NearMeDog-friendly places in Crows Nest
Last updatedSt Thomas Rest Park in Crows Nest has a fully fenced off-leash dog area open 24 hours a day, with a small dog area and agility equipment inside. Most of the nine cafes that take dogs close by 3pm, so the best outing is an early run in the park, then breakfast at Bean Drinking, a 6-minute walk away. Dogs sit only at outdoor tables.
A day with your dog in Crows Nest
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Every day, all day and night | The fenced off-leash dog area at St Thomas Rest Park is open 24 hours. |
| Weekdays from 6am | Not Bread Alone Restaurant & Cafe opens at 6am, and its covered courtyard has outdoor tables for dogs on a lead. |
| Weekends from 7am to 4pm | Bean Drinking opens at 7am on Saturday and Sunday and closes at 4pm, with outdoor tables for dogs. |
| Saturdays from 7am to 9pm | Double Cross Dining Room's outdoor tables take dogs, and its dinner service runs Thursday to Saturday. |
Weekend in Crows Nest: a run at St Thomas Rest Park, then breakfast at Bean Drinking
St Thomas Rest Park comes first, so the dog gets its run before the cafe. Its off-leash area is fully and securely fenced and open 24 hours, so a weekend run can start at any hour. Inside the fence, a small dog area suits smaller dogs and agility equipment suits more active ones. When the run is done, walk the 6 minutes to Bean Drinking on Ernest Place. Its outdoor tables take dogs and look over a small green square. One visitor says the big breakfast and the French toast are generous enough to share between two. The cafe opens at 7am on Saturday and Sunday and closes at 4pm, so an early run keeps the rest of the morning free. The next plan starts earlier, on a weekday.
Weekday early start: breakfast at Not Bread Alone, then a run at St Thomas Rest Park
Owners who want a walk before work can start at Not Bread Alone Restaurant & Cafe, which opens at 6am on weekdays. Its courtyard is covered, with outdoor tables suited to dogs on a lead, so the dog can settle beside the owner's breakfast. Visitors like the egg roll, the halloumi and the stack, which reviewers say are fairly priced. After breakfast, the walk to St Thomas Rest Park takes 9 minutes. Once there, the dog gets a full off-leash run in the fenced area, with the same small dog area and agility equipment as the rest of the park. The park is open all day, so nobody needs to hurry the run. The last plan is for a Saturday night, when the walk ends at a park with night lighting.
Saturday night: dinner at Double Cross Dining Room, then a walk at St Thomas Rest Park
Double Cross Dining Room on Albany Street serves dinner from Thursday to Saturday, and its outdoor tables take dogs. Ask for a table outside, since dogs can't sit inside. Visitors praise the excellent coffee, the knowledgeable baristas and the well-cooked meat, and the Wagyu flank steak is one to order. A 6pm dinner leaves time to finish well before the cafe closes at 9pm. The walk from the restaurant to St Thomas Rest Park takes 7 minutes, and the off-leash area is open all night. The pathway has night lighting, so a dog can run after the meal. The dog rules for Crows Nest come next.
Dog rules in Crows Nest: where dogs can't go
Dogs can't go inside any of the nine cafes that take them, so the outdoor tables are the only place for a dog to sit. At St Thomas Rest Park the off-leash area is open at all hours, but leash any dog that misbehaves or is still in training, since reports of dog fights have been made there. Owners are asked to make sure dogs do not disturb the gravesites, which are part of the park's history. Confirm the current rules with North Sydney Council, which manages the park. For more places to sit with a dog, see the best dog-friendly cafes in Crows Nest.
Every dog-friendly place in Crows Nest
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| St Thomas Rest Park | Park | Off-leash area, fenced |
| BREWMANCE | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Double Cross Dining Room | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Only Coffee Project | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Artistry Coffee Craft Co | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| SALT & JAM | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Bean Drinking | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Eighty Ate | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Not Bread Alone Restaurant & Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Fresh Crows Nest Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Crows Nest?
St Thomas Rest Park on West Street is the off-leash option in Crows Nest, and its dog area is fully and securely fenced and open 24 hours a day. The fence covers the whole park, so a dog can run across the grass at any hour, with no set window to plan around. A separate small dog area sits inside for smaller dogs, and agility equipment suits more active ones. A dog water station and natural water access give the dog a drink after a run. The grounds were once the North Shore's first cemetery, and a restored sexton's cottage museum sits in the park too. The park also has a playground and picnic tables, so owners can stay close while the dog runs.
Is there a fenced dog park in Crows Nest?
Yes, St Thomas Rest Park on West Street in Crows Nest is fenced across its full area, and the dog run inside it is open around the clock. Smaller dogs have their own space within the fence, and more active dogs have agility equipment to work on. The park is also close to the cafes: Bean Drinking is a 6-minute walk, and Fresh Crows Nest Cafe on Ernest Street is 6 minutes too, so a run and a coffee fit into one trip. A playground, picnic tables and a level pathway from the gated entrance make it easy to bring the whole family.
Which cafes in Crows Nest allow dogs?
Nine cafes in Crows Nest take dogs, and all of them only at outdoor tables. Bean Drinking on Ernest Place has outdoor tables where dogs are welcome, and the grass beside the cafe gives children room to run. Eighty Ate on West Street has plenty of footpath seating in the sun, and dogs are welcome outside. A covered courtyard at Not Bread Alone Restaurant & Cafe has room for dogs on a lead. BREWMANCE on Willoughby Road, Only Coffee Project, SALT & JAM and Fresh Crows Nest Cafe also welcome dogs outside. Dogs stay out of the cafe rooms at all of them, so plan on a table outside.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in Crows Nest?
St Thomas Rest Park and Bean Drinking are a 6-minute walk apart in Crows Nest, so a dog can run first and the owner can have coffee after. Bean Drinking roasts its own coffee, and its outdoor tables overlook a small green square. Only Coffee Project on Willoughby Road is a 7-minute walk from the park, with pour-overs, filter coffee and guest roasters from around the world, and it opens at 6:30am on weekdays. Fresh Crows Nest Cafe on Ernest Street is also a 6-minute walk from the park, and it suits a casual morning with a dog.
What can I do with my dog in Crows Nest?
Crows Nest suits three simple outings, and each one starts or ends at the fenced off-leash park at St Thomas Rest Park. A weekend morning can begin with a run in the park, with breakfast at Bean Drinking a 6-minute walk away. On a weekday, an early breakfast at Not Bread Alone Restaurant & Cafe, which opens at 6am, can come before the park, nine minutes on foot. Saturday evenings suit Double Cross Dining Room, where dinner runs until 9pm and dogs can sit at the outdoor tables. The park's pathway has night lighting for the walk afterwards.