Jack The Lad

Jack The Lad sits at 376 Nepean Hwy at the northern end of the Chelsea strip, a block from the beach. Dogs are welcome in the sheltered outdoor area at the back, and the cafe reliably puts out water bowls, which has made it a fixture for Bayside dog walkers.

The dog setup

Head for the covered outdoor seating at the rear, where there is room for a leashed dog to settle beside your table. Water bowls are a fixture here, so it is an easy stop even without your own gear. Keep friendly dogs on lead and out of the walkway, since the rear area also carries staff traffic.

Worth knowing

It opens early, from 6am weekdays and 6:30am weekends through to 2pm, with Friday-night burgers as an added service. The coffee is the draw, often served with a complimentary biscuit, and breakfast wraps and gourmet breakfast burgers are the standouts. There is usually a rotating cabinet of sweet treats, including gluten-free options.

Getting there

Street parking runs along Nepean Hwy and the surrounding side streets, and the strip gets busy on weekend mornings. It is a short walk from Chelsea Station on the Frankston line, which makes a walk-coffee-beach loop straightforward without a car.

Close by with the dogs

Chelsea Beach is a block away for an on-lead walk before or after coffee, and the Chelsea Bicentennial Park Dog Off Leash Area is a short trip for a run on the grass. For sand the dog can legally work off-lead, Carrum Dog Beach is a few minutes north, with the Roy Dore Reserve Fenced Dog Park alongside it. More are on the Victoria cafe guide and the Chelsea destination page.