Ovolo Woolloomooloo in Sydney offers the best of both worlds. Tucked away next to Sydney Harbour in the historic Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, the five-star boutique hotel is just a short walk from the city centre, but also offers a quiet and relaxing location – perfect for either a peaceful place to retreat during a busy city visit or the ideal location for a staycation.
Best of all, your dog is also welcome to join you when you book a V.I.Pooch package, with generous inclusions. Make the most of the hotel’s location, with walks through the Domain, plenty of dog-friendly dining options and off-leash dog parks nearby. Or just enjoy the spectacular views from the city facing rooms. Find out more about this pet-friendly hotel in Sydney…
Pet Policy of Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Like nearly all Ovolo Hotels both in Australia and overseas, Ovolo Woolloomooloo has a generous pet policy. There are no size or breed restrictions: all dogs are welcome to stay with you, as long as they are up-to-date with their vaccinations and well-behaved.
To stay with your dog, book a V.I.Pooch package, either via the website of directly with the hotel. When booking this package, one dog is included in the package rate. However, a second dog can also stay with you in your room for an additional fee, as long as a suitable room is available.
The inclusions in the VIPooch package are also generous, especially the latest amenities introduced in August 2025. At Australian hotels, there’s an orthopaedic memory foam dog bed from Dog Friendly Co, a pair of gleaming Frank Green designed dog bowls, a human-grade food pack and gourmet treats from The Nosh Project, Petzyo kibble and Petz Park meal toppers and poo bags.
Schnitzel was particularly eager to wolf down the food from The Nosh Project – luckily we could store it in the fridge until dinner time (and breakfast as he’s so small). A donation is also made with each package to Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.
Rooms as Ovolo Woolloomooloo
The V.I.Pooch package is available in multiple room categories at Ovolo Woolloomooloo. We stayed the night in a CityVoo King room, one of the mid-range room categories.
CityVoo King rooms are wonderfully spacious – plenty of room for even two large dogs to stay with you. The room included a comfy king bed, a relaxing lounge to recline next to the window, a small dining table with two chairs and even a bathtub in the bathroom. However, the standout feature of the room was the beautiful city views visible day and night.
When entering the room, the blackout blinds were pulled down against the direct afternoon sun. However, when I pressed the buttons to raise the blinds and pull back the mesh curtain, we were greeted with the stunning views, along with gorgeous afternoon sun – a relief on a chilly winter day! A few hours later, we were also treated to a beautiful view as the sun set – the views are particularly gorgeous with the colour highlighting the city’s skyscrapers.
The inclusions in the room are generous and include lots of little “aha” features. There’s a Chromecast for the wall-mounted TV, an Amazon Alexa unit (initially switched off) and a harman/kardon speaker with Bluetooth connection and great bass sound.
Epzen Relax Salts are provided if you’re tempted by a luxurious soak in the bath, along with Ovolo’s own range of OMG paraben-free bathroom amenities. Tea Drop premium pyramid tea bags and Robert Timms coffee bags are provided, along with a well thought-out minibar, dubbed the “Wonder Bar”.
Facilities at Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Onsite at Ovolo is Bar Woolloomooloo, located in the centre of the cavernous multi-level space of the historic wharf building. The large bar is charmingly lit with fairy lights. and has a range of seating areas. Choose from the extensive range of wine, beer and cocktails, as well as a menu of bar bites, both small and large.
When I visited with Schnitzel for a drink at Apero Hour, we were free to sit together in any of the areas surrounding the main bar. If booking directly, your first round is on the house at the Apero Hour, held each evening from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays a longer Sunday Sessions is held with cocktail specials.
The Bar Woolloomooloo space is also utilised for the daily buffet breakfast. While dogs aren’t allowed to join you in the main seating area where the buffet is served, you’re free to sit at tables further down in the main bar area – try to choose one under a heater during chilly mornings!
Both hot and cold options are offered in the buffet, with a range of sourdough breads a welcome addition for toasting, plus a decadent pastry stand. Place an order for coffee or tea when you arrive, with veggie juice shots also on hand.
There’s also a QR code provided back in your room to order in-room dining. During the morning you’ll be offered a breakfast menu, with options including granola, Eggs Benedict and Shakshuka. While the rest of the day select from the bar bites, including burgers, steak frites and some tempting pasta dishes.
The hotel also features a Health Club, located further down the wharf building, containing an indoor swimming pool and gym, as well as outdoor seating. Naturally this section of the hotel is off-limit for pets.
