Shaws Bay Hotel

Shaws Bay Hotel sits on Brighton Street with the water at the end of the street, and the pub states its dog position plainly on its own site: the beer garden is dog friendly, with dogs welcome in the outdoor beer garden, courtyard and pavilion areas. Staff keep water bowls out for canine guests, dogs stay leashed, and the indoor bar and dining rooms remain off limits. When a venue publishes its own policy like this, you can plan a visit around it with confidence.

Dogs at the Shaws Bay Hotel

The outdoor zones give you real choices rather than a single token table: garden seating for shade, the courtyard for a livelier crowd, and the pavilion when the weather turns. Order at the bar and settle in with your dog under the table, bowl on the ground. Doors open from 10am daily, closing late most nights and at 10pm on Sundays, so a late afternoon session with the dog while the heat drops off is the sweet spot.

The kitchen leans coastal. Barramundi and a serious seafood platter headline, and the deck side tables give you the sunset over the water that regulars time their visits around. The venue has been through renovations in recent years, so the outdoor areas are tidier than the old school pub exterior suggests from the street.

While you're out there

East Ballina makes the logistics easy. The off leash lawns of Compton Dog Park are a few minutes away for a proper run before lunch, and the morning coffee stop at Double Shot on Brighton is walking distance up the same street. Staying over? Reflections Shaws Bay Holiday Park puts you on the water a short stroll from the beer garden.

Brighton Street parking is uncomplicated, with bays along the front of the hotel and more around the caravan park side. The East Ballina destination page covers the suburb's dog friendly lineup, and the NSW cafes guide carries the wider Northern Rivers if you are touring.