NearMeDog-friendly places in Redfern
Last updatedThe best dog outing in Redfern is an off-leash run at Redfern Park before 9:30am, then breakfast at Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant, a 6-minute walk away on weekends. Redfern Park's off-leash area is open from 4:30pm until 9:30am, so the morning run needs to finish by 9:30am.
A day with your dog in Redfern
| Time | Where dogs can go |
|---|---|
| Every day, before 9:30am | Redfern Park's off-leash area is open to dogs until 9:30am, so an early run there comes first. |
| Every day, from 4:30pm | Redfern Park's off-leash area opens again at 4:30pm, and the park's lights go out at 8:30pm. |
| Any time | Hugo Street Reserve's fenced area is open 24 hours a day, while Gibbons Street Reserve and Edmund Resch Reserve are off-leash at all times. |
| Weekdays, from 6am | Melted opens at 6am on weekdays, and its outdoor tables take dogs. |
| Sundays, from 7:30am | Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant opens at 7:30am on Sundays and takes dogs inside by the window as well as outside. |
| Weekdays, until 3pm | Melted and St Jude Cafe both close at 3pm on weekdays, so a cafe stop has to come before then. |
Weekend mornings in Redfern: an early run at Redfern Park, then brunch at Bloc145
Weekend mornings suit a run before the off-leash window closes. Redfern Park on Redfern Street has an off-leash dog area that is open until 9:30am, so the run comes first. Public toilets sit inside the park beside the cafe, and Redfern and Central train stations are within walking distance. Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant is a 6-minute walk from the park on Redfern Street. It opens at 7am on Saturdays and 7:30am on Sundays, and it takes dogs both inside, by the window, and outside. Arrive around 8:30am, after the run. The crab pasta is the dish to order, and reviewers say the cafe sells dog treats, so the stop suits a dog that has settled after its run.
Weekday mornings in Redfern: a fenced run at Hugo Street Reserve, then coffee at Melted
Hugo Street Reserve has a fenced off-leash dog area in its southern section, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dogs can run freely inside the fence before work, and the reserve's shaded areas help on a warm morning. Melted is a 3-minute walk away on Lawson Street. It opens at 6am on weekdays and closes at 3pm, and its outdoor tables take dogs, so a coffee on the footpath is an easy stop with a dog. Customers say the coffee is smooth and good, and the big filled croissant sandwich is the dish to order. The stop suits a dog that waits well outside while its owner orders.
Dog-friendly brunch in Redfern: an off-leash run at Edmund Resch Reserve, then St Jude Cafe
Edmund Resch Reserve at 791 South Dowling Street is off-leash across the whole reserve at all times, with no fenced area. Dogs run over grass lawns among mature trees, and shaded areas help dogs and owners stay cool on warm days. The reserve has no separate area for small dogs, so a small dog may do better at the fenced section of Hugo Street Reserve. There are no public toilets and no water access, so bring both water and bags. St Jude Cafe on Bourke Street is a 3-minute walk away, and its outdoor tables under the gum trees take dogs. Visitors praise the coffee and the brunch, so arrive at 9:30am to leave time to eat before the cafe closes.
After 4:30pm in Redfern: off-leash runs at Gibbons Street Reserve and Redfern Park
Gibbons Street Reserve is a small park on Gibbons Street with a concrete path through trees and shrubbery. The whole reserve is off-leash at all times, so dogs need to be comfortable around other dogs. Shaded areas make it a cooler place to start. From there, Redfern Park is a 9-minute walk away. Its off-leash dog area opens at 4:30pm, and the park has a playground, basketball courts and barbecues alongside it. The lights go out at 8:30pm, so plan the second run to finish before then. Public toilets sit inside the park beside the cafe.
Dog rules in Redfern: where dogs can't go
The basketball court at Hugo Street Reserve is off limits to dogs, and it is open from 9am to 9pm. Outside the fenced southern section, dogs must stay on a lead anywhere in the reserve. Redfern Park's off-leash area is open from 4:30pm to 9:30am. Reconciliation Park on George Street has a lawn for dog walks, but it isn't listed as an off-leash area, so keep a dog on a lead there unless signs say otherwise. Edmund Resch Reserve has no separate small-dog area and no poo bags, so bring your own. Confirm the rules with City of Sydney, and check the signs at each park before you go. For more places, see the best off-leash dog parks in Redfern and the dog-friendly cafes in Redfern.
