The Den Cafe & Bar

The Den Cafe & Bar is the Italian-leaning, all-day cafe and bar at 1009 Old Princes Highway in Engadine, and it is one of the more deliberately dog-friendly venues in the Sutherland Shire. Rather than a token footpath table, it runs a dedicated dog-friendly garden with its own rear entry, so you and the dog can settle in without threading through the main dining room.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden and on the deck, on a lead, with the main dining room and indoor areas off-limits apart from service animals. The separate back entrance is the practical part: arriving with the dog does not mean squeezing past the busy front-of-house. Water bowls are usually out in the garden area, though a backup bowl is worth carrying on busy weekends.

The vibe and the food

The menu runs from breakfast through dinner service. The brunch side is the draw, with signatures like the Friends with Benny and the Breakfast in Bread, plus locally roasted coffee; later in the day it turns to Italian-inspired plates, pizzas and small sharing dishes with vegetarian and vegan options, backed by a full list of cocktails, wine and craft beer. There is a children's play area too, so it handles the kids-and-dog combination without fuss. Doors run Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 9:30pm, closed Tuesdays. Confirm the garden takes bookings before a special trip.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on the Old Princes Highway main thoroughfare through Engadine, with free street parking and a free car park close by. Engadine station is within walking distance if you are arriving by train with a dog on a lead.

Close by with the dogs

For a run before brunch, Heathcote Dog Off-Leash Park is the nearest fenced option, one suburb up the highway, and Helena Street Park Fenced Dog Park in Kirrawee has separate sections for big and small dogs. If a leashed bushwalk suits better, the Prince Edward Park Bushwalk at Woronora and the Woronora River Bridge Loop are both short drives away. Note that dogs are prohibited in the neighbouring Royal National Park.

Max: Use the back entrance and ask for a corner of the garden away from the play area if your dog prefers quiet over the family buzz.

Best for a long brunch or an early dinner in the garden with a settled dog on a lead. More of the shire is on the NSW restaurant list and the Engadine destination guide.