The Hideout Cafe EST. 2016

The Hideout Cafe has fed Old Toongabbie from its corner on Bogalara Road since 2016, and it has grown into a local institution on the strength of Lebanese-style home cooking and solid all-day breakfast. The dog angle is simple and workable: dogs are welcome in the outdoor and footpath seating, which is where most people sit anyway.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor, undercover and footpath seating areas; indoor tables are for humans only. Much of the seating sits under roller blinds that can be dropped in bad weather, so a drizzly morning does not necessarily cancel the visit. Keep your dog on a lead and out of the staff pathways, and the team will bring a water bowl if you ask. The corner is a quiet suburban strip rather than a main road, which keeps the footpath tables relaxed even with dogs around.

The vibe

The cooking leans on "Tayta" (grandma) recipes, with the Lebanese Big Brekky, labneh bruschetta, eggs benedict and fish tacos drawing repeat orders, plus gluten free pizza for later arrivals. Coffee runs on Portioli beans imported from Rome. Portions are generous, service is unhurried, and the crowd mixes locals, tradies and families. Hours run 6:30am to 2:30pm weekdays, from 7am Saturdays and 8am Sundays, so it is a breakfast-and-brunch operation rather than an afternoon one.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at 58A Bogalara Road in a quiet residential pocket. Free street parking is easy along the surrounding streets, and there is a small car park on site. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Close by with the dogs

Pair breakfast with a run beforehand at Barnett Park Fenced Dog Park in Winston Hills or Burlington Memorial Park Fenced Dog Park at Northmead, both a short drive away. The Pemulwuy Loop adds an on-lead walk option nearby, and Coffee Embassy Bar is an alternative coffee stop. More options sit under NSW cafes and around Old Toongabbie.

Pepsi: I sat under the roller blinds, got a water bowl on request, and watched eggs benedict go past for an hour.