Whalers Seaside Dining

Whalers Seaside Dining sits at 121 Franklin Parade in Encounter Bay, a seafood restaurant with a front deck that looks straight across the bay to Wright Island. Dogs are welcome on that outdoor deck, which pairs one of the Fleurieu's best sunset tables with the off-leash beach strip almost next door.

The dog setup

The rules on the deck are clear from the venue's own FAQ: dogs stay on a leash at all times, sit on the floor beside your table rather than on chairs or laps, and only well-behaved dogs are welcome, with staff stepping in over any aggression. The indoor dining room is dog-free. Water sometimes appears but bring your own bowl, and as always pack waste bags.

The vibe

This is a step up from a kiosk stop: local seafood, crumbed prawns, garfish, gnocchi and a seafood platter for two, served against those bay views. Hours run 8:30am to 4pm Wednesday and Sunday, with a 10pm close Thursday to Saturday, and the kitchen is dark Monday and Tuesday. A late lunch or early dinner on the deck before sunset is the way to do it, and booking is wise for weekend evenings.

Getting there and parking

Whalers is on Franklin Parade, a few minutes' drive from central Victor Harbor. There is a large free car park on site plus free street parking along Franklin Parade, and the coastal walking track runs directly opposite the entrance.

Close by with the dogs

The City of Victor Harbor is trialling a 24-hour off-leash zone on the Encounter Bay foreshore between Harbour View Terrace and Oakham Street, on the same Franklin Parade strip, so a real off-lead run is minutes from your table. Elsewhere the council keeps dogs on a 2 metre lead between 10am and 6pm during daylight saving, and Wright Island and Petrel Cove are always off limits. For a fenced session, the Victor Harbor fenced dog park and Port Elliot's fenced park are both short drives, and the Yilki Store down the road handles the morning coffee.

More options are on the SA dog friendly restaurants guide and the Encounter Bay destination page.

Pepsi: off-lead run on the foreshore strip first, then a leash back on for seafood on the deck while the sun drops behind The Bluff.