Best Cafes, Wineries and Pubs for Mutts (and Their Mates)
Spending a day in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges with your best pal has never been easier when so many of our best cafes, wineries and pubs are pet-approved.
Pack up your pooch and head to our region to experience a great day out that both you and your dog will enjoy. Here are just a few to get you inspired.
Dog-Friendly Cafes
No matter where you go in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges region, you’ll find a cafe that’s happy to welcome you with your pupper. We’ve sniffed out a few that you and your dog can enjoy.
Warburton is a great start to your day with incredible quality bean juice to get your morning going. There are lots of cafes to choose from and visitors love to explore Mt Donna Buang, Redwood Forest or La La Falls after their coffee adventure.
The General Food Store and Incy Wincy have an open-door policy for pooches and sunny outdoor spots to enjoy a relaxing brunch.
These spots have friendly pup-loving staff who'll often pop out to say hello to you and your pup, fresh water bowls for thirsty dogs, and outdoor door seating where everyone can relax for a coffee and a treat. Pawtastic dog treats are on the menu at Incy Wincy and The General Food Store.
At SkyHigh Mt Dandenong, you can go to the summit with your best pal in tow and enjoy the pet-friendly cafe and incredible Melbourne views.
Near Upwey and Ferntree Gully, sibling eateries Lorna Cafe and Maria Melbourne are ideal spots to paws for a break for you and your pup. Lorna offers pet-friendly tables at the front, while Maria has both front outdoor seating and a dog-friendly rear courtyard with its own entrance.
Book your spot to reserve a particular outdoor table (like the courtyard at Maria), as outdoor spaces can fill quickly on a nice day. Both cafes provide fresh water bowls and serve puppacinos and dog biscuits for their VID guests (Very Important Doggos!) They also sell small and large Robert Gordon dog bowls if you want to spoil your pooch!
Dog-Friendly Wineries
The Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges region is known for incredible wineries and the good news is so many of them welcome your pet too (assuming they’re on lead and well-behaved of course.)
Both dining venues at Rochford Estate, Isabella's and il Vigneto, offer dining areas for visitors who have brought along their dogs. il Vigneto has a designated front courtyard with lovely views, umbrellas and water bowls. The winery has even been known to host doggy birthday parties in their outdoor terraced area or weddings where four-legged ring bearers almost stole the show.
Kellybrook Winery has dog-friendly spaces available at their cellar door with a paved area with barrels and umbrellas that's perfect for doggies and their mates. It's a popular spot so book ahead, especially on weekends. Additionally, from the winery, there's great local walking available from the winery. Visitors and their doggos can wander the quiet local, semi-rural roads.
Panton Hill also have a dog-friendly boutique winery to add to their exceptional estate-produced wines and cellar-door snacks. They're also one of Melbourne’s closest wineries at just 35 minutes from the airport and CBD.
Why not create a DIY wine tour and take your pup on a round trip of these as well as other great pet-friendly wineries such as Watt’s River Brewing, Coombe Yarra Valley, Seville Estate, Rob Dolan Wines, De Bortoli and Jayden Ong just to name a few.
Pet-Friendly Pubs
Feel like a beer or a hearty meal? Coldstream Brewery is pet-friendly with several outdoor areas. You can also pop into Belgrave's Micawber Tavern, Innocent Bystander, Golden Hills Brewery and Four Pillars Gin.
Don’t forget though, when making your booking (especially on weekends) let them know you’ll be travelling with your furbaby, so they can save you both a spot. These tables can book out quickly!
