Third Wheel Café South Fremantle

Third Wheel Cafe South Fremantle runs out of a corner spot on South Terrace, all fresh homemade food, proper specialty coffee and a verandah that takes sandy, barefoot beach traffic in stride. It is a low-key strip cafe rather than a destination, which is exactly its appeal for dog owners.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating and verandah out the front, where water bowls and shade are provided. Keep them leashed and tucked close to your table so the footpath stays clear, and leave the indoor ordering space to the humans. Coming straight off a morning walk along the coast works well here, and neighbourhood pups tend to make the rounds of the verandah tables, so a sociable dog fits right in.

Worth knowing

The coffee is the headline, made with house-made nut milks among the alternatives, and the kitchen backs it up with truffle toast, toasties, smashed avo and banana bread, plus dedicated vegan options. Hours run 6:15am to 2pm on weekdays and 6:30am to 1pm on weekends, so it is a breakfast-and-early-lunch spot rather than an afternoon one. Truffle toast and the chai latte are the regulars' picks.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at 408 South Terrace, South Fremantle. Street parking is available on the surrounding streets but tightens up at peak breakfast time, so allow a short walk if you arrive mid-morning on a weekend.

Close by with the dogs

The South Beach Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive or a decent warm-up walk away, and Fremantle Groyne gives you a longer on-leash leg-stretch along the breakwater afterwards. For an ocean-side table instead, South Beach Cafe sits right by the sand, and Paper Cup is another South Fremantle favourite.

Max: order the truffle toast before you decide anything else. Everything on the menu is good but that is the one people come back for.

More local options sit under the Western Australian cafes listing, and the South Fremantle guide covers the rest of the area.