Tin Shed Cafe

The Tin Shed Cafe is a local staple at 168 Main Road in McLaren Vale, open seven days with breakfast and lunch from 8am (until 2pm Sunday to Thursday, and late on Friday and Saturday). It is one of the easier spots in wine country to bring a dog, because the undercover front patio works in weather rather than around it.

The dog setup

Dogs on lead are welcome in the front outdoor dining area, which is fully covered with side blinds and heaters, so wind, sun and light rain do not end the outing. Standard cafe etiquette applies: keep your dog on the ground and settled beside the table. Water bowls are often on hand, and the all-day menu of breakfast dishes, pizzas and coffee makes it an easy long stop.

Max: an undercover patio is the quiet luxury of dog-friendly dining. No dash for shelter when the weather turns, and I still get to sprawl in the middle of everything.

Worth knowing

It sits right on McLaren Vale's main drag, so it is a walkable stop between cellar doors if you are already in the town centre. The cafe has its own parking, and the strip gets busy on weekends when the wine crowds arrive, so arriving earlier in the morning keeps the patio easier for a settled dog.

Pair it with

Several cellar doors around the region welcome dogs in their outdoor areas, including Oxenberry Farm Wines and DogRidge Vineyards at McLaren Flat. For a proper off-lead run, Symonds Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Aldinga Beach is a short drive south, and the region's tourism service lists Maslin Beach's designated off-lead area for sand time.

More options are on the South Australia dog friendly restaurants guide and the McLaren Vale destination page.