The Rusty Rabbit - St Leonards

The Rusty Rabbit brings a comic book themed brunch menu to St Leonards Square, and dogs are welcome to join you at the outdoor tables. It sits on the Pacific Highway side of the precinct, a short walk from St Leonards station, which makes it an easy stop before or after a wander through the lower North Shore.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, and staff are easygoing about well mannered dogs at the tables. The precinct setting gives you room to settle a larger dog out of the main foot traffic. If you are timing a visit, the cafe opens from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, with kitchen service wrapping up mid afternoon.

The vibe

The room leans into a Marvel and comic book theme, and the menu carries the same playful streak. The kitchen runs an all day brunch menu, with regulars singling out the cinnamon french toast, corn fritters and the nduja shakshuka. Coffee is treated seriously alongside the food, and table service is available if you are settling in for a long one.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at Shop 1105, 488 Pacific Highway, inside the St Leonards Square development. The street number matters here, because mapping apps sometimes land on the wrong end of the Pacific Highway strip, so aim for the St Leonards Square entrance. St Leonards station is a few minutes on foot, and weekend mornings fill up quickly, so arriving earlier rather than later makes an outdoor table easier to get.

Close by with the dogs

For a proper leg stretch before breakfast, the fenced dog park at St Leonards Picnic Ground is the obvious warm up. Closer in, The Wooden Whisk on Albany Street is another dog friendly brunch option in the same stretch of shops, and Brewmance over in Crows Nest is a local favourite for a weekend breakfast with a dog at your feet.

Max: I took the outdoor table like I owned it. The staff played along. Five stars for the welcome, zero complaints about the pastry crumbs.

For more dog friendly cafes across the city, browse the New South Wales cafe listings or see what else is around St Leonards.