The Cottage Balmain

The Cottage at 342 Darling Street is a rustic, farmhouse-styled restaurant and bar in the heart of Balmain, and one of the suburb's most popular tables for dining out with a dog in tow. The menu runs Mediterranean-leaning modern Australian, with well-regarded pizza, cocktails and share plates, and the leafy front garden courtyard under mature trees is where dogs fit in. The venue even publishes a dedicated dog-friendly dining page, which tells you how seriously it takes it.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the front garden courtyard and at the street-side tables along Darling Street during all opening hours. Dogs are not permitted inside the main dining rooms, the Atrium or the Loft mezzanine; registered assistance animals are welcome throughout. Walk-ins work for street-side tables, but for the courtyard on a sunny weekend, book online and note that you are bringing a dog so you are seated outside.

Max: mention the dog in your booking notes and you will be pointed straight to the courtyard, no awkward shuffle at the door.

Getting there and parking

Hours run from midday Wednesday through Sunday and from 5pm Monday and Tuesday. Parking along Darling Street is tight and time-limited to an hour or two, so buses along the strip are often easier. The East Balmain ferry wharf is a short bus ride or an uphill walk away, which makes a harbour-side approach possible.

Make a day of it

Before a long lunch, burn some energy at Brett Park in Drummoyne, an unfenced off-leash reserve across the bay near Birkenhead Point. Back in Balmain, The Balmain Hotel on Mullens Street runs a dog-friendly courtyard beer garden and even a dedicated dog menu, while Hungry Bull & Co and Little Ethels cover the coffee stops up the strip.

More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly restaurants guide and the Balmain destination page.