Find dog food menus, toys and ‘pawties’ for your furry friend at these poochy-cool pubs (and some tasty options for humans, too).
A pint without my pup? No, thank you. Whether you want a casual afternoon sinking beers with your best mate, or a raucous “pawty” with fancy pet food and “pawtographers”, these pooch-friendly Sydney pubs have got you and your faithful dog sorted.
The Carrington
Do you have a very, very, good dog? Then take them immediately to The Carrington, where they will be treated with a dog-only menu of beef tartar, pupcakes and even some vegan options (apparently dogs can have dietary restrictions, too). Once they’ve had their fill they can peruse the toy library for tennis balls or tug toys, or check out the art exhibition (currently featuring Annabel Osborne’s dog portraits).
Food for humans: CBD restaurant Grana supplies freshly made pasta, served with prawns, bolognaise or boscaiola ($24-28)
565 Bourke Street, Surry Hills; thecarringtonsydney.com
The Marrickville Hotel
This independent inner west gem is the place to be for pooches on a Friday afternoon, when the ratio of dog to human is almost 1:1. Whether you prefer sitting on the wooden stools overlooking Marrickville Road, at the fairy-lit bar or on one of the long, cafeteria-style tables in the light-filled back room, your dog can come along. Last year, the pub even collaborated with Grifter to release the Mongrel ESB, raising money for Maggie’s Rescue.
Food for humans: Pho Phd supplies a selection of Vietnamese dishes, including vermicelli noodle salad with crunchy spring rolls ($20)
244 Marrickville Road, Marrickville; themarrickvillehotel.com.au
The Erko
Dogs are considered part of the family at The Erko, which has plenty of dog treats and water bowls throughout the venue. There’s also a food menu for dogs (including house-made dog biscuits, beef tartare and banana muesli bars) and special events to celebrate dogs (Dog Mums Day is fast approaching). Don’t have a dog? No worries, just keep an eye out for adoption days when rescue pups from Monika’s Dog Rescue come along to find their furever home.
Food for humans: Think pub favourites, but with a twist. There’s XL buffalo wings ($19), nachos ($19-21) and rump steak ($35).
102 Erskineville Road, Erskineville; theerko.com.au
The Newport
This may be one of the most scenic pooch-friendly pubs in Sydney, with marina views, a leafy beer garden and fire pits roaring in winter. There’s dog water bowls provided, plenty of bird watching to partake in and the opportunity for a picturesque walk after sinking a few pints.
Food for humans: There’s an extensive variety of food on offer, from smoothies at the Kiosk Cafe ($10.5), to fresh oysters at the Seafood Market ($29 for 6), to pizza at Vinnie’s (from $24).
2 Kalinya Street, Newport; merivale.com/venues/thenewport
The Cricketer’s Arms
Resident pub dog Woody welcomes dogs of all shapes and sizes to the lower level of The Crix. The beer garden is a particularly good spot for your furry friends, with shady trees and space to stretch out. Plus, there are always plenty of other pooches to socialise with. Water bowls are available at the main bar.
Food for humans: The public bar has a limited selection of dishes from Chez Crix (the restaurant upstairs), including steak frites ($28), Angelachu anchovies and pickles baguette ($23) and roast chicken with jus gras and mustard fat ($32).
106 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills; instagram.com/cricketersarmshotel
The Courthouse Hotel
The Courty is the go-to pub for dog owners in the inner west for its big leafy courtyard and nearby off-leash dog park. There are doggy meals on the menu, giving your furry friend the option of beef or lamb tartare ($8). Water bowls are, of course, provided and “puptographers” make the occasional appearance (keep your eye on their socials for further information).
Food for humans: This is the home of the infamous can’o’nachos ($37), a giant serving of nachos and liquid cheese that is poured out from a can at your table.
202 Australia Street, Newtown; thecourty.com.au
The Albion
TheAlbion is as much of a party spot for dogs as it is for people. The 1860’s Parramatta pub has hosted several themed puppy “pawtys”, which spill into the carpark with market stalls, doggy treats and themed photo walls. But even on a normal day, dogs can enjoy the large outdoor space with their own water bowl and a selection of dog toys from 12-8pm.
Food for humans: Pub food has a Middle Eastern flair with meze plates like smoked labneh and potato crisps ($16), lamb kofta ($19) and baked eggplant with grilled flatbread ($16).
135 George Street, Parramatta; albionhotel.com.au
The Vic on the Park
On Sunday, it’s time to take your dog down to The Vic. The inner west pub has a massive courtyard where dogs are encouraged to get in on the action, with a Sunday afternoon Doggy Badge Draw. It’s free for all dogs to enter, and if they win, they’ll be taking home a bandana, some treats and some toys. As a bonus, all proceeds from the Sunday meat tray and beer case raffle go to Maggie’s Rescue.
Food for humans: There’s some modern pub fare on offer, including roasted cauliflower with spiced hummus ($22), The Vic parma ($30), and rotisserie chicken with roast pumpkin salad ($28).
2 Addison Road, Marrickville; merivale.com/venues/viconthepark
Backyard at The Alex
Let your pup have its moment at The Alex, where each week one furry guest is crowned Dog of the Week and has its polaroid taken for the Wall of Winners. Celebrate afterwards with free dog treats and a selection of dog toys to play with. Dogs are only allowed outside, but that’s no loss: the backyard is almost as big as the pub itself, with everything from a basketball court to live music.
Food for humans: Pub fare has Mexican flair at The Alex. There’s quesadillas ($22), nachos ($23-27) and even a chicken tinga chalupa ($20) on the menu.
35 Henderson Rd, Alexandria; merivale.com/venues/the-alex
The Golden Sheaf
Your best mate can help you score a date at The Golden Sheaf, where every couple of months the pub teams up with a local dog rescue service to host Dating with Dogs (keep an eye on socials for details). Off the market? No worries, there’s also frequent Dog Days that feature market stalls and costume competitions, and dogs are welcome year-round in the shady, tree-lined courtyard.
Food for humans: This pub fare is a little fancier, with lobster rolls ($24), spanner crab linguine ($34) and Riverine eye fillet ($60).
429 New South Head Road, Double Bay; thegoldensheaf.com.au
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