Makers Coffee House

Makers Coffee House is a dedicated coffee bar set at the entrance of the St Hugh Hotel on Forsyth Street in the Wagga Wagga CBD. It opens at 6am on weekdays for the commuter rush, roasts a reputation as some of the best coffee in town, and keeps dogs welcome at its outdoor seating while you drink it.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables at the street front of the building, not inside the hotel lobby or food areas. Water bowls are typically provided, though on a hot Riverina morning you will not be the only dog using them. The seating is street-side rather than a big back courtyard, so pick a table away from the footpath traffic if your dog is still learning to settle. Locals on the morning run move through quickly, which suits a dog who prefers a quiet corner.

Worth knowing

The focus is the cup, not a big kitchen: espresso made on Artisti Coffee Roasters beans, with milk chocolate and jasmine notes, alternative milks, fresh baked goods from local bakeries and a rotating stock of house-made muffins, cookies and slices. It runs Monday to Friday 6am to 2pm and Saturday 6am to 1pm, closed Sundays. Find it at 81 Forsyth Street, across from the Union Hotel and around the corner from the Civic Theatre.

Close by with the dogs

Wollundry Lagoon is a short stroll for a waterside on-lead walk, and Victory Memorial Gardens a few blocks away. For a proper off-lead run, Narrung Street Fenced Dog Park covers the southern side of town and Chaston Pet Hub is the other dedicated option. If the coffee queue is out the door, Little Lunch on Forsyth sits on the same street and The Early Bird is nearby.

Street parking runs along Forsyth Street and the side streets. More options are in the New South Wales dog friendly cafes guide and the Wagga Wagga destination page.

Pepsi: the 6am opening is a gift in summer. Walk the lagoon loop first, then take the coolest table on Forsyth Street before the sun rounds the corner.