Pacino's Cafe

Pacino's Cafe is a long-running, family-run brunch spot on Addison Street in Shellharbour Village, a few steps from the waterfront. It opens early every day, generally from 6am to early afternoon, and the deal for dog owners is simple: the wide footpath tables out the front are yours, indoors is people only.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, which are roomy enough that a leashed dog sits clear of the foot traffic on busy mornings. Staff are known for being welcoming, and a water bowl often arrives unasked, though bringing your own portable bowl removes the doubt on packed weekends. The street-side position is good for people-watching, and the cafe is close enough to the harbour and foreshore that an after-walk coffee is the natural pattern: walk the coastal path first, then settle at a table.

Worth knowing

The menu runs to hearty breakfast plates, omelettes, pancakes and their well-known french toast, with Vittoria coffee and thick shakes for the table, and lunch from late morning. Reviews regularly mention the portion sizes, so light orders are possible but not the default. Hours wrap up mid-afternoon at the latest, so this is a breakfast and lunch venue rather than a late stop.

Pepsi: The footpath tables are wide enough that I am out of the way of prams, and the staff usually beat my owner to the water bowl. Come after the foreshore walk, not before, or I get restless.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Addison Street in the village. Street parking runs directly out front but turns over slowly on weekends, so side streets or the parking near the harbour are the better bet at peak times. The foreshore and boat harbour are a short walk downhill.

While you're out there

Shellharbour City Council keeps dogs off the main patrolled beaches, so for an off-leash swim the Flinders Dog Beach south of the village is the local answer, and the Flinders Fenced Dog Park covers a secure run. For other dog-friendly tables nearby, Darley Street Local and C9 Chocolate and Gelato are both in the village. See more dog friendly cafes in New South Wales or around Shellharbour.