The Blackthorn Cafe

The Blackthorn Cafe is an Irish-influenced kitchen inside the Dromana Hub shopping centre on Point Nepean Road, built around hearty cooking and quick, friendly service. For dog owners it is a flat, easy stop: outdoor tables looking over the hub forecourt and a huge car park at the door, a short walk from the Dromana foreshore.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables in the shopping hub, with the indoor cafe reserved for service dogs. The seating sits above the busy forecourt, so it suits a settled dog on a short lead more than a nervous one in close foot traffic. Bring your own water bowl; staff are accommodating and happy to fill it.

Worth knowing

The menu leans into traditional Irish cooking: an Ulster fry with black pudding and homemade potato bread, plus homemade soups, the Wagyu Blackthorn burger and pulled pork rolls. Gluten-free options are covered, and the marshmallow-topped milkshakes get regular mentions. Hours run from 7:30am, closing 3pm or 4pm depending on the day, seven days. It is a no-fuss brekkie stop rather than a long-lunch destination.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 207 to 211 Point Nepean Road, inside the Dromana Hub near Ritchies IGA. The centre car park is extensive and free, with step-free access to the tables, which is handy if your dog is older or you are carting gear. Weekday mornings are the quiet window; the hub ramps up on weekends.

Close by with the dogs

The Dromana foreshore is a short walk across Point Nepean Road for an on-lead beach stroll, with leash zones posted at the access points. For an off-lead splash, Tassells Cove at Safety Beach is a dedicated dog beach a few minutes west, and Pier Street Reserve has a fenced run in town. Fellow dog-friendly cafes on the same strip include Laneway Espresso and Hapi Cafe & Restaurant.

More of the Peninsula's dog-friendly eating is collected on the Dromana destination page.