Bilby

Bilby is a small cakery and coffee spot at 48 Kidman Avenue in Belmont, Geelong, sitting off the main strip on a quiet street. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, and the calm street frontage is exactly what makes it easier with a dog than the busier High Street cafes.

The dog setup

The outdoor area is snug, a couple of small tables rather than a sprawling courtyard, so it works best in fair weather with a dog that settles. Indoors is off limits under standard Victorian food rules. A handy quirk: dog treats sit on the retail shelf, so you can pick something up for the dog while you order.

The vibe

Cakes are the signature, with the carrot cake earning its reputation, backed by Campos coffee poured as the house Bilby Blend. It grew out of the former Colour Me Cake and is run by the Sullies Kiosk team, and it leans boutique bakery rather than full brunch menu. Hours have shifted between listings over time, so check the current schedule before you go, and note it is a daytime, breakfast-and-lunch operation that closes Sundays.

Getting there and parking

On-street parking on Kidman Avenue and the surrounding streets is usually easy. The Barwon River trails are walkable from the cafe, which is the natural pairing: a river walk first, cake after.

Pair it with

Warm up with a run at the Belmont Dog Park or a stretch of the Barwon River trail, then walk in for the reward. If you want a bigger brunch sitting, the WoodHouse Cafe and Paddington Cafe are the other Belmont regulars. More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Belmont destination page.