Arch View Cafe

Arch View Cafe sits on Sturt Street in Alfredton, right opposite the Arch of Victory, and welcomes leashed dogs in its large covered outdoor dining area. Between the house-baked treats and the view straight down the Avenue of Honour, it is the obvious coffee stop before or after a walk under the historic oaks.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, which is spacious and usually covered, so the weather rarely spoils the plan. Dogs need to stay off the furniture and out of the indoor dining room for food safety reasons. Water bowls are typically put out for thirsty dogs on request, which puts it ahead of most for after-walk logistics.

The vibe

The kitchen is strong on house-made cakes, cinnamon scrolls, brownies and sausage rolls, with a solid gluten-free range and specialty coffee roasted for the cafe by a small Melbourne roaster. There is a kids menu, and the decor reads comfortable rather than precious. Hours run 7am to 3pm weekdays, 8am to 2pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Weekday mid-morning is when you get the outdoor tables to yourself; the space fills on Saturdays.

Pepsi: A scroll the size of my head, water bowl on request, and an avenue of oak trees across the road to wander.

Getting there

The cafe is at 1728 Sturt Street, the Western Highway, a few minutes' drive west of the Ballarat CBD. Free off-street parking is available, plus easy street parking nearby.

Make a day of it

The Avenue of Honour and Arch of Victory are directly across the road for a shady on-leash walk, and the CE Brown Reserve Fenced Dog Park is a few minutes east for a proper off-lead run. On a weekend, the Ballarat Farmers Market at Lake Wendouree pairs well for a longer outing, and Bell Tower Inn is the local dog-friendly stay. More dog friendly cafes in VIC and the Alfredton guide are on site.