NearMeDog-friendly places in Neutral Bay
Last updatedNeutral Bay's best dog outing is a run on the open ovals at Forsyth Park, off-leash around the clock except when sports teams are training or playing, then breakfast at Chaos Cafe, a 9-minute walk away, which opens at 6am on Sundays. For a small or nervous dog, Warringa Park's fenced off-leash area is the calmer choice.
A day with your dog in Neutral Bay
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Weekdays, from 6am | At Neutral, Against The Grind, Essence Coffee and Chaos Cafe all open at 6am, so a dog can start with coffee before work. |
| Weekends, from 6am | Chaos Cafe opens at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays, and Against The Grind opens at 6:30am on both days. |
| Sundays, until 3pm | Chaos Cafe closes at 3pm on Sundays, so plan breakfast after the Forsyth Park run and before then. |
| Any time | The Forsyth Park ovals are off-leash around the clock, but dogs must be on a lead whenever sports teams train or play. |
Sunday in Neutral Bay: a run at Forsyth Park, then breakfast at Chaos Cafe
Forsyth Park has two large open ovals that are off-leash around the clock. They are unfenced, so a dog moves freely across the grass. When a sports team is training or playing on the ovals, dogs go on a lead instead, so check the fields first. Some dogs at the park have shown rough play or aggressive behaviour, so keep a close hold on your dog if the ovals are busy.
It is a 9-minute walk from the park to Chaos Cafe on Military Road. The cafe has plenty of outdoor seating, big breakfast and lunch portions, good coffee and attentive staff. A 9:30am breakfast gives the dog time to settle after the run. For a smaller, fenced run, the Saturday plan starts at Warringa Park.
Saturday in Neutral Bay: a fenced run at Warringa Park, then coffee at Against The Grind
Warringa Park on Kurraba Road has a fully fenced off-leash dog area, so a dog can run loose inside a secure space. The park also has a water fountain, shaded spots and seating for owners, plus a children's play area and wheelchair access. On a hot day it is the better of the two parks, because it has shade and water.
From the park it is a 14-minute walk to Against The Grind on Young Street. Its outdoor tables take dogs, and it is known for its takeaway flat white. Regulars say the staff remember them. Stopping at 8:30am gives a relaxed coffee after the run. The last plan is for a weekday morning, when 57 COFFEE BAR opens at 7am.
Weekday coffee in Neutral Bay before a run at Forsyth Park
57 COFFEE BAR on Waters Road is known for strong coffee roasted on site. Visitors praise it as full of character. Its outdoor tables take dogs and have both shaded and sunny spots, which suits a dog waiting outside on a warm morning. Weekday hours run from 7am to 2pm, so an early coffee is the easiest stop.
From the cafe it is a 10-minute walk to Forsyth Park. On a weekday, check whether a team is training on the ovals, because dogs must be on a lead then. The dog rules for Neutral Bay follow.
Dog rules in Neutral Bay: where dogs can't go
Dogs can run off the lead in two places in Neutral Bay. The ovals at Forsyth Park are off-leash, but dogs must be kept on a lead whenever sports teams train or play. Warringa Park's fenced off-leash area is the enclosed option. Each of the six cafes that take dogs seats them outside, except that Essence Coffee's back area is also dog friendly. Check sports bookings on the Forsyth Park ovals before you go. For more places to stop, see dog-friendly cafes in Neutral Bay.
Every dog-friendly place in Neutral Bay
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Warringa Park | Park | Off-leash area, fenced |
| Forsyth Park | Park | Off-leash area |
| At Neutral | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Essence Coffee | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| 57 COFFEE BAR | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Café ZoZo | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Chaos Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Against The Grind | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Neutral Bay?
Forsyth Park is one of two places in Neutral Bay where dogs run off the lead, with two large ovals that dogs can use at any hour. The ovals have no fence, so a dog runs across open grass with plenty of room. Dogs must go on a lead whenever sports teams train or play on the ovals, so check the fields before you set out. Owners should also keep a close hold on their dog, because some dogs at the park have shown rough play or aggressive behaviour. Warringa Park, on Kurraba Road, is the other choice, with a fully fenced off-leash area that gives a dog a secure space to roam. Forsyth Park also has drinking water, a public toilet and picnic tables.
Is there a fenced dog park in Neutral Bay?
Yes, Warringa Park in Neutral Bay has a fenced dog park on Kurraba Road. Its off-leash area is enclosed, so a dog can run free inside a secure space. North Sydney Council lists the park as a fenced dog park with water. Facilities include a water fountain, shade, seating for owners, a children's play area and wheelchair access. Poop bags are available there too. Forsyth Park's ovals are off-leash but unfenced, so a dog there moves across open grass instead of inside an enclosure. For a small or nervous dog, or a hot day, the enclosed space and shade at Warringa Park are the better fit.
Which cafes in Neutral Bay allow dogs?
Six cafes in Neutral Bay take dogs, and each one seats them outside. At Neutral on Rangers Road has outdoor tables where dogs are welcome, and Against The Grind on Young Street does the same. 57 COFFEE BAR on Waters Road has shaded and sunny outdoor tables. Café ZoZo and Chaos Cafe, both on Military Road, have outdoor seating, and Chaos Cafe has plenty of it. Essence Coffee on Wycombe Road has a back area that is dog friendly. Check the opening hours before you go, because the six cafes open and close at different times of day.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in Neutral Bay?
Forsyth Park is the natural starting point for a walk with a coffee in Neutral Bay. Five of the six dog-friendly cafes are within a 10-minute walk of it, and At Neutral is an 11-minute walk away. Café ZoZo is 8 minutes away, Essence Coffee, Chaos Cafe and Against The Grind are 9 minutes, and 57 COFFEE BAR is 10 minutes. The cafes are close to each other too. Chaos Cafe and Café ZoZo are both on Military Road, about a minute apart, and Against The Grind is a 1-minute walk from both. From Warringa Park, the cafes take 13 to 15 minutes on foot, and Against The Grind's takeaway flat white is well liked for the trip.
What can I do with my dog in Neutral Bay this weekend?
On a weekend in Neutral Bay, the two plans start with a run and end with breakfast or coffee. On Sunday, run on the Forsyth Park ovals, then walk 9 minutes to Chaos Cafe, which is open from 6am to 3pm. On Saturday, take a fenced run at Warringa Park, then walk 14 minutes to Against The Grind, which is open from 6:30am to 2:30pm. Dogs must be on a lead on the Forsyth Park ovals whenever a sports team trains or plays, so check the fields before a Sunday run. For a small or nervous dog, the Saturday plan at Warringa Park is the calmer choice, and on a hot day its shade and water help.