Populus Cafe

Populus is the stylish specialty coffee anchor of Berwick's High Street, pulling shots through a Slayer espresso machine and plating creative brunch until mid afternoon. The long alfresco section running along the main street is where dogs go, and with a generous run of tables it is one of the more comfortable dog setups in the outer southeast.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the alfresco seating along High Street rather than the indoor dining room. The outdoor run is long, with space for a dog to settle properly beside the table rather than in the walkway, and water bowls are usually on hand. It is a busy public footpath, so keep the lead on and short enough to stay clear of passing prams and other dogs.

Coffee and brunch

The Slayer machine is the headline for coffee nerds, and the kitchen backs it up: pork belly eggs benedict, chilli scramble, corn fritters, hash browns and pancakes all draw repeat orders, with calamari and lamb salads covering the lunch side. Staff have a good name among dog owners, and the main-street position makes it prime people-watching territory while you wait.

Getting there and parking

The address is 74 High Street, Berwick. Free street parking runs along High Street and the side streets, with public car parks a short walk off the strip, though weekend mornings get very busy and you may circle for a spot.

While you're out there

Pioneers Park is about 500 metres away for a post-brunch wander, and the Akoonah Park dog off-leash area gives you room for a proper run on the other side of town. If the alfresco section is full, MAD BENJI is another dog-friendly coffee option in Berwick. The suburb round-up is on the Berwick destination page, with the state list in the Victoria cafes index.

Doors open from 7am weekdays and 8am weekends, closing at 3pm. Weekday breakfast is the quiet window; Saturdays trade on atmosphere and a queue.