Coffs Harbour Yacht Club Limited

Coffs Harbour Yacht Club, known to just about everyone in town as The Yachtie, sits on the harbour front at 30 Marina Drive with wide views over the Jetty precinct and the water. It is a relaxed club bistro and beach bar in one, and the outdoor side of the venue is where dogs fit in, which makes it one of the better waterfront lunch stops in Coffs Harbour for anyone with a dog in tow.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas, including the main deck and the Beach Bar overlooking the water, while the indoor restaurant stays people-only. The outdoor deck is roomy enough for a dog to settle under a table without being in the thoroughfare, and staff are accustomed to four-legged regulars, with water bowls often put out during the busy Sunday sessions. Keep your dog leashed and by your side.

The vibe

This is casual, order-at-the-counter style waterfront dining rather than fine dining: burgers, steak, Thai beef salad, prawn linguine and a seafood basket head the menu, and the draw for most tables is the harbour view that comes with it. Live music fills the deck on weekends, so dogs that cope with a bit of crowd noise will be happiest in the afternoon lull.

Max: Grab a deck table late afternoon, when the ferry crowd thins out and the water goes gold. My human had the prawn linguine and I got the breeze.

Getting there and parking

The club is on Marina Drive in the Jetty precinct, an easy turn-off near Jetty Beach. A free car park sits right beside the building and free street parking runs along Marina Drive, so you will rarely circle for a spot. Like several Jetty precinct venues that have changed hands in recent years, it is worth a quick check of the club's page before a long drive to confirm hours.

Close by with the dogs

Jetty Beach is steps away for an on-leash stroll before or after your meal, and the marina pathways loop around the harbour. For a proper run, the Coffs Harbour dog off-lead beach is a short drive north, and Thompsons Road Reserve Fenced Dog Park gives dogs a secure run off the lead. Two more dog-friendly meals are close at hand too: Jetty Beach House on Jordan Esplanade and Latitude 30 on the marina boardwalk.

For more dog-friendly dining across the state, see restaurants in NSW, and for what else is on offer around the Jetty, browse Coffs Harbour.