TINTA Belmont

TINTA sits right on the Lake Macquarie waterfront on the Pacific Highway at Belmont, and the lake view does most of the talking. It is on Lake Macquarie City Council's list of dog-friendly food businesses, with dogs welcome across the outdoor seating, including the downstairs deck and the lawn next to the water. Think seafood platters, lobster rolls and fish tacos with sunset over the lake.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas on a lead: the deck, the patio tables and the grassed strip beside the water, which suits a blanket setup if your dog prefers lounging to lying on pavers. The indoor dining room is people-only. Staff are used to dogs at the water tables, but pack a water bowl of your own to be sure, and book ahead for the lakefront spots on weekends.

The vibe

The menu runs all day, from breakfast through to dinner, with barramundi, calamari and a seafood platter for the big occasions. Trading hours run Wednesday and Thursday from midday, Friday to 9pm, and weekends from 9am, with Monday and Tuesday closed. Late afternoon is the sweet spot, when the sun drops over the water and the deck cools down.

Getting there and parking

The address is 690 Pacific Highway, Belmont, with free off-street parking on site, so arriving with the dog in the car is easy. The restaurant sits directly on the popular lakefront walking path, so you can walk in along the foreshore and pick up the same path afterwards.

Close by with the dogs

Belmont has plenty of dog infrastructure close at hand. Belmont Dog Park is a fenced run a short drive north, the Fernleigh Track picks up nearby for a proper walk, and WoodHouse Cafe covers coffee the next morning.

Confirm current hours and reserve an outdoor table via the TINTA Belmont website, particularly for sunset seatings.