Sandy Beachouse & General Store

The Sandy Beachouse and General Store sits directly opposite Sandy Beach on the Coffs Coast, running as a cafe, takeaway and general store in one, and the single detail that matters to dog owners is this: dogs are welcome both in the sun-soaked courtyard and inside the premises. You can walk up from the beach and order without tying anyone to a railing outside. Fish tacos, fish burgers, milkshakes and a banana chai do the rest.

The dog setup

Dogs are permitted in the courtyard and indoors, with water bowls provided and blankets often on offer on cooler days. There is no fee. The give is that indoors is a shared space, so keep your dog close and settled at the table with the lead loose but attached, and manage them responsibly around other customers. On a fine day the courtyard is the easy choice, with the beach across the road for a before-or-after stroll.

The vibe

Good coffee, locally sourced items and quick breakfast and lunch plates make it the post-beach-walk anchor for this stretch of coast, with an ocean view from the tables and a children's playground opposite that keeps the whole family equation simple. It opens daily from 6:45am and closes at 2:30pm, so it is a breakfast-and-lunch operation; arrive before 2pm or the kitchen is done.

Getting there and parking

The address is 42 Sandy Beach Drive, Sandy Beach NSW, between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga. Free street parking runs along Sandy Beach Drive, and the venue is easily walkable from the beach pathway. Mid-morning after the early coffee rush eases is the comfortable time to turn up with a dog.

Close by with the dogs

Sandy Beach itself is across the road, though leash restrictions apply near the access gate for the first 20 to 30 metres, so stay clipped on until you clear that zone. For a proper off-leash run, the Emerald Beach Dog Beach is a short drive north, and for a dog-friendly pub meal later in the day the Moonee Beach Hotel is the local option.

More options are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Sandy Beach destination page.

Max: Fish taco for them, water bowl already on the table for me, beach across the road. This is a proper dog stop.