Coronation Hotel

The Coronation Hotel, known locally as the Coro, has been pouring on Williwa Street in Portland since 1902, and it is one of those rare country pubs where the dog is part of the furniture: dogs are welcome inside the pub and at the outdoor tables, and some of the 17 upstairs accommodation rooms are dog-friendly. You eat and drink with the dog beside you rather than leaving it in the room.

Dogs at the Coronation Hotel

The dog-friendly rooms are among the 17 above-pub accommodation rooms, which all share bathrooms. No pet fees or weight limits are advertised, and some booking platforms note the conditions can vary by room, so call the publican directly and confirm the pet room at the time of reservation. Rooms get consistent praise for comfortable beds, and the pub runs log fires and live music nights, which matters if your dog is noise sensitive: midweek is the quieter bet.

The kitchen is a genuine draw: highly rated pizzas, schnitzels and parmys, with a helpful publican behind the bar. Free street parking lines Williwa Street and the surrounding roads.

While you're out there

Portland sits about 20 minutes from Lithgow, and the town's landmark is the Signs of Yesteryear silo murals, an easy on-lead stroll from the pub. Lake Wallace at Wallerawang is 10 to 15 minutes away with a flat foreshore walk, a designated off-leash area near the camping ground and swimming spots for water dogs. Further out, Hassans Walls Reserve near Lithgow has on-lead tracks to the Blue Mountains' highest lookout, and Blast Furnace Park walks the leash-allowed ruins of the state's first iron blast furnace. Lithgow Dog Park and Recreation Area covers the fenced run.

Max: ring the publican and name the dog-friendly room when you book; with 17 rooms above a working pub, the pet rooms are not always free, especially around live music nights.

Worth knowing

Bring your own water bowl and bedding since pet amenities are not confirmed. If you want to compare pub stays nearby, The Commercial Hotel at Wallerawang and Lake Wallace Camping are the other options in the NSW dog friendly stays region around Portland.