Karoo & Co The Old School

Karoo & Co The Old School occupies the restored former St Ives Public School building at 205 Mona Vale Road, an Italian-leaning restaurant with high ceilings, wine bottles lined along the walls and an enclosed verandah that carries the old schoolhouse character. It runs dinner service Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm and closes Mondays, with a 5pm to 6pm happy hour each day. Unlike plenty of suburban restaurants that merely tolerate dogs, the team here has a reputation for welcoming them properly in the outdoor areas.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs on lead are welcome in the outdoor courtyard and verandah seating, kept close to your table and clear of the walkways. As a working kitchen, the indoor dining rooms stay people-only under NSW food rules, so request an outdoor table when you book and say you are bringing a dog. Staff are generally accommodating and will arrange a water bowl if you ask, though bringing your own is the safe backup. Weekend nights fill the old hall quickly, so a weekday 5pm sitting is the relaxed option with a dog in tow.

On the plate

The cooking leans Tuscan: burrata with basil pesto, arancini balls, wood-fired pizzas from a buffalo margherita base up, and house-made pastas such as pappardelle beef ragu and gnocchi with Italian sausage. The seafood linguine and tiramisu get regular praise, there is a kids menu for family tables, and the wine list runs deep enough that happy hour is a genuine draw. Group feasts are available for big parties.

Getting there and parking

The school site sits on the northern side of Mona Vale Road in central St Ives, with parking available around the complex and on surrounding streets. Mona Vale Road carries steady traffic at peak hour, so arriving outside the commute window makes the parking easier.

Close by with the dogs

For a run before dinner, St Ives Showground Fenced Dog Park is the suburb's main fenced option, and Karuah Park Off Leash Dog Area at Turramurra is close by too. Replay Espresso handles the dog-friendly coffee shift the next suburb over.

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