C9 Chocolate & Gelato Shellharbour

C9 Chocolate & Gelato is a dessert bar inside the Stockland Shellharbour shopping precinct, trading in handmade Belgian chocolate, gelato and croffles, and it opens into the evening every day, which makes it a handy after-dinner stop. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, and unlike most stops, the shop makes something for them too: Pup Pops, a dog-safe frozen treat sold under its own menu heading.

The dog setup

Dogs sit with you in the outdoor, unenclosed seating area, in line with the NSW rule that keeps animals out of food premises but allows them in outdoor dining spaces. They are not permitted inside the shop or through the mall concourses, so head straight for the outside tables. Bring your own water bowl in case one is not on hand, and keep your dog leashed and close, because the shopping-centre pavement carries prams, trolleys and a constant flow of foot traffic.

The vibe and the food

The gelato is the drawcard, with rich Belgian chocolate flavours, gelato cakes and the signature croffles, plus house-made chocolates by the box. The Pup Pop is a frozen dog treat made without added salt or sugar, so your dog gets dessert too. It trades from late morning until about 9:30pm daily, so an evening walk that ends at an outdoor table with gelato and a Pup Pop is the natural way to use the place.

Max: This is an after-dark spot in a car-based precinct, so it pairs best with a proper walk first. Do the beach or the park, then roll in for dessert.

Getting there and parking

The shop is inside Stockland Shellharbour on Wattle Road, with plentiful on-site parking, accessible bays near the entrances and level access to the outdoor seating.

While you're out there

The Shell Cove Dog Park is a short drive south, the Flinders Dog Beach and Flinders Fenced Dog Park cover the run-and-swim option further out, and Shellharbour Village and its coastal walkways are minutes away for an on-lead stroll. Darley Street Local and J's on the deck are the dog-friendly daytime coffee stops nearby.

More around town is on the Shellharbour destination page, and the full list is in the NSW cafes index.