Uncle Drew Cafe

Uncle Drew Cafe took over the old backstreet milk bar at 23 Groom Street, Clifton Hill, and kept the neighbourhood scale: a corner shop with a provisions shelf, fresh bread and pastries from Tivoli Road Bakery, and a kitchen that turns out a toastie locals argue is the best in the inner north. Weekdays start at 6:30am, Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 8, all closing at 3pm. Coffee is Dukes, and the menu ranges from corn fritters and a Sichuan omelette to gnocchi and a prawn roll.

The dog setup

The corner position gives Uncle Drew a roomy streetside parklet, and it is the dog-watching spot of the street: reviews regularly mention the parade of dogs parked out front, and water bowls are part of the setup. The venue is listed as dog friendly on Melbourne's dog directory, and the practical flow suits it, order at the counter, take the outdoor table, and the dog settles on the kerb side. At 569 reviews and a 4.7 average, the weekend queue is real, so earlier is better with a dog in tow.

Getting there and parking

Groom Street sits in the residential pocket of Clifton Hill between Queens Parade and the Merri Creek side, a short walk from Rushall or Clifton Hill stations depending on your line. Street parking in the surrounding blocks is free but tight on weekends; walking over from a park lap is the better play.

Close by with the dogs

The obvious pairing is the creek: the Merri Creek Trail runs right past the Clifton Hill side, and Ramsden Street Reserve's off leash area gives the dog a proper run before the parklet. If you are stretching the loop north, the Rubber Duck Cafe is the other Clifton Hill coffee stop, and the Clifton Hill destination guide maps the rest.

Max: a Dukes flat white, the toastie, and a parklet full of dogs to sniff