Rocksalt Restaurant

Rocksalt is the breakfast and brunch institution of the Hawker Place shops in Canberra's north-west, and it is on the published lists of Canberra's dog-friendly cafes: dogs are accommodated at the outdoor seating out the front. Doors open from 7am on weekdays and weekends, closing mid-afternoon, so it is a morning-and-lunch venue rather than a dinner one.

The dog setup

Dogs sit at the outdoor tables only; the indoor dining room is off limits under standard ACT food rules. The footpath area is spacious and easygoing, with shade for part of the day, and staff are used to four-legged regulars. On-site water for dogs is not confirmed, so carry your own bowl and keep your dog leashed close to the table while the shopfront foot traffic passes.

The food

The kitchen is known for generous modern Australian plates. The breakfast burger stacked with bacon, egg, cheese, spinach and barbecue sauce, plus the eggs benedict, are the repeat orders, with shakshuka, banana bread and calamari filling out the menu. Serving sizes run big, which matters when you are fueling up before a walk.

Getting there and parking

The address is 4/78 Hawker Place, in the Hawker shopping centre. Free off-street parking sits right by the shops, which makes it an easy first stop before a walk in the reserves behind the suburb.

Make a day of it

The Pinnacle Central Track starts on Hawker's western edge and gives a dog a proper walk before breakfast, and Mount Painter Nature Reserve in next-door Cook is another option a few minutes away. For a second table, To All My Friends in Cook is the nearest other dog-friendly dining listing.

More of the area is on the Hawker destination page, and the full ACT list is in the ACT restaurants index.