The Jolly Miller (Croydon)

The Jolly Miller is a busy cafe-bakery in the Croydon Central precinct in Melbourne's east, and what sets it apart for dog owners is a dedicated doggy menu: your dog gets its own order rather than just a bowl of water.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating, and the doggy menu runs to puppuccinos, doggy doughnuts, cookies, muffins and quiche, which makes it an easy spot if you want to treat the dog too. Outdoor space can be tight at peak times, so aim for off-peak if you want elbow room for a settled dog.

Worth knowing

The human side is known for handcrafted pastries, cakes and a broad breakfast and lunch menu with barista coffee, plus a decent vegan selection. It is part of a Victorian bakery chain, so expect a reliable, family-friendly feel and quick service even when the room is full. It opens from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, trading to 4pm daily.

Getting there and parking

It sits around Kent Avenue in the Croydon Central precinct, near the Maroondah Highway junction, with free parking in the surrounding shopping area plus street parking. The precinct is flat and walkable on-lead, so parking once and wandering with the dog works well. Weekends start an hour later than weekdays, which quietly makes them the better session for a slow pastry run.

Make a day of it

The Eastfield Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away for a proper off-lead run before pastries. For other dog-friendly tables around the suburb, Blackwork and Rt & Coffeeworks are the local picks.

The Croydon destination page pulls the suburb together, and the Victoria dog-friendly cafe guide covers the rest of the state.