Paddys Eat & Drink

Paddys Eat & Drink is the Irish-themed bar and kitchen inside the historic Exchange Hotel on Hannan Street, and it is one of the few spots in central Kalgoorlie where a dog is a straightforward dinner companion. The venue keeps pets to the alfresco deck out the back, a covered outdoor space that stays comfortable even on the colder Goldfields nights, and the venue asks diners to flag a dog in their booking so a suitable deck table is set aside.

The dog setup

Dogs are limited to the outdoor deck; the indoor restaurant and pub floors are off limits. You can walk a leashed dog through the venue to reach the deck, which is useful when the weather turns. No pet fee applies, and staff are generally easygoing, but bring your own water bowl rather than counting on one being out. The walk-through is a working pub floor, so keep the lead short when it is busy.

Max: mention the dog when you book, a deck table beats waiting inside with nowhere to sit.

Worth knowing

The menu leans hearty: lamb shank, Guinness pie, steaks, fish tacos and a Sunday roast, with live music pulling crowds on a regular basis. Evening sessions get loud, so weekend afternoons are the calmest bet for a relaxed drink with a dog underfoot. Open daily from 11am, with trading running late most nights. If the weather is poor, confirm at the door that the deck is still taking diners with dogs.

Getting there and parking

The Exchange Hotel sits at 139 Hannan Street in the centre of town. Street parking along Hannan fills up at peak times, so the side streets near the hotel are the easier bet. Everything is walkable once you arrive, which helps with a dog in tow.

Close by with the dogs

Hannan Street itself is a pleasant leashed wander through gold-rush architecture. For an off-leash session, the Kalgoorlie Arboretum on Littlewood Place has a dedicated dog exercise area with paved paths, open space and a lookout, a short drive from town. Hammond Park is not an option with a dog because of the captive native wildlife and aviaries. Back in town, Oil & Spice Cafe and Restaurant is a nearby stop for coffee, and if you are staying over, Allora House Kalgoorlie takes the dog question seriously too.

More on the area at Kalgoorlie with your dog.