Paper Boat Cafe

Paper Boat Cafe is a local coffee bar at 13 First Avenue, Unanderra, a few minutes south of Wollongong. It is a quick, casual stop rather than a sit-down brunch destination, and with footpath seating out front it handles a dog stop about as well as anything in the Illawarra's southern suburbs.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating area on the footpath, on a lead at all times. There is no confirmed water bowl on site, so bring a portable bowl and the staff will sort you out with water. The footpath tables sit close to passing foot traffic, so a dog that settles under a chair works best here.

The vibe

Coffee runs on the Flight Path blend from Double Roasters in Marrickville, and the kitchen has a genuine toastie following through its ToastBuds lineup. There is a solid gluten-free spread of cakes, milkshakes and smoothies, plus vegan and dairy-free protein snacks. Grab-and-go and drive-thru service both operate if the dog has other plans. Hours run 6:30am to 12:30pm on weekdays and 7:30am to 11:30am on weekends, so it is strictly a morning venue.

Getting there and parking

First Avenue runs through the Unanderra industrial-residential mix near Crossfit Reclaim, which explains the early fitness crowd. Street parking is available in the vicinity but not guaranteed right out front, so allow a short walk. Unanderra station is nearby if you are arriving by rail.

Pair it with

Figtree off-leash dog area is a few kilometres away for a run first, and Coniston Dog Beach is a short drive down the coast. For a second coffee stop, Retro Roast Coffee Van at Mount Kembla suits a village wander, and Coogs Cafe at Coniston is on the way back into town.

More options are on the NSW dog-friendly cafes guide and the Unanderra destination page.