Butterbox Cafe Long Reef Beach

Butterbox sits inside the Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club complex on Pittwater Road at Long Reef Beach, Collaroy, and it is the coffee stop for everyone walking the headland above it. The kitchen trades mornings only, from 6:45am on weekdays and 7am on weekends, and closes early in the afternoon, so this is a breakfast and post-walk venue rather than a dinner one. The tables that matter to dog owners sit right beside the walking path down to the sand, which makes an easy pause in the middle of a bigger loop.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating only, and the layout suits it: the tables run along the path that carries a steady stream of dog walkers between the car park and the beach, so a settled dog at your feet is part of the furniture here. Water bowls are generally set out for visiting dogs, though it is worth packing your own on a hot day as backup. Keep your dog on lead and close to the table, since the path is shared with prams, surfboards and runners.

The vibe

It is a proper surf club kiosk turned cafe: casual counter service, milkshakes for the kids, and a menu of beach classics. The calamari gets regular mentions, as does the avocado toast, and the staff keep the local feel that regulars come back for. Live music turns up on weekends in the warmer months. Outdoor seating is weather dependent, and the kitchen closes mid afternoon, so time your stop before the shutters go down.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at the Long Reef SLSC on Pittwater Road, Collaroy, with paid parking directly outside the surf club and flat access from the car park to both the cafe and the sand. It is an easy stop off the Pittwater Road corridor, and the headland track starts a few steps from the door.

Close by with the dogs

Dogs are not permitted on the sand at Long Reef Beach itself, so plan the exercise around the paths instead: the Long Reef Headland Loop climbs over the point with views across to the city, and the Bicentennial Coastal Walk keeps you on the cliff tops toward Dee Why. For another feed on the same strip, Ciao Bella Collaroy is a short drive back up Pittwater Road.