Cliffy's Emporium

Cliffy's Emporium on Raglan Street is part cafe, part local produce store, and the dog-friendly real estate is arguably the best in Daylesford: a grapevine covered verandah out front plus a terrace under the old linden trees. Water bowls are provided, and dogs are welcome in both outdoor areas, which run 8am to 3pm daily alongside the kitchen.

The dog setup

The verandah and the linden tree terrace are both outdoor and both dog friendly, with bowls put out for visiting dogs. Verandah seating is walk in depending on the weather, which is worth knowing in a town where weekends can be busy: on a fine Saturday the terrace hums, on a cool weekday you might share it with nobody. Either way your dog has shade in summer and cover when it spits, and the people watching along Raglan Street is a bonus for dogs who like to observe passers by.

The menu leans on local produce and the breakfast list has a following: Turkish eggs, chilli eggs and eggs benedict all get repeat orders, and the hash brown is a fixture. There is indoor seating too, but that is the humans only part of the equation, so if the weather turns and the verandah closes, plan a takeaway coffee and a wander with the dog instead.

Pair it with

Cliffy's sits well in a Daylesford dog day. The Tipperary Spring via Blowhole Circuit is a solid leashed bushwalk nearby for the morning leg, and The Farmers Arms takes care of dinner later. If you are staying over, Jubilee Lake Holiday Park & Cafe is dog friendly and an easy drive from town. The Daylesford destination guide maps out the rest, and more VIC dog friendly cafes are listed for the wider trip.

Check Cliffy's site for seasonal hours and events, keep your dog at the verandah or terrace tables, and book nothing: the walk in policy is part of the charm.