings the regulars mention. It opens early on weekdays, six o'clock, which makes it a practical pre-shift or pre-appointment stop, and Saturdays run eight to two. Sundays it is closed.

Getting there and parking

The address is 2/3 Barry Marshall Parade, Murdoch. The Murdoch Health Care car park via Gate 2 on Barry Marshall Parade typically gives 30 minutes free, and street parking is around though it gets busy. Murdoch train station is an easy walk.

Close by with the dogs

After coffee, the Piney Lakes Dog Play Park and the adjoining Piney Lakes Reserve Off Leash Dog Park at Winthrop are a few minutes away for a proper run. The Little Parry covers the Bull Creek side, and the South Perth Foreshore makes a good longer walk if you are heading back toward the river.

More options are on the Western Australia dog friendly cafes guide and the Murdoch destination page.