Combi Elwood

Combi is a busy, health-focused cafe on the Ormond Road strip in Elwood, an easy stop on the walk to or from the beach. It is built around organic brunch food, acai bowls, smoothies and house-made almond milk, and dogs are welcome at the footpath tables out front.

The dog setup

Dogs are fine at the outdoor footpath seating directly in front of the cafe; the indoor area is for patrons only. Keep your dog on a lead and tucked close, because the strip gets crowded and the footpath tables turn over quickly. Staff will usually bring a water bowl on request, but bring your own if they are slammed.

Worth knowing

The menu leans healthy: acai bowls, toasties, smashed avo and a full vegan range, with the coffee and chai the regulars' picks. Hours run 7am to 3pm weekdays and 7:30am to 3pm weekends. The space can be cramped inside, so the footpath is the comfortable option anyway; for a slow visit, aim mid-morning on a weekday when the strip is calmer.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along Ormond Road and the side streets such as Tennyson and Docker, though spots are tight on weekends. It is a short walk from the Elwood foreshore, so parking near the beach and walking up is often easier.

Close by with the dogs

Elwood Beach is a short walk away, with the Elwood dog off-leash area covering the foreshore stretch, and M O Moran Reserve offers a fenced run nearby. The same strip is stacked with dog-friendly tables: Plain Sailing, Jerry's Milkbar and Who is Bunker Spreckels all welcome dogs outdoors.

More of the area's dog-friendly picks are on the Elwood destination page.