SUNSET DINER

Sunset Diner is a Miami-styled, pastel-pink diner at 41 Old Barrenjoey Road in the middle of Avalon village, turning out burgers, griddle dogs and thick shakes with a beer, wine and cocktail list alongside. The dedicated garden courtyard at the back is where dogs go, making it the standard post-beach feed for Avalon dog owners.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden courtyard, not the main indoor dining room. The courtyard sits right by the kitchen door, so the smell of the grill arrives with your order, and water bowls are usually out for canine guests; a spare bowl in the car is still a sensible backup on a warm day. Keep your dog leashed and settled, since the space is a compact garden rather than an open deck.

Max: book the courtyard ahead on a warm Saturday; the grill runs all afternoon and the tables near the door go first.

Worth knowing

The menu leans American diner: the Double burger, the Five AM Catch fish burger, katsu chicken and crispy chicken burgers, loaded and truffle fries and onion rings, plus thick shakes. Live music runs on some evenings. The diner is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, trading Wednesday to Sunday from midday into the evening, so plan the dog-friendly visit midweek through the weekend.

Getting there and parking

It is in the heart of Avalon, a short stroll from the main Avalon Beach car park, with street parking on Old Barrenjoey Road and the side streets. Weekend parking tightens up, so a weekday lunch is the easy run. The walk from the beach and the village is flat and pram-friendly.

Close by with the dogs

Avalon Beach itself is a couple of minutes away on foot; the sand is on-leash, so check the signage for the current windows. For a proper run, Northern Beaches Council's Avalon Beach Reserve dog park at the northern end of the reserve is fully fenced with 24-hour off-leash access, a water bubbler and dog bowls, and Hitchcock Park in North Avalon adds a large shaded grass area with a separate fenced section for small or shy dogs. A short drive south, Rowland Reserve at Bayview runs off-leash straight onto calm tidal flats where dogs can swim.

Nearby on PawScapes: Girdlers Cafe Avalon and Newport Park Fenced Dog Park to the south, with The Newport for a pub alternative. More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly restaurants guide and the Avalon Beach destination page.