Shep St. Sandos

Shep St. Sandos is a small, well-liked sandwich cafe at 8 Shepherd Street, just off Victoria Street in Ballarat Central, and the rare central spot that welcomes dogs inside. That makes it a genuine option on a cold Ballarat morning rather than a fair-weather one.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome indoors as well as at the casual seating outside, and the cafe puts out puppuccinos for visiting dogs. The indoor access is what sets it apart locally, so it earns a stop when the wind is up. Bring a bowl if your dog drinks a lot, and confirm the puppuccino on the day.

Worth knowing

The katsu chicken sando is the signature, backed by the chicken parma sub, made-to-order sourdough toasties and solid coffee. Hours run from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, though Thursdays wrap up early at 2:30pm, and it trades through to 5pm otherwise. Best earlier in the day before the lunch rush. Good for owners who want a warm spot to sit with the dog rather than shivering on a footpath.

Getting there and parking

It sits just off Victoria Street, a main route into town, with free street parking usually close by and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Ballarat Station is an easy walk for anyone arriving by rail.

Close by with the dogs

Victoria Park Dog Park is a short drive west, a large fenced off-lead space with room for a proper run. For another central stop, Earls Deli is close by, and Hop Temple covers the afternoon shift if you are making a day of the CBD.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Ballarat Central destination page.

Pepsi: katsu sando for the human, puppuccino for me, and everyone stays warm. This is how winter should work.