You wake up on Saturday morning, open the curtains to find a beautiful spring day outside, and find yourself having the same old debate in your head: should I head out somewhere for a nice leisurely brunch, or take the dog for a walk so I can carry its sh!t around for an hour? Well, if the girl on the Old El Paso ads has taught me anything (other than not to eat Old El Paso), it’s to solve difficult problems by sitting on the fence and adopting the mantra of “Why not both?”

Thankfully for us, there are a number of cafes around town that are more than happy to accommodate you and your canine friend, so check out one of these places next time you want to share a cronut with your cavoodle, a piccolo latte with your pitbull, or French toast with your French bulldog!
__________________________

Double Shot
Deakin

As well as a fresh, stylish interior, Deakin’s DoubleShot also has a great outdoor dining area, complete with astroturf to make your pooch feel at home and you like you’re at a Beverly Hills country club. Try their Hot Smoked Trout on chilli sourdough with a Peanut Butter Smoothie to get your weekend off to a perfect start.
__________________________

Wilbur’s Café Bar
Hackett

One of the Northside’s hidden gems, Wilbur’s is a friendly, relaxed café with a real ‘local’ feel to it and lots of charm. For brunch, the Madigan Omelette or Hackett Baked Beans are great options, while for lunch, it’s hard to go past the Balsamic Beetroot Risotto with candied walnuts and Belgian fetta.
__________________________

Beess & Co
Yarralumla

Located at the back of the Yarralumla shops (just look for the really tall tree), Beess & Co has plenty of outdoor seating and space for your four-legged friend to roam around. For you late risers, they do an all day brunch on weekends, so there’s no excuse for not dropping in for some Ricotta Hotcakes or Sauteed Mushrooms on toast.
__________________________

The Oaks Brasserie
Yarralumla

Located in the Yarralumla Nursery, The Oaks Brasserie not only allows dogs, they welcome them with open arms (or is that paws?). There’s a specially-maintained dog garden where they can sniff to their heart’s content, and a section of the menu dedicated to canine treats, meaning you can enjoy your Recovery Breakfast in peace while Fido chomps down on a couple of chipolatas.
__________________________

Tilley’s Devine Cafe
Lyneham

Give your puppy a taste of local history by taking it along to the iconic Tilley’s Devine Café for some Zucchini, Corn and Kale Fritters or a stack of their Organic Spelt Pancakes. A lot of things have changed at Tilley’s since it first opened in 1984, but thankfully its food and atmosphere are as good as ever.