Cafe Ray

Cafe Ray is an airy, warehouse-style cafe on Victoria Street in Brunswick, and a well-known local pick for bringing the dog. It is a relaxed, casual room where dogs are welcomed rather than tolerated, which is a fair summary of Brunswick's whole approach to cafe culture anyway.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the bright front section of the cafe and at the footpath tables out front, which gives you options depending on the weather. Staff are friendly towards dogs and often have a treat going. Bring your own water bowl to be safe on busy mornings, when the front section fills up and floor space gets tight.

The vibe and the menu

Coffee comes from Atomic, and the brunch menu is broad with proper gluten-free and vegan coverage: mushroom toasties, cauliflower fritters, halloumi plates, sausage rolls and almond croissants all get named by regulars. Hours run from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends through to mid-afternoon. The warehouse fit-out keeps the room comfortable even when it is full, and weekday mornings are the quiet window for dogs still learning cafe manners.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits near the tram lines along Sydney Road and a short walk from Brunswick Station. Street parking on Victoria Street and the nearby residential streets is limited during peak brunch hours, so trams or walking are the better plan.

Close by with the dogs

Gilpin Park is close by for a run, and the Inner Circle rail trail suits a pre- or post-coffee walk. On the same strip, Lux Foundry and The Nicholson Coffee and Eatery keep the dog-friendly options going, with A Minor Place further up the hill.

Wider options are on the Brunswick destination page and in the VIC cafes index.