NearMeDog-friendly places in Dulwich Hill
Last updatedIn Dulwich Hill, the best dog outing is an off-leash run at Johnson Park, then a coffee at Sideways Deli Cafe, two minutes' walk away. Sideways is open from 7am to 5pm every day. Johnson Park's off-leash area opens only at set times, so check the signs on arrival.
A day with your dog in Dulwich Hill
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Every day, 7am to 5pm | Sideways Deli Cafe is open with outdoor seating for dogs, two minutes from Johnson Park. |
| Weekdays, 7am to 3pm | The General - Eatery and Supplies is open with outdoor seating for dogs. |
| Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 1:30pm | Small Talk Coffee & Snacks is open with outdoor seating for dogs. |
| Johnson Park off-leash hours | The off-leash area is open only at set times. Check the signs on arrival, and keep dogs on a lead outside them. |
Dog-friendly brunch in Dulwich Hill: a run at Johnson Park, then Sideways Deli Cafe
Johnson Park is a 1.6-hectare reserve on Constitution Road. Its off-leash area is unfenced and open only at set times, so time the run to that window. Sideways Deli Cafe is a two-minute walk along Constitution Road, with indoor and outdoor seating and dogs allowed outside only. Its breakfast plate of ham, egg, avocado and toast is the dish visitors single out, and the cafe is open from 7am to 5pm every day, so the run can fit around a late start. For a weekday start, the next plan begins with coffee at The General.
Weekday breakfast in Dulwich Hill: The General, then shade at Laxton Reserve
The General - Eatery and Supplies on Marrickville Road opens at 7am on weekdays and closes at 3pm. It has seats inside and out, with dogs allowed outside only. Corn fritters and the breakfast burger are the orders to make, and the latte art gets praise too. From there it is a nine-minute walk to Laxton Reserve on Union Street, a 0.6-hectare reserve with shade trees, a sheltered picnic area, drinking water, a playing field and dog walking areas. The shade makes this the stop for a hot morning. On Saturdays, start with the bagels instead.
Saturday bagels in Dulwich Hill, then the off-leash run at Johnson Park
Small Talk Coffee & Snacks on New Canterbury Road opens at 8am on Saturdays and closes at 1:30pm, so an 8am start leaves time for a run afterwards. Visitors single out the bagels with cream cheese, and the cafe has outdoor seating for dogs, so the coffee and bagels can be finished at the table before the walk. From there it is an eight-minute walk to Johnson Park on Constitution Road. Its off-leash area runs only at set times, so the run has to land inside them.
Dog rules in Dulwich Hill: where dogs can't go
Johnson Park's off-leash area is unfenced and open only at set times, because the park is home to endangered long-nosed bandicoots. Outside those times, dogs must stay on a lead, and rangers patrol regularly to enforce it. Confirm the current off-leash hours with Inner West Council before a visit. At all three cafes, dogs can sit outside but not inside. Laxton Reserve has dog walking areas. For more places, see the best dog-friendly cafes in Dulwich Hill.
Every dog-friendly place in Dulwich Hill
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Park | Park | Off-leash area |
| Laxton Reserve | Park | Dogs allowed |
| SMALL TALK COFFEE & SNACKS | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| The General - Eatery and Supplies | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Sideways Deli Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Dulwich Hill?
Johnson Park on Constitution Road is the off-leash area in Dulwich Hill, and it opens only at set times. The area is unfenced but spacious, which gives dogs room to run, and the park has no dedicated small dog area. Outside the set times, dogs need a lead. Bring your own poo bags, because none are provided. The park also has undercover BBQ areas, picnic tables, a public restroom and night lighting, so an owner can stay a while after the run. An outdoor calisthenics area and sports fields sit alongside the dog area, so an owner can exercise nearby too.
Is there a fenced dog park in Dulwich Hill?
Johnson Park's off-leash area is not fenced, so dogs run in open space rather than inside a fence. The park covers about 1.6 hectares, which leaves plenty of room for a big run when the area is open. Its off-leash area is open only at set times, so plan the visit around those hours, since it is the main option in the suburb for a big run. Laxton Reserve, a three-minute walk from Sideways Deli Cafe, has dog walking areas, drinking water and shade trees. Outside the set hours at Johnson Park, keep the dog on a lead.
What can I do with my dog in Dulwich Hill this weekend?
On a Saturday, start with bagels at Small Talk Coffee & Snacks from 8am, then walk eight minutes to Johnson Park for a run during its set off-leash times. On a Sunday, the cafe is open from 8am to 1:30pm, so the same order works. Any day of the week, Sideways Deli Cafe is open from 7am to 5pm, so a coffee and breakfast plate fit most weekend mornings or afternoons. Sideways is two minutes from Johnson Park, so the two can be paired for a short outing. Choose the plan that matches your day, and remember that all three cafes allow dogs only in their outdoor seating.
Which cafes in Dulwich Hill allow dogs?
Three Dulwich Hill cafes allow dogs, all on their outdoor seating only: Small Talk Coffee & Snacks on New Canterbury Road, The General - Eatery and Supplies on Marrickville Road, and Sideways Deli Cafe on Constitution Road. Small Talk opens at 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, and closes at 1:30pm. The General opens at 7am on weekdays and closes at 3pm. Sideways Deli Cafe has the longest day, open from 7am to 5pm every day, and it is two minutes from Johnson Park. Inside seating is not open to dogs at any of them.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in Dulwich Hill?
Johnson Park and Sideways Deli Cafe are a two-minute walk apart on Constitution Road, so a run and a coffee fit into one short outing. Laxton Reserve is a three-minute walk from Sideways, so the walk can run from the cafe to the reserve and back. Sideways is open from 7am to 5pm every day, so a coffee suits most mornings and afternoons. The General - Eatery and Supplies is nine minutes from Johnson Park and opens at 7am on weekdays, so it suits a weekday start. For a full morning, begin at Johnson Park while the off-leash area is open, then finish with a coffee at Sideways.