A lot of cafes say they're dog-friendly and then make you sit outside in the rain. We've always been dog-friendly in the actual sense: dogs come inside, they get a water bowl, they get a treat, and nobody makes you feel like you've done something slightly wrong by bringing them.
What we actually provide ¶
There's a stainless steel water bowl by the front door, refilled throughout the day. Behind the counter we keep a tin of plain dog biscuits. We offer one to every dog that comes in, unless the owner tells us not to. We don't make a big fuss about it, we just do it. It's been part of how the cafe works since we opened in 2019.
Where dogs can sit ¶
Dogs are welcome anywhere in the cafe. There's no designated dog area or outdoor-only rule. If your dog is comfortable under a table or on a lead beside you, that's fine. The communal table has a bit more floor space, which works well for larger dogs. The sofa corner is popular with dogs who like to curl up, though we'd ask you to keep them off the sofa itself.
What we ask of you ¶
We ask that your dog is comfortable around other people and other dogs, because it can get busy on weekend mornings. We ask that they stay on a lead inside. If your dog is anxious in busy spaces, a quiet Tuesday morning is a better time to visit than a Saturday at 10am. We'd rather you had a good experience than a stressful one.
Why we do it ¶
Mara has had dogs her whole life. When she was planning the cafe, making it genuinely dog-friendly was never a question. It's also just good for the room. Dogs make people relax. A cafe where a dog is sleeping under a table is a cafe where people feel comfortable staying a while. That's the kind of place we want to be.
If you're planning to bring your dog for the first time, a Tuesday or Wednesday morning is usually the quietest. We'll be glad to see you both.