Opus Coffee Brewers

Opus Coffee Brewers is the specialty coffee spot on Keira Street in the Wollongong CBD, a short walk from Crown Street Mall, where the coffee program is the headline and the covered outdoor patio is where dogs go. It has made the Illawarra's dog-friendly cafe lists, and the kitchen's bagels and chilli scrambled eggs give owners a reason to linger.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating only, under the covered patio out front; the interior is for humans. Water bowls are usually available and there are often treats at the counter. The outdoor footprint is compact and the cafe gets busy, so it suits a calm dog that is happy tucked under the table. There is no fee and no booking.

The vibe and the menu

The coffee is the draw, with espresso and batch brew both taken seriously, and a matcha latte option for the non-caffeinated. Food is a step above standard CBD cafe fare: house bagels including a salmon bagel, chilli scrambled eggs, chilli oil cavolo nero, halloumi and hashbrowns. Staff are consistently praised for their friendliness. It trades mornings only, closing at 2pm.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 118-120 Keira Street, Wollongong, in the heart of the CBD. Street parking with mixed free and timed zones runs along Keira and the surrounding streets, and council car parks are a couple of minutes away. Wollongong station is a ten-minute walk.

Close by with the dogs

For sand and a swim, Coniston Dog Beach is a short drive south with an off-lead zone close to the city. If you want a second dog-friendly table, Lee and Me and Bostons Espresso-Cafe are both nearby. More options are on the Wollongong destination page and the NSW cafes list.

Go early on weekends or any weekday before the mid-morning rush; the cafe closes at 2pm, so plan the coffee before lunch.