THE HAPPY FOX

The Happy Fox is a community cafe at 17 George Street, Warilla, a short walk back from the beachfront and a natural coffee stop on a dog walk along this stretch of the Illawarra coast. It opens from 6:30am on weekdays, and the outdoor tables out front welcome dogs, which makes it an easy tie-up-and-order kind of place.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the outdoor seating on the quiet street front. Water bowls are usually on hand, though on a hot day bring your own. Dogs are not taken inside, so pick a table before you queue at the counter and keep the lead short while orders land. The street is calm enough that a settled dog is no drama, and staff get repeated mentions for being welcoming to both ends of the leash.

Worth knowing

The coffee and brunch carry the reputation, with regulars naming the ricotta donuts, brisket burger, bacon and egg rolls and eggs benedict. Hours run 6:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 2pm Saturday and 8am to 1pm Sunday, so it is an early-to-midday venue with an early Sunday finish. Turnover is usually quick outside the weekend brunch rush.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along George Street and the surrounding side streets, and the cafe is walkable from the Warilla beachfront if you are already doing the coastal path.

Pair it with

Warilla Beach and its coastal path are a short walk for a leg-stretch before or after, and the Warilla Fenced Dog Park is close for a proper off-lead run. For another feed, Warilla Beach Cafe sits right on the sand and BREWED. Cafe is the other local dog-friendly option.

More stops are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Warilla destination page.

Pepsi: order first, then settle. Dogs wait at the table here, not in the queue, so pick your footpath spot before you line up for the ricotta donuts.