Cafe Piccante

Cafe Piccante is a family-run local on St Georges Road in Fitzroy North, best known for its Ruben toasties, focaccia and a genuinely dog-friendly rear courtyard tucked behind the main room. It opens with the tradies, around 5:30am, and the courtyard makes it a practical stop rather than a lucky one.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the rear courtyard, which locals describe as a quiet, open space away from the street, and a few footpath tables out front also take dogs. Staff have been known to bring out water bowls and the odd treat, but bring your own bowl to be safe. Keep your dog on lead while passing through the indoor section on the way to the courtyard.

Worth knowing

Reviewers rate the focaccia, muffins and early opening hours, and regulars call out the friendly, family-owned feel. Hours run roughly 5:30am to 2:30pm Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, from 6am Sunday, with Tuesdays closed, worth confirming before an early visit. Go early on a weekday if you want the courtyard to yourself.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on St Georges Road near Merri Parade, with street parking on St Georges Road and the side streets; check signage for permit zones. The Route 11 tram runs along St Georges Road and stops close by, which makes a car-free coffee run easy.

Close by with the dogs

The Edinburgh Gardens off-leash area is a short walk away for a proper run, with the fenced Curtain Square dog park over in Carlton North as an enclosed option. For a longer leg stretch, the Merri Creek Trail runs close by, on-lead along the shared path.

More of the inner north's dog-friendly picks are on the Fitzroy North destination page.