Bezirk Cafe

Bezirk Cafe holds the corner of Millers Road and the Esplanade, directly opposite the Altona foreshore, and it has quietly become one of Melbourne's west's most reliable dog-friendly brunch stops with a 4.5 rating across more than 800 reviews. It trades seven days: Monday to Friday 6.30am to 3pm, weekends 7am to 3pm.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on lead at the front footpath tables and the outdoor courtyard, and the cafe is well accustomed to the local dog-walking crowd, with water bowls usually put out near the outdoor station. Heaters keep the outside area usable through colder months, while inside stays people-only. It gets busy on weekends, so an early table is the safe play.

Worth knowing

The menu goes beyond the usual smashed avo: chilli scrambled eggs, braised pork benedict, breakfast tacos and a fried chicken burger sit alongside falafel bowls and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, with coffee from San Pedro beans. Reviewers repeatedly pair the food with the view across the road.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along the Esplanade and Millers Road and fills on fine weekends when the beach draws a crowd; side streets back from the water are the fallback. Altona station is a short walk away if you would rather skip the parking altogether.

Close by with the dogs

The whole point of this corner is the foreshore across the road: the designated off-leash section of Altona Beach and the fenced run at P A Burns Reserve Fenced Dog Park sit at the western end, and Altona Beach Dog Off Leash Arena covers the swim options in detail. Fellow Altona cafes Jimmy The Van and Norfolk Cafe are close by, and the Altona destination page plus the VIC cafes index round out the list.