Lobbs

Lobbs is a light, spacious all-day cafe on Sydney Road in Brunswick, doing brunch through to dinner and cocktails, seven days a week from early morning. For dog owners the useful part is the sheltered front patio, a comfortable vantage point to sit with a coffee and watch Sydney Road roll past.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating on the patio, and staff are accommodating, usually bringing out a water bowl without prompting. Bring your own bowl as a backup anyway. The interior is large and airy, but plan on the outdoor area with a dog in tow. The patio is right against the footpath, so it suits a dog that settles around passing foot traffic, prams and other leashed dogs.

Pepsi: Pick the corner table on the patio and your dog gets a wall at its back and a clear view of everyone walking past.

The vibe

The menu leans brunch, with chilli scrambled eggs, eggs benedict and buckwheat pancakes the regulars' picks, alongside a solid run of vegetarian and vegan plates. Coffee is taken seriously and there is a licensed bar for later visits. Free wifi and power points make it workable if you want to stretch one coffee into a longer sit.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at 589 Sydney Road, with the 19 tram running straight past and a stop at Albion Street close by. Free street parking exists but is hard to land on busy days, so check the time-limited spots on side streets like Albion Street. The 19 tram makes the no-car visit the easy one.

Make a day of it

Sydney Road is a good leashed stroll in itself, with small parks a few minutes away and larger green space within 10 to 15 minutes on foot: Gilpin Park Fenced Dog Park to the west or Fleming Park Dog Off Leash Area to the east both pair well with a patio table afterwards. If you are comparison shopping for dog-friendly Brunswick brunch, Lux Foundry and EL Mirage are the other local names worth a look.

For more options across the city, browse our guide to dog friendly cafes in VIC, or see what else is nearby around Brunswick.