Big Sister Cafe

Big Sister Cafe sits at the northern end of the Lygon Street strip in Brunswick East, a small local cafe with an easy welcome for dogs. It is a quick-service brunch spot rather than a long-lunch destination, which suits a dog that would rather be walking than waiting.

The dog setup

A handful of sunny footpath tables on Lygon Street are the natural place to sit with a dog. Staff are known for being accommodating, so ask for a water bowl if your dog needs one. The tables are small and close to the street, so a dog that settles quietly works best here.

Pepsi: the footpath tables are tight. A calm dog that tucks in under the table gets the warm reception here, a restless one will spend the visit wrapped around the chair legs.

The vibe

The cafe pours Griffiths Bros coffee, and the food leans toward fresh focaccias, sandwiches, wraps and croissants done well and fast, with plenty of greenery around the tables. Hours run Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 6:30am to 2:30pm, closed Mondays, so check before a Monday visit.

Getting there

The Route 1 and 6 trams stop nearby on Lygon Street. Free street parking is usually available on Lygon Street and side streets like Hope Street, but read the signs for time limits.

Pair it with

The Jones Park off-leash area is a few blocks away for a proper run before coffee, and the Merri Creek trail is close by for a longer lead walk. Best on a quiet weekday morning for a coffee and a footpath seat.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Brunswick East destination page.