The Nicholson Coffee House

The Nicholson Coffee House is a busy modern-Australian brunch cafe on Nicholson Street with a Moroccan lean, and one of the more openly dog-welcoming spots on the Brunswick-Coburg border. The deciding feature for owners is a covered, heated courtyard, so a coffee with the dog still works on a cold or wet Melbourne morning.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating, including the covered courtyard out the back and the footpath tables out front. Inside is for people. Staff have a habit of regularly handing out water bowls, so you can usually leave your own in the car, though it never hurts to bring one. Keep dogs on a lead and close to the table; the street frontage is busy.

Max: wet morning, covered courtyard, tagine on the menu. Most dog-friendly setups end when the weather turns, but this one does not.

Worth knowing

The kitchen leans Mediterranean and Moroccan, with shakshuka and tagine alongside the standard flat whites and croissants, and vegetarian and vegan options are solid. It is a genuine local, so weekend mornings get full: get in before about 9am or expect a wait. Hours run 7am to 3pm weekdays and 7:30am to 3:30pm weekends.

Getting there and parking

Find it on Nicholson Street, on tram routes that run the length of the street, so leaving the car at home is easy. Free street parking is usually available nearby, though it tightens on weekends.

Close by with the dogs

You are a short walk from Egan Reserve Dog Off Leash Area and the wider Merri Creek corridor, which makes a good before-or-after walk, and Coburg Bush Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is just up the road for a more natural setting.

More dog friendly cafes in Victoria and other dog friendly spots in Coburg are on PawScapes.