Driftwood Restaurant

Driftwood Restaurant sits at 13 North Terrace in Lauderdale, roughly 20 minutes east of Hobart, with the dining room and deck looking over the Lauderdale Canal and the marshland beyond. It runs a short, seasonally changing modern Australian menu built on local Tasmanian produce, and the covered outdoor deck is where dogs are welcome, which keeps the option alive even when the weather turns.

The dog setup

Dogs join you on the outdoor deck, which is covered and sheltered from the usual southerly blow. Keep your dog on a lead and settled under the table, and staff will usually bring a water bowl out on request. The canal outlook makes it a spot worth lingering at, and the deck stays usable through the seasons better than most exposed patios around the estuary.

The vibe

The menu changes regularly with what local producers bring in; recent runs have included Tasmanian Pacific oysters with pepperberry mignonette, house-smoked fish pate and house-made desserts, with a wine list that leans local alongside craft beer and cocktails. Reviewers consistently call out the relaxed service and the views. Breakfast runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9am.

Getting there and parking

The week is short here: closed Monday and Tuesday, trading Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm, Friday 10am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm, so check hours before driving out. Free on-site parking sits at the door, with level, wheelchair-accessible access from the car park to the entrance and deck.

Make a day of it

Angie Sue in Lauderdale covers the dog-friendly coffee stop when Driftwood is closed, and Howrah Dog Park on the way through is a solid off-lead stretch before lunch. South Street Reserve at Bellerive adds a fenced option on the same side of the river.

More spots are listed on the Tasmania dog friendly restaurants guide and the Lauderdale destination page.

Book ahead for weekend breakfast and dinner when the deck fills; a midweek sitting leaves the most room for a dog at your feet.