The Kyn

The Kyn is a polished, Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant on the Torquay waterfront at 41 The Esplanade, set inside the restored former Torquay Library building. Dogs are welcome at the front outdoor seating facing The Esplanade, which puts an ocean-view table on the menu for dog owners rather than just humans.

The dog setup

Dogs settle at the front outdoor tables looking over the water, while the indoor dining room stays dog-free under Victorian food rules. It is a smarter venue than most along this strip, so request an outdoor table when you book and ask staff to put you somewhere a settled dog can lie low. The focus here is human dining, so bring your own water bowl and treats.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs Middle Eastern-inspired share plates under head chef James White: slow-cooked beef cheeks, halloumi, croquettes with house focaccia, and a feed-me menu for the full run. There is a strong local wine list and a cocktail list worth ordering from. Doors open from 5pm Wednesday and Thursday and from midday Friday to Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed. Dinner books out in peak season, so plan ahead.

Getting there and parking

The white weatherboard building sits on the corner stretch of The Esplanade facing the Torquay foreshore. Street parking runs along The Esplanade and the side streets behind, but it gets very busy on summer weekends, so arrive early for an evening table.

Close by with the dogs

The foreshore paths are directly across the road for an after-dinner stroll, and Fisherman's Beach is a short walk south along them. Under Surf Coast Shire rules dogs stay on a lead of up to two metres in township and foreshore areas unless signage says otherwise. For a bigger run, Jan Juc Dog Beach is a few minutes west, and the Surf Coast Walk: Point Danger to Bird Rock starts nearby for an on-leash coastal leg-stretcher. Blackman's Brewery Bar and Restaurant covers the casual-beer end of the same town.

Best for an early evening table to catch the light over the water, and for calm, well-mannered dogs rather than excitable ones.