The Vasse Tavern

The Vasse Tavern is a casual local tavern on Queen Street in the middle of Busselton, doing honest pub food and pouring a wide range of beers. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden and alfresco area, and it rates well with dog owners, which makes it one of the easier pub meals in town when you have your dog along.

The dog setup

The arrangement is straightforward: the outdoor beer garden and alfresco seating is dog territory, indoors is people-only. Seat yourself outside when you arrive with the dog and settle them beside or under the table on lead. Staff are friendly with four-legged guests and have been known to bring out water bowls and the occasional treat, though packing your own water is still the safe play on a hot afternoon.

Worth knowing

The kitchen leans on pub classics done properly. Carbonara, steak sandwiches, fish and chips and calamari all get called out, gluten-free pasta is on the menu, and portion sizes are generous. There is plenty of beer on tap and the bar runs lunch and dinner seven days, from 11am, closing later on Friday and Saturday nights. It is a relaxed, walkable stop in the main-street shopping block, so it works as either a long lunch or a dinner after a day out with the dog.

Getting there and parking

The tavern is at Shop 2, 44 Queen Street, Busselton, in the centre of town, with free street parking running along Queen Street and the surrounding blocks. It is an easy stroll from most of central Busselton, so you can walk in with the dog rather than driving.

Pepsi: A beer garden, a water bowl that actually arrives, and chips within sniffing distance. Busselton does it right.

Close by with the dogs

The Busselton foreshore is a long walk or a quick drive down to the waterfront, with open grass and the beach beyond, though check the signage for seasonal leash rules before letting your dog off. Other dog-friendly tables within a short stroll include Bistro Breton on the same street, Burger Bones for a casual dinner, and The Tav Sportsbar if you want a big screen with your beer.