NearMeDog-friendly places in North Sydney
Last updatedThe best dog outing in North Sydney is a run on the open lawns of St Leonards Park, then breakfast at Sotto On West, a 5-minute walk away on West Street. Dogs stay off the ovals and 10 metres from the playground and barbecues, and the lawns are not floodlit, so go in daylight.
A day with your dog in North Sydney
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Weekdays, from 6am | Sotto On West opens at 6am on weekdays, and Home Espresso opens at 6:30am. |
| Weekdays, until 3pm | Home Espresso and Sotto On West both close at 3pm on weekdays, so breakfast comes before the afternoon. |
| Saturdays and Sundays, 8am to 4pm | Cafe Lost and Found is open 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with outside tables for dogs. |
| Saturdays, until 9pm | Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza is open until 9pm on Saturdays, so a late lunch is possible. |
| Any day, in daylight | The open lawns at St Leonards Park are not floodlit for dog use, so plan the run in daylight. |
Weekday mornings in North Sydney: a run at St Leonards Park, then breakfast
St Leonards Park has an off-leash dog area across its open lawns. Give the dog a run there in daylight, since the lawns are not floodlit for dog use, and keep clear of the playground and barbecues. Dogs are not permitted on the ovals. When the run is done, walk 5 minutes to Sotto On West on West Street, which opens at 6am on weekdays. Its outside tables take dogs, and visitors praise the coffee and the brunch plates. The cafe closes at 3pm on weekdays, so a 7am breakfast fits well before the afternoon.
Weekend coffee first in North Sydney, then a run at St Leonards Park
Cafe Lost and Found - North Sydney Cafe, Coffee Nearby is open 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and dogs are welcome at its outside tables. It is a plant-filled cafe with a fountain, serving Toby's Estate coffee, wraps, salads and big breakfasts. Reviewers say the flat white is consistently good and the food is fresh and generous, and the chicken wrap and chorizo and egg wrap are the dishes to order. The walk to St Leonards Park takes 7 minutes, and the run there is best in daylight, since the lawns are not floodlit for dog use. Dogs stay off the ovals and 10 metres from the playground and barbecues.
Shady stops for a hot weekday in North Sydney: Kesterton Park, then coffee
Kesterton Park is a harbourside reserve of 0.33 hectares, with drinking water, toilets and picnic shelters. Its playground is fully fenced and mostly shaded, and dogs are welcome outside the playground zone. On a warm day the shade and water are the reason to start here, and the picnic shelters give owners a place to rest before the walk. From there it is a 12-minute walk to Home Espresso on Mount Street, which has outside tables that take dogs. Go early, before the heat builds, and an 8am coffee leaves plenty of time before the cafe closes at 3pm.
Dog rules in North Sydney: where dogs can't go
Dogs are not permitted on North Sydney Oval or Bon Andrews Oval. At St Leonards Park they must stay at least 10 metres from the playground and barbecues, and owners keep them on lead near the roads, the formal gardens and the playground. At Kesterton Park, dogs are welcome outside the fenced playground zone only. Check the current rules with North Sydney Council before a first visit, since off-leash areas can change. For more places to stop, see the best dog-friendly cafes in North Sydney.
Where these are in North Sydney
- Around St Leonards Park: Each cafe on this list is within 12 minutes' walk of the park, so a run can end with coffee on Miller Street or West Street.
- Kesterton Park: A shaded stop with drinking water and picnic shelters, a 12-minute walk from Home Espresso on Mount Street.
Every dog-friendly place in North Sydney
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| St Leonards Park | Park | Off-leash area |
| Kesterton Park | Park | Dogs allowed |
| Cafe La Luce | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Cafe Lost and Found - North Sydney Cafe, Coffee Nearby | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Bay Ten Espresso | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Sotto On West | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Home Espresso | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| The Foliage Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Flock Eatery & Catering | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in North Sydney?
St Leonards Park has an off-leash dog area across its open lawns. Dogs are not permitted on North Sydney Oval or Bon Andrews Oval, and they must stay at least 10 metres from the playground and barbecues. The park's bubbler is its only drinking water point, so bring a bowl. The open lawns are not floodlit for dog use, so plan a run in daylight. Owners keep their dogs on lead near the roads and the formal gardens. Coffee is close by: Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza is a 4-minute walk from the park, and Sotto On West is 5 minutes away.
Is there a fenced dog park in North Sydney?
St Leonards Park in North Sydney has no fenced dog area. Its off-leash dog area covers the open lawns, which have no fence around them. The playground at Kesterton Park is fully fenced, but dogs are welcome there outside the playground zone only. At St Leonards Park, owners keep dogs on lead near the roads, the formal gardens and the playground. Dogs must stay at least 10 metres from the playground and barbecues, and they are not permitted on North Sydney Oval or Bon Andrews Oval. Bring a bowl, since the park's bubbler is its only drinking water point. Plan any run for daylight, because the open lawns are not floodlit for dog use.
What can I do with my dog in North Sydney this weekend?
Start with coffee at Cafe Lost and Found, which is open 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, then walk 7 minutes to St Leonards Park for a run. The cafe's outside tables take dogs, and its wraps and big breakfasts make a filling start. Run on the open lawns in daylight, since they are not floodlit for dog use. Keep dogs off the ovals and 10 metres from the playground and barbecues. For lunch afterwards, Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza is open until 9pm on Saturdays, and its shaded courtyard has outside tables where dogs are welcome. The pizza and tomato bruschetta are the dishes to order there. Keep the dog on lead near the roads on the way back.
Which cafes in North Sydney allow dogs?
Sotto On West, Home Espresso and Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza all allow dogs at their outside tables in North Sydney. Cafe Lost and Found does too, with outside seating and Toby's Estate coffee. Cafe La Luce and Flock Eatery & Catering also have outside tables, and both are within 12 minutes' walk of St Leonards Park. Soho has a shaded courtyard with outside tables. Sotto On West opens at 6am on weekdays, which suits an early coffee with a dog. Home Espresso opens at 6:30am on weekdays and closes at 3pm, so plan that visit before the afternoon.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in North Sydney?
St Leonards Park is the walk, and Sotto On West and Soho on Miller Cafe & Pizza are the coffee stops within 5 minutes of it. Soho is a 4-minute walk from the park, and it has a shaded courtyard with outside tables where dogs are welcome. Sotto On West is a 5-minute walk and opens at 6am on weekdays, so an early coffee after a run works well. Home Espresso on Mount Street is 11 minutes from the park, with outside tables and coffee from 6:30am on weekdays. A loop works too: walk from the park to Soho in 4 minutes, on to Sotto On West in another 4, then back to the park in 5. Dogs must stay 10 metres from the playground and barbecues in the park, so keep the walk to the lawns and the paths.
Which North Sydney dog outing suits a hot day?
Kesterton Park has the shade and drinking water for a hot day, along with picnic shelters for a rest. Its playground is fully fenced, and dogs are welcome outside the playground zone only. The park is a 0.33-hectare harbourside reserve with toilets as well. From the park it is 12 minutes to Home Espresso on Mount Street, which has outside tables that take dogs. The cafe opens at 6:30am on weekdays and closes at 3pm, so an 8am coffee fits the outing. Picnic shelters and the park's shade make it a good place to rest before the walk, so the stop works best early in the morning.