The Best Dog-Friendly Cafes in Canberra

With the national capital packed with an abundance of parks, walking tracks and other outdoor adventures, it’s little surprise Canberrans are big on dog ownership. It’s also little surprise that Canberra caters so well to its canine population, with a bevy of dog-friendly eateries located across the city.

If you’re looking for somewhere to sip coffee and enjoy brunch with your pooch in tow, here are some of the best dog-friendly cafes in Canberra.

Barrio Collective 

Serious coffee connoisseurs will do well to swing by this coffee roastery and neighbourhood bar of a morning with their pooch. The curated menu allows these guys to focus on a few speciality dishes and roasts and they do them well. Paired with their light-filled, minimalist space, Barrio is the definition of simple is best. If you're lucky, your furry friend might just make it onto the 'gram as a #dogsofbarrio. 

30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon 

The Cupping Room

With a combination of green vines and plants creeping out from the ceiling, warm honey-coloured woods and the smell of delicious ONA coffee, The Cupping Room is simply lovely. The fact that they make pupperchinos elevates them to god-tier.

1/1-13 University Avenue, Canberra City

Teddy Picker’s

Located in the inner north suburb of Campbell, just a short walk from the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, Teddy Picker’s is one of the area’s best cafes. The menu is filled with cafe classics done really well (we love the Eggs Benny and Teddy’s French Toast) and the coffee is nothing short of outstanding.

For dog owners, the best part might be the fact that Teddy Picker’s offers outdoor seating and bowls of fresh water. If you’ve just done a lap of the lake with your pooch and need somewhere to rest your legs afterwards, Teddy Picker’s is an excellent bet.

53/65 Constitution Avenue, Campbell

Margot

We adore a bar we can pop by for espresso in the AM and wine and cheese in the PM and when it’s placed right on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin and you can bring your doggo, even better. You can look forward to Wildflower Pastries with your morning coffee and a selection of cheeses, olives and locally sourced nuts with your evening tipple.

West Kiosk, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes  

The Pedlar

Right next door is The Pedlar, a cafe/restaurant/pub. It’s open from 7am every weekday and 8am on weekends and closes at 10pm, so if you’re circling the lake later in the day, this is the place to go.

There’s lots of outdoor seating if you’re drinking or dining with your dog, and there’s even some yummy doggy treats on offer. The human menu is great too - it covers breakfast through dinner and is replete with delicious brekkies and pub favourites.

65 Constitution Avenue, Campbell

Eighty/Twenty Food

Another Lonsdale St favourite, the food at Eighty/Twenty is packed with nutritious, homemade love! Their motto, 80/20, is how they believe people should eat: a lot of mindfulness and a little cheeky indulgence! Soak up the Canberra sun by enjoying lunch outside and soak up the hustle and bustle of Braddon. Treat your best friend to a lactose-free puppycino with complimentary treat whilst you're there! 

1/18 Lonsdale Street, Braddon

Two Before Ten

There are currently 11 Two Before Ten locations around Canberra, but the original outpost in Aranda – in the Belco district – is possibly the most dog-friendly. Not only does it have plenty of outdoor tables, but doggos are offered bowls of fresh water and blankets so they can lie down for a well-earned rest.

You’ll be glad to know the food and drink here is equally impressive, with produce-driven dishes (we can’t go past the Field Mushrooms on Toast and the Kimchi Garden Bowl with veggies sourced from the cafe’s own garden) and top-notch coffee.

68 Bandjalong Crescent, Aranda

Common Grounds

You can tell Common Grounds is a truly dog-friendly spot because the cafe often features the pooches who dine there on its socials. Located in Gowrie (south of Civic in the Tuggeranong Valley), Common Grounds is very popular among both dogs and humans alike – and for good reason.

The outdoor seating is in ample supply, the staff are friendly (and clearly love doggos), and the food and drink menu is superb. We really like the shakshuka, but the cafe’s specials are also well worth trying.

4/1 Jeffries Street, Gowrie

If you loved this edit of the best dog-friendly cafes in Canberra and are looking for more outdoor adventure spots to take your doggo, check out our guides to Canberra’s best weekend markets and the nearby South Coast’s favourite walking tracks.