Corretto Dee Why

Corretto sits right on The Strand at the Dee Why beachfront, running from morning coffee through to dinner and cocktails with a view over the sand and across to Long Reef. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor beachfront tables, and that is the reason to come with the dog: the view plus the promenade on the doorstep, in a bright, European-summer style beachfront room.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome only in the outdoor and footpath seating facing the beach; the indoor dining room stays dog-free. The tables sit on the boardwalk, so a dog can settle beside you with the promenade passing behind. If you book online, select outdoor dining to be sure of a dog-friendly table, and remember the outdoor section is weather-dependent, so a wet forecast can shift plans. Staff are welcoming to well-behaved dogs, but bring your own water bowl.

The vibe

The kitchen runs all day: breakfast from 7am, then lunch and a dinner service from Wednesday onwards, with Mediterranean-leaning coastal plates, local seafood, tuna tacos, squid, fish and chips, arancini and a steady cocktail list, plus live music on the calendar. An afternoon happy hour covers the gap between beach and dinner. Monday and Tuesday the bar wraps up at 4pm, so dinner with the dog is a Wednesday-to-Sunday proposition.

Getting there and parking

Find it at Shop 1, 24 The Strand. Metered street parking on The Strand is limited and goes early on a sunny day; the council parking off Howard Avenue or Dee Why Parade is the reliable fallback. Walking in along the beachfront promenade is the easiest approach and the nicest one with a dog on the lead.

While you're out there

The beachfront path is open to dogs on-leash at all times, and the coastal walk runs south towards Curl Curl. Dogs are not allowed on the Dee Why sand, but for a proper run, James Meehan Reserve at the south end and the designated area at Long Reef are short hops. On the cafe side, DY Local, Urban Nook and Hideout Dee Why Cafe are the dog-friendly coffee stops in the same strip.

Max: park once at Howard Avenue, walk the promenade in, and let the dog watch the surf while the tacos land.

More beachfront eating is on the New South Wales restaurants guide, or browse Dee Why for the suburb set.