Kiss The Barista Cafe

Kiss The Barista Cafe sits right on the waterfront at Sanoni Avenue, Sandringham, looking across the Georges River towards Botany Bay. It is the cafe the bayside walking crowd ends up at, and it earns its place on this list honestly: dogs are welcome across the outdoor, undercover and terrace seating, so you get the water views without leaving your dog at home. Doors open 5:30am to 4pm, every day.

The dog setup

Dogs settle with you in the outdoor and terrace areas, where the water views carry. Staff are used to canine regulars and water bowls are typically provided outside. The cafe sits directly beside a busy shared pedestrian and cycle path, so keep leads short and your dog close when the bikes and runners come through in bunches. Under Bayside Council rules, dogs also need to stay within 10 metres of food outlets only when passing through, so the table is the right place to be.

Worth knowing

The menu runs wider than the average beachfront kiosk: eggs benedict, bacon and egg rolls, pancakes and loaded croissants for breakfast, then burgers, steak sandwiches, salad bowls and a fisherman's basket for lunch, with Lebanese-style dishes in the mix. Smoothies, iced matchas and a solid coffee list cover the drinks side. It is a casual, busy room that draws locals, cyclists and dog walkers in roughly equal numbers.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking is available in nearby streets and the adjacent parkland, though it fills quickly on sunny weekends. On foot, the cafe sits directly on the bayside walking path, an easy ride or stroll from Sans Souci or Taren Point. Arrive early on weekends; the undercover terrace is the prime dog-friendly spot and it goes first when the sun is out.

Close by with the dogs

For an off-leash run after breakfast, the Bona Park Off-leash Dog Area in Sans Souci has a fenced section a few minutes away. Sandringham Harbour Dog Beach is close by for a swim, and the Sans Souci Beach Walking Path continues east along the water for a leashed cool-down. If you are cafe-hopping the bayside strip, Sandy Kiosk is another waterfront dog-friendly option.

More picks are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Sandringham destination page.

Max: that cycle path runs right past the front tables. Keep your lead short and your dog seated close, especially when bikes and runners come through in bunches.