The Roadhouse Byron Bay

The Roadhouse is a rustic cafe and eatery on Bangalow Road, set back from the busy town centre on the road in from the highway. It is one of Byron's most reliably dog-friendly tables: a sprawling shaded terrace and front courtyard wrapped in greenery, water bowls usually on hand, and a free on-site car park, which in Byron is a genuine bonus.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor seating: the shaded terrace, the covered patio and the front courtyard, where a dog can rest on the ground beside your table. Keep them on lead, close in, and out of the indoor service area so staff can work the busy floor. The staff are good with dogs and water bowls are usually available, so the only real job is picking a table with enough clearance for a settled dog.

Worth knowing

The Roadhouse trades on an old-Byron feel: strong coffee and a creative brunch through the day, then wood-fired pizzas, margaritas and cocktails in the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday, with tiramisu and vegan options along the way. Hours run 7am to 2pm daily for daytime service. It works for a chilled morning or a relaxed dinner away from the centre, and the terrace stays comfortable even when the beachside strips are packed.

Getting there and parking

The address is 142 Bangalow Road, on the approach from the Pacific Highway, a couple of minutes out of town. The free on-site car park is the standout, though it fills on weekend mornings, so come a little early on a Sunday to land both a park and a terrace table.

Pepsi: free car park, shaded terrace, chai for the humans. Then Tallow Beach for the zoomies.

Close by with the dogs

Tallow Beach on the Suffolk Park side, with its dog exercise area off-lead, is a short drive south for a post-breakfast run, and the local streets nearby suit a shorter on-lead wander. Other dog-friendly tables close by include Fishheads on the Main Beach boardwalk, Otherside Cafe in the Arts and Industry Estate, and the beach run out to Tallow Beach dog exercise area.