Our First Cafe, Fairfield

Our First Cafe is a small Korean-influenced brunch spot at Shop 7B/9 Railway Place, Fairfield, right beside Fairfield Station on Melbourne's Hurstbridge line. A couple runs it, and it shows: reviews land on the welcoming service as much as the food. It opens 7am to 3pm on weekdays and 8am to 3pm on weekends, and dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating facing Railway Place.

The dog setup

Inside is off limits to dogs; the action is on the compact footpath setting outside, where only a handful of tables mean a settled dog earns its spot quickly. Staff are generally happy to bring water out. On weekends the outdoor tables go early, so arrive before the brunch rush if you want a seat with your dog in tow.

What to order

The menu plays with Korean flavours across cafe brunch: the First Benedict is built on a potato stack, the Korean fried chicken is a genuine order rather than a gimmick, and the matcha drinks and poached eggs get their own praise. Coffee is well regarded on its own.

Getting there and parking

The train is the easy option, with the station entrance effectively next door. Free street parking runs along Railway Place and the surrounding streets but tightens up on weekends when the Station Street shops fill.

Make a day of it

Fairfield Park Fenced Dog Park and T H Westfield Reserve both give a proper off-lead run toward the Yarra, with the Boathouse down on the river for a second stop. For another Station Street coffee, Mr Wednesday is a short stroll.

More options are on the Victorian dog friendly cafes guide and the Fairfield destination page.