The Kooyong Road General

The Kooyong Road General is a neighbourhood cafe, micro-bakery and general store at 437 Kooyong Road in Elsternwick, on the residential end of the strip. It is a relaxed, dog-welcoming spot with room to settle, which makes it an easy anchor stop on a local walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, both the front seating and the rear courtyard, so you can tuck a dog out of the footpath traffic. Staff are known to bring water bowls out, and the cafe itself describes dogs as one of its specialties. The courtyard is the quieter option if your dog startles at prams and footpath bustle.

The vibe and the menu

Coffee comes from Symmetry Coffee Roasters, and the in-house bakery turns out cheesy vegemite scrolls, cinnamon buns, almond croissants and bagels alongside a casual brunch and sandwich menu. There is a cubby house and sandpit out the back, so it draws families too, which is worth knowing if your dog is wary of small children. Hours are 6:30am to 1pm Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 1:30pm Saturday and 8am to 1:30pm Sunday.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking is available on Kooyong Road and the surrounding side streets. It sits in a quiet residential pocket, a walk or short bus ride from Elsternwick Station.

Close by with the dogs

The Elsternwick Park, Lakeside Green, Dog Off Leash Area is the closest run, down by the Elster Creek wetlands. Bayside City Council requires leads within 20 metres of playgrounds, barbecues and car parks, and effective control everywhere else. For a fully fenced option, the Brighton Fenced Dog Park is a short drive south, and the Brighton Beach Dog Off Leash Area adds sand to the loop.

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