inked cup

Inked Cup is a modern Asian-fusion brunch cafe at 2/1004 Doncaster Road in Doncaster East, and it is one of the east's more reliably dog-friendly brunch spots: a dedicated outdoor seating area where staff have been known to produce water bowls and even the odd pup cupcake. It rates 4.6 from over 800 reviews, so expect company on weekends.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, which is where a visit with a dog should focus; the indoor dining room is people-only. Keep your dog leashed and settled, and bring your own bowl as backup when the outdoor tables fill. Hours run 8am to 2:30pm weekdays and to 3:30pm on weekends, so it is a brunch-and-lunch operation rather than an all-day cafe.

The menu

The fusion menu borrows from Hong Kong cha chaan tengs, Malaysia and Japan: the polo bun with spam and egg, Malaysian curry baked eggs, kaya toast and Hong Kong-style waffles sit alongside crispy duck bao, zucchini and corn fritters, wagyu burgers and the katsu ebi sando regulars photograph before eating. The drinks list goes properly sideways with taro lattes and the durian espresso latte, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Getting there and the green space

There is a free car park plus street parking at the Doncaster Road address, and both get busy on weekend mornings. For a walk either side of brunch, the Boronia Grove Reserve Dog Off Leash Area and Zerbes Reserve Dog Off Leash Area are both close by, and Ruffey Lake Park is the big-league option with trails and open space.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Doncaster East destination page, with the state list in the VIC cafes index.