Hotel Leichhardt

Hotel Leichhardt sits on Short Street in the heart of Sydney's inner west, a boutique hotel option for travellers who would rather stay in Leichhardt's Italian restaurant strip than fight for a room in the CBD. The position works for visitors seeing family in the inner west, footy fans heading to nearby stadiums, and business travellers who want a quiet base with Norton Street's dining a short walk away. The city itself is a quick trip in by bus or light rail.

Dogs at the Hotel Leichhardt

Per the hotel's own pet policy page, pet friendly stays are available on request in selected balcony rooms, with fees that apply, and guests must contact the hotel before booking to arrange it. The practical takeaway: you cannot simply book a standard room and bring the dog, so call or email first and get the pet friendly room confirmed before you pay. The balcony room detail matters too, since it gives the dog a spot to sit outside with you rather than being cooped up entirely.

The hotel runs self check-in and has no on-site restaurant, but there is a shared terrace and courtyard, and you are expected to clean up after your dog in those shared outdoor areas.

If you need a mid-stay room clean with a dog in residence, arrange it with the hotel in advance. The trade-off for no restaurant is the position: Norton Street's cafes are at the door.

Inner west pavement walking is the reality here: there is no private grass at the property, so late-night and early-morning toilet breaks run along the footpaths of Short Street and the surrounding blocks.

Worth knowing

Leichhardt is one of the more walkable inner west bases for a dog owner: Norton Street and the surrounding blocks are full of cafes, and Hawthorne Canal Reserve gives you a green corridor for morning walks. Street parking around Short Street can be tight on weekends, so arrive with that in mind. The light rail and buses keep the car optional once you are checked in.

Close by with the dogs

For a morning walk with the dog, Cafe Bones sits right by the canal reserve and is famous among local dog owners. Absolute Cravings in neighbouring Annandale is a solid breakfast option a few blocks over, and the Blackwattle Bay Loop makes a longer city-fringe walk if you want to stretch legs properly.