Takapuna is a grrreat place for you and your doggo – featuring Auckland’s favourite dog-walking beach and a ton of pup-friendly cafes and bars. 

And it’s even better at Takapuna Beach in winter time. With extra long dog-walking hours, you can hit the beach any time of day – just keep them on lead between 10am and 2pm. Grab a takeaway coffee at any one of our fantastic local cafés and hit the sand!

Or, make it a lunch date – St Leonards Beach is open for off-leash exercise all day. Check the tides first, as high tide doesn’t leave too much beach to play on.

Done with the run? Time for a refreshing bevvie. And, helpfully, we’ve put together the best spots to treat both you and your four-legged friend.

Coffee & canines

Catch 21 is calling all the goodest boys and girls in for a signature poochachino – a creamy bark-ista special with a sprinkling of home-made treats. Heck, it looks so good you’ll probably start drooling too. Not the only doggy delight around, Jam Organic has a puppychino guaranteed to keep doggo quiet (for a minute or two).

Top coffee, stylish décor and very pet friendly, Moak Coffee Shop brings Italian taste and craft to coffee – and to their tasty Moak dog treats as well. Perfect for a post walk pick-me-up, and buy a bag or two of delicious roast for later.

Centro Cafe also loves hosting our furry friends, welcoming dogs in the outdoor area with a lovely bowl of water – key post-walk hydration. 

Street Organics is where it’s at for human wholefoods with a wholesome and fresh allergy-friendly menu, plus they love dogs. There are always water bowls available outside, and you might even snap up a home-baked doggy treat!

For a dog-friendly spot with incredible kai and coffee roasted on site, check out Seven Hills Cafe. Pups welcome inside.

Need a bit of variety for your dog-walkers group? Eat Street’s the place, with a dog-friendly courtyard and a whole host of different lunch options. Us? We’ll take a Beef & Cheese from Burger Burger, and maybe just a little bit vanishes under the table.

Post-run refreshments

Maybe you prefer your dog walking when the sun is high and the morning chill is long gone. We certainly sympathise, and highly recommend capping off with a well earned thirst-quencher. 

Franc’s is awfully convenient, wouldn’t you say? Just a quick hop off the beach, and very happy to see well-behaved dogs inside in this wetter weather. One good turn deserves another, so keep doggo at your side for other patrons’ comfort.

Takapuna Bar is another favourite (and also very close to the beach). Grab a pint, blend in with the regulars, and you might just catch local favourites Poppy the collie and Tui the bulldog.

The Elephant Wrestler’s big courtyard is perfect for dog wrestlers, too. If your doggo loves to bop, then stick around for a bit of light evening entertainment and a cheeky chippy or two from the bottom of the bowl.

Do’s and don’ts for pro-level pupper parents

Yup, Takapuna is a paradise for dogs and dog parents. Help us keep it that way with top-tier etiquette:

• Do check the hours for off-leash play at Takapuna beach – right here on the Auckland Council webpage.
• Do look for the helpful signs showing where and when you can have dogs off or on-leash.
• Don’t drag your soggy doggy (or worse, your mucky pup) into the café . Get them clean and let them air out on the beach first.
• Do keep your dog with you at your table. Some people just don’t do dogs, no matter how friendly.