Watermans Cafe

Watermans Cafe sits on Wauchope's main street directly opposite Bain Park, and it has built its local following on strong coffee and a friendly team. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor terrace, so it works as the easy breakfast stop on a High Street walk with the dog.

The dog setup

Dogs settle in on the terrace and verandah seating out front rather than indoors, on lead and next to the table. There is no extra fee, just the usual etiquette around other diners. Water bowls are available on site, and staff have been known to bring one out on request, though it never hurts to carry your own on a warm day. The outdoor area has shade cover, so it holds up through the morning.

The vibe and the menu

Regulars rate it among the best coffee in Wauchope, with a good iced coffee and thickshakes for the drive. The menu is modern Australian breakfast and brunch: bacon and egg rolls, a pear salad that gets ordered again and again, sourdough toast and cakes in the cabinet. Hours run 8am to 2:30pm on weekdays, with shorter weekend service, so it is a morning venue rather than a late lunch.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on High Street through the middle of town, with street parking out front and along the side streets, plus extra parking near the park. Bain Park is right across the road for a post-coffee stroll, and the fenced Blackbutt Reserve Fenced Dog Park is close by for a proper off-lead run. If Watermans is full, Coffee on High up the street is the other local dog-friendly coffee option.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Wauchope destination page, with the wider list in the NSW cafes index.