Puglia Pasta Bar

Puglia Pasta Bar is a casual Italian pasta bar tucked into Feros Arcade off Jonson Street in Byron Bay, doing fresh handmade pasta in a laneway setting from 11:30am to 8pm seven days. Dogs are welcome at the open-air arcade tables, which makes it one of the easiest central stops for a quick pasta with the dog along.

The dog setup

Leashed dogs settle at the outdoor courtyard and laneway tables inside the arcade. The arcade doubles as a walkway, so keep your dog close and out of the path of staff and foot traffic - it is a snug setup, best for dogs that tuck under a table and stay there. Water bowls appear inconsistently, so bring your own for a warm day.

The vibe

It is simple, fresh pasta with a view of the chefs at work: arancini balls and garlic bread to start, classics like aglio e olio through to ragu, and a tiramisu that regulars order before they sit down. The bar is fully licensed with Italian wines, Peroni and an Aperol spritz. It runs mostly on walk-ins - bookings are only taken for groups of six or more - so expect a short queue at peak lunch and dinner.

Getting there and parking

Feros Arcade opens onto Jonson Street in the town centre. Street parking around Jonson is limited and metered; the council car park behind Woolworths off Lawson Street is a short walk and the better bet. If you are staying in town, walk in and skip the parking problem entirely.

Max: Lunch beats dinner here with a dog. The laneway is calm mid-afternoon, and you will not be queuing shoulder to shoulder on the way past.

Close by with the dogs

Main Beach is a few minutes' walk down Jonson Street for an on-lead stroll before or after, and the Belongil Beach South dog exercise area covers proper off-lead time. For other dog-friendly dinners in town, try Miss Margarita or Chihuahua Taqueria, both with outdoor tables. The dog-friendly restaurants in NSW list and the Byron Bay guide cover the rest.