Curio Press Espresso Bar

Curio Press Espresso Bar sits on Wendouree Drive on the Lake Burley Griffin shore, right beside heritage-listed Blundells Cottage. It is a pit stop built for people who are already outside: walkers, cyclists and a steady local dog crowd who treat the shaded deck as the coffee half of a morning lap of the lake.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor deck and the grassy surrounds, with shaded tables under the trees along the water. The inside of the kiosk stays people-only, and research around the venue suggests it does not run a dedicated dog menu, so take the bring-your-own water bowl approach to be safe on a warm day. It is an open, popular spot, so a dog comfortable with foot traffic settles best here.

Worth knowing

The draw is simple, good cafe food done well: scrolls and pastries, toasted sandwiches, gelato from the bar in warmer months and a well-regarded coffee, all with the lake in front of you. Hours run from 6am daily, early enough to catch the sunrise crowd. Weekend mornings are the busiest stretch, when the deck and nearby parking fill with walkers and riders.

Getting there and parking

Wendouree Drive is reached off Parkes Way or Constitution Avenue on the lake's central-north shore. Free parking sits close by, the shared walking and cycle paths run right past the door, and there are bike racks if you ride in.

Close by with the dogs

The foreshore path is steps away for an on-lead lap, Commonwealth Park is a short stroll west, and the lawns towards Rond Terrace give open grass for a stretch. On the same lake edge, Margot Espresso Bar and Walter Cafe are other local pours, and Lager House by Capital Brewing Co covers the post-walk lunch slot.

More options are on the ACT dog friendly cafes guide and the Parkes destination page.

Max: lap of the lake, scroll under the trees, paws on the grass. The cottage has seen worse mornings.