Dog friendly Melbourne: Top places to eat, stay and play with your pooch
From ‘barkday’ parties and pawfect picnics to canine cruises and five star kennels, Melbourne knows how to get tails wagging.
South East
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A walk around the block or trip to the dog park is no longer enough for Melbourne’s pampered pooches.
Our canine companions can now choose refreshments form their own menu at cafes and pubs, host their own birthday parties and weddings and enjoy specialised events including winery tours and urban adventures.
And when they want to get away from it all they are checking into their very own luxury accommodation.
Check out the top places in Melbourne to eat, stay and play with your dog.
PAMPERED PETS STAYCATION
Melbourne favourite The Langham recently launched “Australia’s most luxurious pet package” which allows guests to check in with their dog or cat. Previously furry friends were not welcome at the Southbank sanctuary. However, now Fido can enjoy all the perks on offer at the swanky hotel including a high end room with a balcony or terrace, breakfast in bed featuring a private dining pet menu and the use of an exclusive Langham pet bed and bowl. There’s also free Wi-Fi to capture all the fun of the visit and share it on social media. Dogs are expected to be leashed in public areas and in-room dining and exercise is a must. No pooches in the pool, spa, restaurant or lounge. Larger hounds are also prohibited with a 20kg limit applying to all pets. The Pampered Pets Staycation is only available until December 31, 2021.
The Langham is at 1 Southgate Ave, Melbourne
FIVE STAR KENNEL
When Element by Westin opened its first Australian hotel in Richmond in 2019 it set tails wagging among jet setting pooches with canine degustation menus, doggie mini bars and eco-friendly pet beds.
At the time general manager Harry Singh said the hotel wanted to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for guests to check in with their fur babies.
“Pets are becoming increasingly important parts of people’s lives and we wanted to reflect that,” Mr Singh said.
“Our motto is that time away from home shouldn’t be time away from life”.
The hotel has six rooms designed to accommodate pampered pooches with pet beds, toys and treats provided.
It was believed to be the first in Melbourne that allows dogs in guest rooms.
Canines guests could tuck into a range of meals from a pet degustation menu with $24 dishes including The Good Dog (market fish with steamed carrot) and The Quarter Hounder (pan fried steak with green vegetables).
Element Melbourne is at 588 Swan St, Richmond.
BARKING GOOD BITES
Forget the water bowl by the door, this Caulfield North cafe is going above and beyond for its canine customers.
The Common Room Co serves an exclusive range of dishes just for dogs.
The K9 Menu is described as “the finest and freshest produce for your cultured canine”.
Dishes range in price from $2.95 to $7.95 and include entrees of Peking duck jerky or shark cartilage and mains of lamb shank bone, beef bully stick or outback kangaroo ribs.
Dessert is a mouth-watering plate of chicken necks.
Pooches watching their waistlines can sip on a Yappacino — a frothy non dairy treat served in a bowl.
Common Room Co is at 257 Alma Rd, Caulfield North
PAWS WITH PURPOSE
The coffee at this West Melbourne cafe comes with collars.
It’s run by the Greyhound Adoption Program which aims to rehouse retired racing dogs.
However, all breeds are welcome to visit GAP cafe with their human for a puppachino.
Those in the market for a new dog can meet greyhounds looking for their forever home at the cafe on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
There are also kiosks to browse the online portal of dogs available for adoption.
The GAP Cafe is at 477 King Street, West Melbourne.
PUPPY LOVE
Forget elaborate kids parties, Melbourne pawrents are now booking “barkday parties” and even weddings for their fur babies.
The Dog Cafe at Boronia offers both celebrations with healthy food catered, a cake and take-home doggie bags.
For the everyday catch up the cafe allows man’s best friend to sit at the table with you and enjoy a lactose-free puppacino while you sip on your latte.
It also has a bone shaped swimming pool, sand pit, movie room with beanbags (all for dogs), and lots of treats to keep their tummies full.
The cafe was launched in 2017 by Michelle Warren at the back of her business – A Touch of Class Dog Grooming Salon and School.
But keeping up demand for both businesses proved too much and Ms Warren put The Dog Cafe on the market.
The Dog Cafe is at 120 Boronia Road, Boronia.
HAPPY TAILS
Kerry Watt was ahead of the curve when she launched her business Gourmet Pawprints in 2013.
She kicked things off with winery tours for dogs and when that proved popular introduced lavish weekends away, pooch picnics, truffle hunts, urban adventures that include a Yarra cruise, high tea for discerning canines and walking tours.
“I love my dog (kelpie Diesel) and I don’t like to leave him home when I go out,” Ms Watt said.
“I also love visiting wineries, entertaining and cooking.
“I was disgruntled with the corporate world and was looking for a way to combine the things I love into some form of business. That’s when the concept was born.”
Dogs embarking on a Gourmet Pawprint adventure must be desexed, vaccinated and mind their manners.
The business, which recently found a new home at the Spotswood and Kingsville RSL, also runs a dog school for humans which offers canine communication sessions to help people better understand their pets.
Gourmet Pawprints is at The Avenue, Spotswood.
DOGGIE DAY SPA
Spoiling your pup doesn’t have to involve an elaborate adventure.
You can do it every day at home thanks to an innovative range of organic dog treats and spa products created by Red Hill South food stylist and recipe developer Fiona Riggs.
Her PAWDinkum range is packed with super foods and designed to help tackle some common canine issues including stinky breath, achy joints and a lacklustre coat.
Ms Riggs started the range in 2013 after failing to find dog treats that were healthy.
“I wanted something that wasn’t full of salt and sugar and other nasties,” she said.
“Why shouldn’t dogs eat as well as humans?”
Today her range includes pawsturizer, jowl wash, woof fresh spray and doggie paddle salts as well as a huge selection of biscuits, popcorn and oat snack bars.
The business also offers doga (yoga) classes for you and your dog.
PAWDinkum is stocked across the Mornington Peninsula and be ordered online.
