Fillmore’s

Fillmore's is a fully plant-based bar and record store at Unit 2/38-40 Manning Street, Kiama, set in the original oven room of a 1950s bakery down a laneway. It is relaxed, community-focused and dog-friendly, with live music a regular fixture and a 4.9 rating across 85 reviews.

Dogs in the courtyard

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor alfresco and courtyard seating, where the casual garden layout makes it easy to settle a dog at your feet. Indoors is people only. Bring your own water bowl. Because the laneway space is finite and the venue is popular, book ahead and mention you are bringing a dog so they seat you outside.

The plant-based menu

The seasonal menu is entirely vegan: wood-fired pizza, slow-cooked black bean nachos and burritos, cauliflower green curry, garlic mushrooms and rotating tapas, with the weekly Feed Me Bowl a regular. Drinks run to locally roasted coffee, craft beer and natural wines, and the converted combi van bar is part of the draw. Friday tapas nights and a calendar of live gigs, acoustic afternoon sessions and monthly comedy keep the room busy. It trades Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 10pm and Sunday 3pm to 8pm, closed Monday to Thursday.

Getting there and parking

Entry is via a laneway off Manning Street in central Kiama, so it feels tucked away. Street parking on the surrounding streets gets busy on weekends and through school holidays.

Close by with the dogs

The Loves Bay via Kiama Blowholes coastal walk is close for a stretch before or after dinner, and Diggies Kiama and Stonewall Cafe Kiama both do outdoor tables for dogs by day. For off-lead time, Kiama Council's designated off-leash beaches such as Bombo Beach allow it sunrise to sunset in marked zones; check signage before unclipping. More options are under NSW restaurants and in Kiama.

Evenings have the best atmosphere when there is music on, but book first. Good for a longer, settled meal with a calm dog.