SoulPod Cafe

SoulPod Cafe is a fully plant-based cafe at 43 The Mall, Croydon South, inside the Croydon Central shopping precinct. It pairs a vegan menu and specialty coffee with one of the more dog-forward policies in Melbourne's east: dogs are welcome indoors as well as out.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed in both the outdoor seating and inside the cafe, at no fee, kept leashed and settled. Water bowls are provided, and the dog gets its own menu: oat milk puppychinos and plant-based treats made for four-legged customers. If you have ever wanted a cafe where the dog's order is actually on the card, this is it.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is entirely plant-based, with the Breaky Bagel and mushroom stroganoff the popular picks, plus cauliflower fritters, vegan feta, raw slices and desserts, and oat or almond milk coffee on the machine. It runs to 3pm daily, opening 7:30am on most days, so it is a brunch-and-lunch stop rather than dinner.

Getting there and parking

Free parking covers the Croydon Central precinct, including undercover and accessible bays, though some spots carry a three-hour limit. Croydon station on the Lilydale line is a short walk away.

Close by with the dogs

Two off-leash options sit close by: Belmont Park Dog Off Leash Area, where the oval opens up when sport is not running, and Woodland Park Dog Off Leash Area, which mixes open grass with bushland paths. Standard Maroondah rules apply around playgrounds and barbecues, so keep the lead handy.

Eastfield Coffee Co is a short walk for a second dog-friendly stop, and the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and Croydon South destination page list more.

Pepsi: puppychino for me, mushroom stroganoff for them, and I am allowed inside when it rains.