The Best Dog-Friendly Café in Surry Hills (and Why Your Pup Already Knows It)

Some mornings I can tell who's walking through the door before I even look up. Not by the footsteps by the jingle of a collar and the click of paws on the floorboards. Around here, the dogs are regulars too, and a fair few of them know exactly which corner of the courtyard catches the morning sun.

If you've been searching for a dog-friendly café in Surry Hills the kind where your dog is genuinely welcome, not just tolerated let me save you the scroll. Here's why so many locals (and their four-legged companions) call Dad and the Frog their local.

We actually love dogs, the whole team does

There's a difference between a café that allows dogs and one that's happy to see them. We're the second kind. My team are dog people through and through, and they'll often know your pup's name before they know yours. (No offence, your dog is just more memorable.)

That warmth is the whole point of this place. The "Dad" in our name is about cooking and caring for people the way you would for family at home, and as far as we're concerned, your dog is family. So they get the same welcome everyone else does: a friendly hello, a fresh bowl of water, and a spot at the table.

Dog treats on the house (and yes, we do a pup cup)

Bring your dog in and there's a good chance they'll be offered a treat before you've even ordered. We keep dog treats behind the counter for exactly this reason, and if you'd like us to whip up a little something special alongside your flat white, just ask. A puppuccino for the good boy or girl is never a problem.

It's a small thing, but it's the kind of small thing that turns a coffee run into the best part of your dog's day.

Sunny spots, shady spots, plenty of room to flop

One of the things people love most about our outdoor seating is that there's room to settle in. Our al fresco area has sunny corners for the dogs who love a warm patch to stretch out on, and shaded spots under cover for the ones who'd rather keep cool. Either way, there's space for your dog to lie down at your feet while you take your time over breakfast or lunch.

No squeezing a big dog under a tiny table. No awkward shuffling to keep a leash out of the walkway. Just an easy, relaxed spot designed for people who don't want to leave their dog at home.

Just a short stroll from the Moore Park off-leash areas

Here's the bit that makes us a favourite with the morning dog-walking crowd: we're about as close as a café gets to the off-leash areas at Moore Park. After a good run around the parklands, you're only a short walk from a proper coffee and a feed, which makes us the natural finish line for a morning out with your dog.

Worth knowing: dogs can run off-leash across much of Moore Park, except when the sports fields are booked for organised sport, so it's always worth checking the signage on the day. When the running's done, you know where to find us.

Your dog probably already has a usual order

This is the part I'm proudest of. We didn't set out to become the dog-friendly café in Surry Hills it happened because the same dogs kept coming back. We've got genuine four-legged regulars now: pups who tow their humans down Fitzroy Street, settle into their favourite spot, and wait (not always patiently) for their treat.

When the dogs decide you're their local, you must be doing something right.

Come and find us

You'll find us at 96 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills fully licensed, dog-friendly, and open weekdays from 6:30am and weekends from 7:30am, right through to 3pm. Whether you're winding down after a lap of Moore Park or just want a coffee somewhere your dog is genuinely happy, there's a table (and a treat) waiting.

Bring the dog. We'll put the kettle on.

Cooked with care, like family - Dad and the Frog, Surry Hills.