Where these are in Redfern
- Hugo Street Reserve: A fenced run at Hugo Street Reserve, an off-leash run at Gibbons Street Reserve, then coffee at Melted, all within a 10-minute walk.
- Redfern Park: Redfern Park's off-leash windows, before 9:30am and from 4:30pm, with several cafes a 3-minute walk away.
- Edmund Resch Reserve: An all-day off-leash run at Edmund Resch Reserve, then St Jude Cafe three minutes away on Bourke Street.
Every dog-friendly place in Redfern
| Place | Type | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Reconciliation Park | Park | Dogs allowed |
| Hugo Street Reserve | Park | Off-leash area, fenced |
| Redfern Park | Park | Off-leash area |
| Gibbons Street Reserve | Park | Off-leash area |
| Edmund Resch Reserve | Park | Off-leash area |
| Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant | Cafe | Dogs inside and outside |
| Evie's | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Charmed by | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Henry Lee's | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Neighbourhood Specialty Coffee | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Coffee Tea & Me | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Melted | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| First Drop cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| St Jude Cafe | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Hunter's Corner | Cafe | Dogs outside |
| Cafe Oratnek | Cafe | Dogs outside |
FAQ
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Redfern?
Dogs can run off-leash at four Redfern parks: Hugo Street Reserve, Redfern Park, Gibbons Street Reserve and Edmund Resch Reserve. Hugo Street Reserve has a fenced off-leash area in its southern section, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Redfern Park allows dogs off-leash from 4:30pm until 9:30am, which suits a walk before or after work. Gibbons Street Reserve is off-leash at all times, so dogs there need to be comfortable around other dogs. Edmund Resch Reserve is off-leash across the whole reserve at all times, with no fenced area and no separate area for small dogs.
Is there a fenced dog park in Redfern?
Yes, Hugo Street Reserve has a fenced off-leash dog area in its southern section, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The fence makes it the easiest choice for a small dog or one that gets nervous around other dogs, and the fenced section is the place to let a dog off lead. Anywhere outside the fence, a dog needs a lead, and the reserve's full basketball court is off limits to dogs. The reserve has shaded areas and seating throughout, but no public toilets, so plan a toilet stop before you arrive. Its entrance sits on the corner of Hugo and Vine Streets.
What can I do with my dog in Redfern this weekend?
On a weekend, start with an off-leash run at Redfern Park before 9:30am, then have breakfast at Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant, a 6-minute walk away. The cafe opens at 7am on Saturdays and 7:30am on Sundays, and it takes dogs inside by the window as well as outside. For a second outing, Edmund Resch Reserve is off-leash at all times, with St Jude Cafe three minutes away on Bourke Street. St Jude Cafe is open from 7am to 3pm every day, and its outdoor tables take dogs under the gum trees. Bring water and poo bags for Edmund Resch Reserve, because it has no water for dogs and no poo bags are provided.
Which cafes in Redfern allow dogs?
Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant is the only cafe on this list that takes dogs inside as well as outside, and it also sells dog treats. Melted and St Jude Cafe welcome dogs at their outdoor tables, so a coffee on the footpath works with a dog. Melted opens at 6am on weekdays and closes at 3pm, which suits an early coffee after a run at Hugo Street Reserve. The other cafes on this list are listed for dogs outside only. Sunday hours differ, and Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant opens at 7:30am on Sundays.
Where can I walk my dog and get a coffee in Redfern?
Gibbons Street Reserve and Bloc145 Cafe & Restaurant are 3 minutes apart on foot, so a run and breakfast fit into one short walk. Gibbons Street Reserve is off-leash at all times, and its shaded trees make it a good place to start. Melted is also 3 minutes from Gibbons Street Reserve, with outdoor tables that take dogs. Hugo Street Reserve is 5 minutes away, and its fenced area suits a small or nervous dog. Edmund Resch Reserve and St Jude Cafe are 3 minutes apart as well, which makes a second pairing for an off-leash run and brunch.