Take 3 Cafe

Take 3 Cafe is a busy modern Australian brunch spot on Keilor Road in Essendon, and the front footpath tables are the part that matters for dog owners: you and the dog can settle in on the street edge and watch the strip go by without giving up a proper brunch.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, including the footpath tables at the front. Keep your dog leashed and settled beside the table, out of the pedestrian flow along Keilor Road. Staff are generally accommodating with four-legged guests, but carry your own water bowl so you are not relying on the weather or the queue.

Worth knowing

The all-day brunch menu is the draw: avocado on toast, a pulled pork benedict, chilli scramble and an acai bowl, backed by serious coffee. There is a kids menu too, so it handles the family circuit as easily as a solo coffee run. Staff get consistently warm reviews, which makes it an easy regular with a dog in tow.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 98A Keilor Road. Street parking runs along Keilor Road and the side streets, so check signage for time limits. The route 59 tram stops along Keilor Road, which makes a car-free visit straightforward. Hours run 7am to 4pm on weekdays and 8am to 3pm on weekends.

Close by with the dogs

Queens Park in Moonee Ponds is a short trip away for a walk around the lake, and the quiet residential streets off Keilor Road make an easy on-leash loop after brunch. Other dog-welcoming cafes on the same strip include Coffee Joint on Napier, Matte Black and BAM. The Essendon destination page pulls the suburb together.

Weekday mornings are calmer than weekend brunch, when the footpath seating fills fast. More options are under the Victoria cafes listing.

Pepsi: footpath tables, pulled pork benedict, and a tram at the door. The humans have it good too.