Piccolo Me Greenway (Canberra)

Piccolo Me Greenway sits in the South.Point shopping centre on Anketell Street, in the middle of the Tuggeranong town centre and a short walk from the shore of Lake Tuggeranong. It is a quick, casual coffee stop where the outdoor tables take dogs, and the coffee itself has built the venue a genuine following among locals.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, with the interior left for service animals. Seating is geared to fast, casual dining, so there is room to settle a dog beside your table without blocking the flow of shoppers; carry your own water bowl to be sure, as bowls at the table vary by shift. There is no dedicated dog menu at this branch, though it costs nothing to ask when you order.

The vibe

The pull here is coffee first: well-regarded cappuccinos and signature hot chocolates, plus a menu that leans indulgent, from loaded pancakes and waffles to burgers, fries and the much-requested hangover roll. Reviews consistently single out the friendly, energetic staff, which suits a grab-and-go stop as much as a sit-down lunch.

Max: decent flat white, quick service, and nobody minded the dog waiting by the table.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at Unit 229/150 Anketell Street in the South.Point precinct. Parking is public and time-limited across the Greenway shopping district, and it is a short walk from the lake foreshore. Hours run Tuesday and Wednesday 7am to 2.30pm, Thursday 9am to 2.30pm, Friday 6.30am to 2.30pm, and weekends 8am to 3.30pm; it is closed Mondays.

Make a day of it

Pair the stop with a lap of the Lake Tuggeranong loop, an on-lead walk that starts from the foreshore close by. For an off-lead run, the fenced Greenway Dog Park on Mortimer Lewis Drive has separate sections for large and small dogs, shade under mature eucalypts and water taps. Under ACT rules, dogs stay on lead on shared paths, you must carry a leash at all times even in off-lead zones, and waste has to go in the bins provided.

If you are making a morning of Tuggeranong, the Wonder by Alice crowd and the rest of the ACT dog-friendly cafes list are worth a look, and everything around the lake sits under the Greenway guide.