The Mona Vale Hotel

The Mona Vale Hotel — known locally as 'The Mona' — runs on Northern Beaches surf culture. The venue has been rebuilt from its previous Park House incarnation into a sprawling multi-part operation: a contemporary restaurant, a craft beer program, a retractable-roof garden bar, and a bakery café handling pizzas and coffee through the day. The kitchen leans California-casual with Mediterranean, Mexican and Middle Eastern touches — baked snapper with tahini, herb pilav, plenty of share plates. The drinks list covers craft taps, an eclectic wine range and barrel-aged cocktails.

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor areas, with staff happy to bring water on request and treats kept behind the bar. The dog curfew is 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday, 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Between the playground and the garden bar, it's a rare Northern Beaches pub that actually functions for the full family-plus-dog equation.