Ape Cafe

Ape Cafe sits on The Grand Parade in Sans Souci, directly across the road from the beach and the waterside walking path. It has built a strong local following on the strength of its coffee, a serious brunch board and a genuinely dog-friendly pavement setup out front, making it a natural stop after a foreshore walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating on the pavement in front of the cafe, leashed and close, which matters here because the tables sit near the footpath and the traffic of The Grand Parade. Dog-friendly directories report water bowls and treats at the counter, so ask on the day. There is no dog access inside, so this is an outdoor visit in all weather.

Worth knowing

The menu runs wider than most: shakshuka, a Lobster Tail Benedict and burgers, alongside a full vegan and vegetarian list and coffee that goes as far as a red velvet latte. The cafe opens extremely early by cafe standards and winds up in the early afternoon, so it is a breakfast-and-lunch venue. Weekday mornings are the quiet window; weekends fill fast, so aim for near opening if you want a relaxed sit with a dog at your feet.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 301 The Grand Parade, Sans Souci. Free street parking is available nearby, though it gets tight on weekends when the beach strip is busy, and the cafe is an easy walk from the surrounding St George streets.

Close by with the dogs

Sans Souci Beach and the foreshore path are directly across the road, with the Sans Souci Beach Walking Path the obvious pre-coffee loop and Bona Park close by for off-lead time under council rules.

More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly cafes guide and the Sans Souci destination page.

Pepsi: beach walk first, shakshuka after, red velvet latte for the human. Good system.