Earthly Pleasures Cafe

Earthly Pleasures Cafe occupies an old building on Burwood Highway in Belgrave, with a fireplace for the cold Dandenong mornings and a kitchen that takes plant based food seriously: a buddha bowl, a vegan toastie and vegan options sit alongside eggs benedict for the traditionalists.

The Dogs on Holidays dog friendly dining guide lists Earthly Pleasures as welcoming dogs in the outdoor areas, with room in the front lawn courtyard and the large backyard garden space, and Facebook reviews back that up. Guide level evidence, so treat it as reported practice: ask for the courtyard or the back garden on arrival and keep the leash on while you settle.

The vibe

This is a destination cafe in the proper sense, the kind people drive up the hill for on a weekend, with the garden doing a lot of the drawing and the fireplace handling the other half of the year. The old building gives it character you do not get in a strip shopfront, and the kitchen's plant based range means mixed groups eat well without negotiation. Hours are 8:30am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed, so midweek is out. Weekend mornings fill up, and the garden tables go first when the weather is good; arriving early or aiming for a weekday gives the dog the most space.

You will find it at 1627 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, on the main road with parking on site and along the highway.

Pair it with

Belgrave earns a full day. Belgrave Lake Park Dog Off Leash Area is the natural run before or after brunch, and Killik Handcrafted Rum is the unusual evening option in town if the day stretches. More dog friendly cafes are listed across Victoria and in the Belgrave guide.