The Little Ox

The Little Ox at 452 New Street, Brighton, is one of Bayside's most genuinely dog-set-up cafes: a large front forecourt with roughly eight tables, water bowls for visiting dogs and an actual dog menu, so treats are covered without asking. It opens 6am to 2pm on weekdays and 6:30am to 2pm on weekends, and the forecourt is where the dogs go; inside stays for humans.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the big front outdoor area, on leash and under control, with staff known around Bayside for being accommodating to four-legged regulars. The forecourt is roomy enough that a settled dog has space, and it is an easy stop mid-walk through the Brighton streets without crossing main roads.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs a substantial brunch list, fritters, eggs benedict, chilli scrambled eggs and a brekky wrap among them, plus burgers and a chicken souvlaki for the lunch crowd, on well-regarded coffee, and the service keeps up with the pace even when the forecourt is full. Street parking sits on New Street and the surrounding side streets, and it fills mid-morning on weekends when the forecourt tables are the first to go, so an early arrival remains the best strategy with a dog on the lead.

Build the morning around it: Brighton Beach Dog Off Leash Area gives the dog a proper run on the sand, North Point Brighton is the bay-view coffee alternative near the water, and The Hamptons Bakery continues the strip toward Hampton. More Bayside options are on the Brighton destination page and in the VIC cafes index.

Pepsi: fritters on the forecourt, my own menu, and a water bowl that arrives before I even ask. Five stars.