Bruce's Cafe

Bruce's Cafe sits on the Old Bass Highway at Wynyard, on Tasmania's north west coast, and it has quietly become one of the town's most reliable breakfast and lunch stops. The kitchen turns out classics done well: potato hash, eggs benny, corn fritters and a cabinet of savoury muffins and cakes that tends to thin out by mid afternoon. Visitors who bring their dogs report a straightforward welcome in the outdoor seating, where the tables look out toward the coastal pathway.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the designated outdoor seating beside the cafe, according to reports from visitors and North West Tasmania tourism listings. It is not a huge stretch of furniture, so on a sunny weekend it pays to arrive earlier rather than later if you want a table with room for a well behaved dog at your feet. Bring your own water bowl; the coastal pathway alongside makes a handy spot for a pre breakfast sniff or a post lunch wander. The staff are used to the coffee-and-paws crowd, particularly in summer when the town fills with travellers on the Bass Highway run.

Worth knowing

The cafe opens 8am to 3pm Tuesday through Sunday and closes on Mondays, so plan around that if your road trip passes through early in the week. Indoor seating is available when the weather turns, but that is where the dog concession ends, so wet days mean either a shorter visit or a takeaway order enjoyed along the pathway. Menu standouts that regulars call out include the potato hash and the eggs benny, and the cake cabinet does steady business through the afternoon.

Finding it is easy: 145 Old Bass Highway, on the northern approach to Wynyard, with parking along the highway and in the adjacent side streets. Wynyard itself is compact, so most of the town's dog relevant spots are within a few minutes of each other.

Make a day of it: before or after breakfast, walk the dogs off lead at Bark Park, Wynyard's dedicated dog exercise space, then let them nap while you plan the rest of the coast. If you are staying over, The Waterfront Wynyard takes dogs, and for a later lunch The Vault is another Wynyard option. See everything dog friendly in town on the Wynyard destination guide.