The Butter Factory Restaurant

The Butter Factory Restaurant occupies a historic 19th-century butter factory building across 2 acres at 739 Greenwell Point Road, Pyree, a few minutes out of Nowra on the Shoalhaven floodplain. It is a destination restaurant in every sense: Modern European and Australian cooking built around local produce, with the seafood platter for two, pork belly and the dessert list the recurring favourites. The grounds also host weddings and functions, so book ahead on weekends.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcomed into the covered outdoor garden and courtyard seating, which looks over farmland, grazing cows and the restaurant's own veggie garden. This is a proper garden area rather than a footpath table. Staff are noted as welcoming to dogs and water bowls are typically available. Keep your dog on lead and settled, as the space is popular with families, and mention the dog when you book so you are placed in the outdoor section, because the covered tables go first.

When to go

The kitchen opens Wednesday to Sunday for lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm, with dinner service evenings and Monday and Tuesday closed, so a long country lunch with the dog is the natural play. Weekends fill quickly given the wedding and functions trade.

Getting there and parking

Pyree sits 5 to 10 minutes from Nowra off the Princes Highway, and roughly 2 hours from Sydney or Canberra, which is why so many visits turn into a full day out. Free on-site parking is available in the restaurant's car park.

Pair it with

Greenwell Point Fenced Dog Park is close by for an off-lead stretch before lunch, and Nowra Fenced Dog Park covers the other approach from town. For a more casual dog-friendly meal another day, The Deli on Kinghorne keeps a covered outdoor area in Nowra's centre.

More Shoalhaven options are on the New South Wales dog friendly restaurants guide and the Pyree destination page.