Highlights of a Stay with Your Pet
- Generous pet policy with no size restrictions
- Lots of perks for both pets and humans
- Gorgeous city views from selected rooms
- Quiet location but so close to the city and right on the harbour
Top 3 Things to Do During Your Stay
There’s plenty of things to do nearby while enjoying a stay at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo, whether you’re a Sydney local enjoying a staycation or you’re visiting the city with your pup. These are my top selections right on the doorstep on this pet-friendly Sydney hotel…
#1 Walk Alongside the Harbour
While dogs are not allowed inside the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, they are allowed in the rest of the Domain, as long as they stay on a leash. Best of all, there’s a relatively unknown harbourside walk through the Domain between Woolloomooloo and Mrs Macquaries Point, perfect for a leashed walk with your pup.
To start the walk, head along the western side of the wharf, past the terraced houses and sculptures. At the end you’ll find a grassy area and a short section of boardwalk that leads to some stairs. Continue along the footpath parallel to Mrs Macquaries Road, with a slight detour across the grass past Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool.
After the pool, take the rightmost pathway, with the footpath continuing right next to the harbour to Mrs Macquarie Point. Spot the cormorants diving in the clear waters below, and enjoy the views of the navy ships berthed opposite at Garden Island.
The entire path is just over 1km long, ending at Mrs Macquaries Point, home to the historic Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. You can return by the same path, or walk part of the way along the western side of the point, staying outside of the botanic garden gates.
#2 Watch the Sun Rise or Set at Mrs Macquaries Point
Mrs Macquarie Point is one of the best view points around Sydney Harbour, offering excellent views across the water of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. However, if you visit the spot during the afternoon hours when many tourists flock to it, you’ll be looking into the glare of the sun when taking photos.
Instead, I recommend visiting the spot at a different time of day to take some beautiful photos. If you visit at sunset, you’ll hopefully be treated to a backdrop of beautiful pinks and oranges lighting up the sky, without any glare. But for the best time to take photos of your pup against the view, rise early from your bed at Ovolo Woolloomoolooo and visit the spot at sunrise.
On the morning that I ventured down to Mrs Macquaries Point with Schnitzel (who is luckily an early riser), the sky behind the bridge and Opera House were beautifully washed with a soft peachy glow around sunrise. Even better, after about 10 minutes the sun peeked above the clouds in the east, with a gorgeous orange glow lighting up everything in its path, including my dog.
If sunrise is too early for you and your dog, consider a morning walk instead down to the point, when you can take photos with the sun behind rather than in front of you.
#3 Feast on a Pie from Harry’s
There’s no shortage of dog-friendly dining venues around Woolloomooloo, in addition to the dog-friendly dining options offered inside Ovolo Woolloomooloo.
Right across the road from the hotel is the Woolly Bay Hotel, serving up typical pup food and welcoming pets as its outdoor tables until 9:30pm. Further back from the main road is the more upmarket The Tilbury, with dogs allowed at its outdoor area out the front. Multiple restaurants allow the Finger Wharf also allow dogs at their outdoor tables, including the fine diner OTTO Ristorante and the trendy Greek Akti.
However, for a traditional local meal, order a pie from Harry’s Cafe de Wheels, located on the eastern side of the Finger Wharf. While there’s now multiple locations of this pie shop around Sydney, nothing beats enjoying one of their pies in the spot where they were first established decades ago back in 1945.
It’s easy to order a pie with your dog at your side at the counter, then take a seat on one of the stools around the pie cart or on the benches next to the water. (Just note there are no fences at the water’s edge, so keep your dog on a tight leash.) While there are a variety of pies available, the most iconic option is a tiger pie, served with mashed potato, mushy peas and gravy.
Dog-Friendly Parks Near Ovolo Woolloomooloo
The nearest off-leash dog park to Ovolo Woolloomooloo is Embarkation Park in Potts Point. Located on top of the naval base carpark, head up the steep McElhone Steps to the entrance along Victoria Street. A mixture of paved areas and some sections of grass, note that the park is only open from sunrise to sunset.
If you’re heading towards the city, Cook + Phillip Park is also off-leash. Located next to the swimming pool of the same name, the park is surprising quiet given its location and has some large grassy lawns for games with your pup.
Note: The author was a guest of Ovolo Woolloomooloo.
You May Also Like
- Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Sydney
- Best Dog-Friendly Days Out Around Sydney
- Dog-Friendly Beaches in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney
About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.