8 Knots Tavern

8 Knots Tavern sits on Riverside Road at the water's edge in East Fremantle, with the Swan River and moored boats as the backdrop from its outdoor deck. The venue's own page describes a relaxed riverside spot with a pet friendly alfresco area at the water's edge serving food and drinks, and it trades late every day, opening 11am and running to 10pm midweek and 11pm Friday and Saturday.

Because the alfresco welcome is venue-published, you can plan a riverfront lunch around it: dogs belong in the pet friendly alfresco at the water's edge, leashed and settled, with the indoor dining room off limits. The deck catches afternoon sun in summer, so aim for a shaded table, and keep water in front of your dog on warm days since the marina setting can hold the heat.

The vibe

It is a marina-side tavern rather than a fine diner: steak sandwiches, prawns and porterhouse on the menu, live music on the calendar, and constant boat watching from the deck. The crowd shifts from lunchtime families to evening drinks, and the riverside boardwalk setting means there is plenty of movement for a dog to watch without being in the thick of it. The long trading hours spread the crowd out, so a weekday lunch is calm while sunset sessions fill up fast on clear evenings, and booking ahead is the safe play if you want a prime outdoor table.

Pair it with

Stretch legs first at the Silas Street Reserve Fenced Dog Park, then walk off lunch along the river path. If two pubs make a good crawl, The Left Bank is up the road with its own dog alfresco, and Spilt Milk Espresso covers the morning coffee run. More options sit in the East Fremantle dog friendly guide.