EL Mirage

EL Mirage does a roaring brunch trade on the Lygon Street strip in Brunswick East, and the street-side tables are where the dogs sit. It is one of those places that treats the dog as a customer rather than an inconvenience: there is a small pet menu with puppuccinos, and water bowls and the occasional treat show up without much prompting.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the footpath and front outdoor seating along Lygon Street, on lead. Inside stays for assistance dogs only, so head for the street tables and pick the covered ones if the Melbourne sky is undecided. Ask for a water bowl when you order, and if your dog is a social type, this is a good people-watching seat; the footpath traffic keeps them busy. Weekends are loud and busy, so a dog that settles underfoot will have the better time than one that guards the pram traffic.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is the draw: jalapeno corn fritters, Turkish eggs, a big breakfast list and poke bowls, plated properly. Coffee is reliable, and the puppuccino rounds out the order. It trades daily from early morning until 3pm, so it is a brunch-and-done spot rather than an all-day lounge.

Getting there and parking

You will find it at 349 Lygon Street, Brunswick East (3057). Street parking on Lygon gets tight at peak weekend times; the side streets to the east are the better fallback, and the 96 tram along Lygon drops you basically at the door if you would rather arrive car-free.

Pair it with

The Merri Creek Trail is the natural warm-up, a few minutes' walk east, and Fleming Park Dog Off Leash Area sits right beside it for an off-lead run first. For other dog-friendly brunch tables nearby, Big Sister Cafe and A Minor Place are both around the corner.

See more dog friendly cafes in VIC at pawscapes.com.au/cafes/state/vic and plan the neighbourhood at Brunswick East.