Little Bliss Coffee Bar

Little Bliss Coffee Bar works the counter at Shop 3 in the Bell Street Mall, Heidelberg West, and the cafe states its dog welcome plainly: dogs are allowed in-store, with free pup cups and dog treats waiting for visiting pups. That is a venue published policy rather than word of mouth, so you can walk in with the dog on lead and expect to be served at the counter with the dog beside you.

It is a small bar in the best sense: croissants, toasties, a dirty chai that regulars order by name, and oat and soy milk lattes done properly. Hours are 7:30am to 2pm weekdays and 8:30am to 11am Saturday, closing Sunday, so it is strictly a morning operation. The mall setting means everything is close: park a short stroll away, grab your coffee, and you are already at the start of the suburb's walking routes.

The vibe

The recurring words in feedback are friendly and lovely staff, and the mall setting gives it a neighbourhood regulars feel rather than a destination crowd. Weekday mornings bring the local coffee run; Saturdays are short and busy before the 11am close. Indoors is compact, so with a dog the move is usually order at the counter, collect the pup cup, and take your coffee outside to one of the mall's outdoor spots.

Make a day of it

Heidelberg West is well set up for a dog morning. The Malahang Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the obvious off leash stop nearby, and the Darebin Creek Trail runs straight through the suburb for a long on leash walk afterwards. If you want a second coffee option, Birdie Coffee Bar and Mick's at Sweet by Nature are both local dog friendly stops. The broader list of dog friendly cafes in VIC covers the rest of Melbourne's north.