PACHINKO

PACHINKO is a modern Japanese eatery at 23 Quadrant Mall in central Launceston, and its alfresco tables out in the pedestrian mall are the dog-friendly seats. The kitchen works in small plates and share dishes: okonomiyaki, chicken karaage, sashimi and agedashi tofu, matched with a good sake and wine list. Eating with your dog in the mall itself means no traffic, flat paved ground and a room that runs lively behind you.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables in the Quadrant Mall directly outside the dining room, which is not open to pets. Bring a short lead and secure your dog beside the table; water bowls may come on request, but packing your own is the safer bet. The mall's paved surface stays comfortable for a dog to lie on through a meal, though on sunny days the stone can warm up by late afternoon.

Worth knowing

The room is popular, especially on weekends, so a booking matters, and arriving ahead of the rush gives your dog the best chance of settling before the crowd builds. Weekdays and earlier evenings are the calmest window for the outdoor tables. Between small plates the mall itself is pleasant to wander, which suits a meal broken into a stroll-and-return rhythm rather than a long sit.

Getting there and parking

The address is 23 Quadrant Mall, with the closest parking the Quadrant Mall car park at the end of the mall and metered street parking on Cameron and Paterson Streets nearby. The mall itself is flat and pram and wheelchair accessible, so the walk in with a dog is easy.

Nearby with the dogs

City Park is a few minutes' walk for green space on a lead, and Cataract Gorge Reserve is a short drive for a bigger on-lead walk around the gorge. For other meals in the same pocket of town, Mudbar on the Seaport, Rupert and Hound on the esplanade and the all-day Aromas Cafe are the nearby picks. See more Tasmania restaurants or plan around Launceston.