Jarrahdale Local Po Kitchen

Local PO Kitchen is a family-run cafe in the old timber town of Jarrahdale in the Perth Hills, about 50 minutes from Perth, and it has quietly become one of the more interesting kitchens in the hills. It is dog-friendly by layout rather than token gesture: water bowls go out for visiting dogs and there are lead hooks at some of the outdoor tables, which tells you dogs are expected rather than tolerated.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas, on lead and settled beside the table; indoors is people-only. The water bowls and lead hooks are the practical extras, and the garden setting keeps things relaxed even when the town fills up on weekends. Staff are easy with four-legged visitors.

Worth knowing

The menu is where this place breaks the cafe mould: classic Aussie breakfast and lunch plates sit alongside Vietnamese street food, and the roast pork BMT banh mi gets cited regularly as among the best in WA. Pad thai, chicken tom yum noodle soup, smashed avocado, eggs benedict and bacon and egg toasties cover both directions, with gluten-free, keto, vegan and lactose-free options catered for and house-made baked goods at the counter. Coffee uses Fremantle's Fiori beans. Hours are 6am to 4pm weekdays and 7am to 4pm weekends and public holidays; details on (08) 9525 5043.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 674 Jarrahdale Road, on the road through town, with free off-street parking and street parking nearby. It is the natural last stop before or after the Jarrahdale heritage trail network, including the Jarrahdale Railway Trail and the Mundlimup Timber Trail, both walkable with a dog on lead.

While you're out there

One honest catch: the national park and bush trails around Jarrahdale are largely leash-only or dog-free to protect wildlife like quendas, so for a proper off-lead run head down the scarp to Byford Bark Park Fenced Dog Park or Darling Ranges Exclusive Dog Park. If you are staying in town for the afternoon, Mundijong Tavern up the road covers the pub-with-dog end of the day.

More options are on the WA dog friendly restaurants guide and the Jarrahdale destination page.