Miss Margarita

Miss Margarita is a lively, colourful Mexican cantina at 5/2 Jonson Street, right at the top of Byron Bay's main strip. It opens 12pm to 9pm every day, shakes margaritas on Patrón Reposado, and runs a happy hour from 5pm to 6pm daily. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor terrace and footpath tables, so a taco session with the dog settled beside you is a very Byron way to end a day.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables facing Jonson Street and on the bench-style terrace seating, on lead and settled beside you. Inside is off-limits, as standard for NSW food venues. The street-front position means heavy foot traffic at the main intersection, so keep your dog tucked in close and out of the walkway. Bring your own water bowl; staff are accommodating but it saves the wait on busy evenings.

Max: Tacos and a classic margarita at happy hour with the dog on the footpath bench. Loud, fun, and nobody minded the dog at all.

The food

The menu is Mexican street fare: tacos from about $8 to $12, with the crispy snapper and mango, chipotle chicken and Mexican pulled pork fillings the favourites, plus a mushroom and zucchini option. Beyond tacos there are loaded nachos, fajitas, burritos, jalapeno poppers and corn ribs. Happy hour runs 5pm to 6pm daily with discounted margaritas and palomas, which is when the terrace fills up.

Getting there and parking

The address is 5/2 Jonson Street, at the main intersection, a flat walk from anywhere in central Byron Bay. Street parking around Jonson Street is timed and tight in peak season, so the council car parks a block back are the easier option if you are arriving by car with the dog.

Close by with the dogs

For a beach run before dinner, Belongil Beach's dog exercise area is a short drive west. Earlier in the day the Tones at Soko and Byron Bay Canteen both take dogs at outdoor tables, and Folk Byron Bay is a solid coffee stop before the strip gets busy.

More options are on the Byron Bay destination page and in the NSW restaurants index.