NearMeDog-friendly places in St Leonards
Last updatedOne good outing with a dog in St Leonards is an off-leash run at Newlands Park from 4pm, then coffee at Caffelato, a 6-minute walk away. Newlands Park's off-leash area is unfenced and its off-leash period starts at 4pm, so plan the cafe stop for late afternoon, before Caffelato closes at 5:30pm.
A day with your dog in St Leonards
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Every day, 5:30am to 5:30pm | Caffelato opens at 5:30am and closes at 5:30pm every day, with dogs welcome at its outdoor tables. |
| Weekdays, 5:45am to 3pm | The Moody Chef opens at 5:45am on weekdays and closes at 3pm, with its outdoor tables open to dogs. |
| Weekends, 8am to 3pm | The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards serves breakfast and lunch at its outdoor tables from 8am to 3pm on weekends. |
| From 4pm | Newlands Park's unfenced off-leash area on the sports field opens at 4pm. |
Weekend brunch in St Leonards with a dog: Wadanggari Park, then Rusty Rabbit
Wadanggari Park is a 4,750 sq m space in St Leonards, built over the North Shore railway line, and dogs are allowed on its large grassy area. Let the dog run the grass first, then take one of the shaded picnic tables before the walk to breakfast.
The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards is a 3-minute walk away on the Pacific Highway. It serves all-day breakfast and lunch from 8am to 3pm on weekends, and its outdoor tables take dogs, so the dog waits outside while you eat. Visitors praise the shakshuka, and the portions suit a group of friends. The pancake stack with berries is the sweet pick.
Ask for a table outside when you arrive and take the dog straight to it. For a longer run later in the day, Newlands Park's off-leash area opens at 4pm.
After 4pm in St Leonards: an off-leash run at Newlands Park, then coffee at Caffelato
Newlands Park is a public park in St Leonards with an unfenced off-leash dog area on its sports field, and the off-leash period starts at 4pm. The space has agility equipment, and the park also has drinking water, a playground, electric barbecues and picnic tables. Dogs must stay on a lead and at least 10 metres from the playground, and owners should bring their own waste bags because none are supplied on site.
Caffelato is a 6-minute walk from the park. It is a small, calm owner-run cafe on the Pacific Highway, open from 5:30am to 5:30pm every day, and it is best known for fresh tiramisu alongside its espresso. Order the tiramisu or the carrot cake with a mocha. One visitor says dogs are welcome inside as well as out, though it is worth checking with the owner on the day.
Arrive at Caffelato at 4:45pm, so the stop falls before its 5:30pm close with time to spare.
Dog rules in St Leonards: leads, playgrounds and cafe tables
Newlands Park's off-leash area on the sports field is unfenced, and it starts at 4pm. Dogs must be on a lead and kept at least 10 metres from the playground. Confirm the off-leash start with the council, and check whether sport or events take over the field on any day.
Wadanggari Park allows dogs, but check its lead rules with Lane Cove Council before a visit. Five of the six cafes allow dogs at their outdoor tables only. At Caffelato, one visitor says dogs are welcome inside as well, so check with the owner on the day.
For more cafes that take dogs in the suburb, see dog-friendly cafes in St Leonards.
Every dog-friendly place in St Leonards
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Newlands Park | Park | Off-leash area |
| Wadanggari Park | Park | Dogs allowed |
| Caffelato | Cafe | Dogs inside and outside |
| Cavalier Specialty Coffee (Cavalier 1.0) | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| The Moody Chef | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| The Wooden Whisk | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Charlie + Franks | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in St Leonards?
Newlands Park has an off-leash dog area on its sports field, and the off-leash period starts at 4pm. The area is unfenced, so there is no enclosure, and the park also has agility equipment and drinking water. Keep the dog on a lead and at least 10 metres from the playground, and bring waste bags, since none are supplied on site. Wadanggari Park also allows dogs on its large grassy area. Newlands Park also has parking, so the run can start straight from the car. The Caffelato stop works best right after the run, because the cafe stays open until 5:30pm.
Is there a fenced dog park in St Leonards?
The off-leash area at Newlands Park is unfenced, so a dog there runs without an enclosure and must stay on a lead. Wadanggari Park allows dogs on its large grassy area, but its playground is not fenced, and the flooring under the equipment is soft rubber. The off-leash area sits on the sports field, so the run is on open grass. Keep the dog close in both parks, and bring a lead for the walk between the parks and the cafes on the Pacific Highway. The shaded picnic tables at Wadanggari Park give a quieter place to sit with a dog between runs.
Which cafes in St Leonards allow dogs?
Six cafes in St Leonards take dogs at their outdoor tables, spread along the Pacific Highway, Oxley Street, Atchison Street and Albany Street. Caffelato is the only one where a visitor says dogs are also welcome inside, so check with the owner on the day. Cavalier Specialty Coffee (Cavalier 1.0) on Oxley Street, The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards, The Moody Chef, The Wooden Whisk and Charlie + Franks take dogs outside only. Caffelato opens at 5:30am every day and The Moody Chef at 5:45am on weekdays, so both suit an early coffee with a dog.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in St Leonards?
Wadanggari Park is a 3-minute walk from The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards and Charlie + Franks, and 4 minutes from The Moody Chef. Newlands Park is a 4-minute walk from Wadanggari Park, and Caffelato is 5 to 6 minutes from either park. A loop between the two parks is easy, with a coffee stop in the middle or at the end. Cavalier Specialty Coffee (Cavalier 1.0) is 5 minutes from Wadanggari Park, and The Wooden Whisk is also 5 minutes away. Each walk is short enough to take in one loop with a dog.
What can I do with my dog in St Leonards?
Two outings work well with a dog in St Leonards. On weekends, start at Wadanggari Park, then have breakfast at The Rusty Rabbit St Leonards at 9am on its outdoor tables. From 4pm, the unfenced off-leash area on the sports field at Newlands Park is open for a run, followed by coffee at Caffelato, which closes at 5:30pm. On weekdays, the early cafes suit a start: The Moody Chef opens at 5:45am and Caffelato at 5:30am, and both have outdoor tables where a dog can wait. Take a lead and water with you whichever outing you pick.