German Arms Hotel

The German Arms Hotel has been Hahndorf's meeting place since 1839, making it one of South Australia's first hotels, and today it is a family-owned contemporary pub trading on Bavarian beer and generous German plates. For dog owners the useful part is the undercover veranda along Main Street, where leashed dogs are welcome while you work through a pork knuckle and a Hofbrau. Indoors stays people-only, with registered assistance dogs the exception.

The dog setup

Dogs settle on the veranda at street level, on lead and beside the table. Staff are used to visiting dogs and generally put a water bowl down, but bring your own to be safe on a busy afternoon. The main street out front runs hot with foot traffic on weekends, so a dog that can lie calmly under a table does far better here than a nervous one.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs from 11am to 9pm and the front bar stays open later, with the venue listing hours of 9am to 11pm daily. The beer side is serious: Hofbrau on tap every day, helles, bock, pilsners and wheat beers, plus a $5 pint house lager all day, and the Arms Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm on weekdays. Food events run through the week too, including a $20 schnitzel night every Monday from 5pm and buffet nights Tuesday to Thursday. The menu covers freshly baked pretzels, the giant hot dog, cabbage rolls and contemporary Australian classics alongside the German signatures.

Getting there and parking

The hotel sits at 69 Main Street in the middle of Hahndorf, about 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD up the South Eastern Freeway. Street parking along Main Street is free but tight on weekends and public holidays; the car parks behind the main street shops are the fallback, a short walk away. Bookings are wise for weekend lunches, and the pub takes seated-dining bookings online or on (08) 8388 7013.

While you're out there

Main Street is an easy on-lead stroll with dogs, and Alec Johnston Park in town gives you a grassy leg-stretch under the trees. For a proper off-lead run, Barka Park Fenced Dog Park at Mount Barker is 10 to 15 minutes east with separate double-gated yards for large and small dogs. If you want to keep the day pub-shaped, the Hahndorf Inn on the same street and Wunderbar Dog Haus both welcome dogs at their outdoor tables.

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