Che Buono

Che Buono is a small, family-run Italian cafe and aperitivo spot at 20 Spink Street in Brighton, set back from the busy Bay Street strip. It is unusually dog-welcoming for a food venue, reportedly happy to have dogs at the footpath tables and inside as well.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the front footpath seating, and the small room is known to allow them inside too. Staff are dog-friendly, water bowls are usually available, and the team has a reputation for the odd treat, though there is no formal dog menu.

Keep your dog on lead and close to the table wherever you sit. The room is genuinely small, so a settle-quietly dog gets more out of it than an extrovert.

Pepsi: this is the rare Melbourne cafe where the dog can come inside with you. Confirm on the day with staff, but plan on it being a proper coffee-and-pats stop.

The vibe

Authentic Italian runs the clock here: espresso and pastries in the morning, tomato salads and wood-fired pinsa through the day, and an aperitivo window in the evenings on the days it trades late. The welcoming, hands-on owner and small team are the reason the ratings sit where they do.

Hours shift by day: open 7:30am to 2pm Tuesday and Wednesday, to 8pm Thursday and Friday, and to 1pm Saturday, with Monday and Sunday closed. Check before an evening visit since it only runs late two nights a week.

Getting there

Spink Street is a short walk off Bay Street, with street parking around plus a free car park nearby. It is easy to reach on foot from the beach side or through the residential streets, and Brighton Middle Brighton station is in walking distance.

Close by with the dogs

Walk the sand at the Brighton Beach dog off leash area before coffee, or use the Brighton fenced dog park for a proper run. For a second stop, Saint Martins Cafe on Martin Street is another dog-friendly local.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafe guide and the Brighton destination page.