The whitecottage 163

The Whitecottage 163 is a white weatherboard cottage on Dudley Road in Whitebridge that runs an unusual day: Thai and Asian dishes alongside a brunch list. Crab fried rice, chilli chicken, chicken with cashews and lamb shank share the menu with croque madame and French toast, and the front tables outside are where dogs are welcome. It sits a short roll from the Fernleigh Track, which makes it a lunch stop with the dog after a stretch of rail-trail walking.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating out the front of the cottage; the indoor rooms stay dog-free. It is a compact street-front setup rather than a big beer garden, so a settled dog on a lead at the front tables is the workable format. Trading runs 7am to 3pm Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday closed.

The vibe

The cottage setting gives it more charm than the average suburban strip, and the Thai-by-day, brunch-friendly menu means a table of humans can mix a green curry with a flat white without anyone compromising. Presentation gets particular praise from diners.

Getting there and parking

The cottage is at 163 Dudley Road, Whitebridge, between Charlestown and Dudley on the Lake Macquarie side of Newcastle. Street parking sits along Dudley Road, and the Fernleigh Track crosses the suburb, so you can walk in from the trail with the dog rather than driving.

Pair it with

The Fernleigh Track is the obvious warm-up, a converted rail corridor that runs through the suburb. For an off-lead finish, the Redhead dog beach is a short drive down the track's southern end. In neighbouring Dudley, Paperboy Espresso is the other local coffee stop.

More ideas are on the New South Wales dog friendly restaurants guide and the Whitebridge destination page.