Cafe Roma

Cafe Roma is a low-key local cafe at 11 Watergum Way in Woonona, open weekdays only, doing barista coffee, toasties, burgers and a rotating line of homemade sweets. It is a worker's weekday stop rather than a destination brunch spot, and the dog welcome is at the street-side tables.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed at the outdoor seating, which suits this stretch of Woonona where most cafes keep tables out front. There is no formal published pet policy, so the indoor question stays open unless staff say otherwise: assume outdoor only and you will never be wrong. Bring your own water bowl, since on-site water for dogs is not confirmed. The counter service makes this an easy in-and-out stop, and staff are used to locals rolling up with a dog on the way past.

Max: weekday coffee stop, outdoor table, own bowl in the bag. Simple and reliable, which is exactly what a morning ritual needs.

The vibe

The coffee is solid and the homemade cheesecakes, doughnuts and slices are the draw for the sweet tooth. It gets busy with the local morning trade and quiets down after lunch. The one thing to plan around is the calendar: the cafe is closed Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, running roughly 10am to 3pm or 4pm Tuesday to Friday, so a weekend visit will end in disappointment.

Getting there

Watergum Way runs through central Woonona, about 15 minutes north of Wollongong via the Princes Highway, with free street parking nearby.

Close by with the dogs

Woonona Beach and the coastal walkway are minutes away for the on-lead stroll either side of coffee. North Break Cafe is the weekend alternative when Roma is shut, 34 South Bulli covers the next suburb south, and Bellambi Beach is the water stop up the road.

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