Norfolk Cafe

Norfolk Cafe sits on the Altona Esplanade directly opposite the beach, a family-run local with water views that is built for the foreshore crowd. It trades 8am to 10pm on weekends and 9am to 10pm weekdays, which makes it as useful for an evening chips-and-ice-cream run as for a post-walk coffee. Dogs are welcome in the sheltered outdoor garden and patio area, on lead.

The dog setup

Dogs settle on the footpath tables and the covered outdoor area, with room beside the table and staff who are generally accommodating to pets. Inside is people-only, but the covered seating keeps the bay weather off. On sunny days the foreshore fills quickly, so an early table is the safe play.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs to coffee, smoothies, bagels, toasted sandwiches, waffles, crinkle-cut chips and ice cream, with vegan and gluten-free options in the mix, and reviewers single out the view as part of the deal. Street parking runs along the Esplanade but fills on fine weekends; side streets a short walk away are the fallback, and Altona Station is within walking distance if you would rather arrive on foot and skip the parking fight altogether.

The whole point of this stop is the water. Altona Beach is across the road and the flat Esplanade path runs along the waterfront, while Altona Beach Dog Off Leash Arena gives dogs a proper swim and a fenced run a short drive or longer stroll away. Pair it with Bezirk Cafe around the corner or Jimmy The Van, and see the Altona destination page and VIC cafes index for more.

Max: beach swim first, chips on the patio after. That is the correct order of operations.