Regulator Cafe Highett

Regulator is an independent neighbourhood cafe at 4 Railway Parade in Highett, directly beside Highett Station on the Frankston line. The setup is simple: step off the train and you are at a footpath table with your dog within a couple of minutes. Locals rate it for strong flat whites, stacked toasties and a casual, low-hype feel, and it has settled in quickly since opening on the strip.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the front outdoor and footpath tables; the indoor room is off-limits under Victorian food rules apart from registered assistance dogs. Staff are good about bringing out a water bowl when asked, but carry a backup on warm days. There is enough outdoor row to find a table with space for a dog to lie settled rather than squeezed against the footpath traffic.

Pepsi: order at the counter, grab the second footpath table back from the kerb, and the staff found us before the coffee did.

The vibe

This is a commuter-cafe-turned-local-fixture rather than a destination brunch hall. The menu covers poached eggs, smashed avo, a breaky burger and miso mushroom plates, with pastries in the cabinet and a milkshake that has its own following. Hours are 6:30am to 3pm Monday to Saturday and 6:30am to 2pm Sunday, so it is a morning-to-early-afternoon stop.

Getting there and parking

The train is the easy option: Highett Station platforms are effectively next door. If you drive, free street parking runs along Railway Parade and the side streets, but read the signage as timed spots apply near the station.

Pair it with

Turner Road Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive away for an off-lead run before or after, and Third Wheel Highett on the Highett Road strip is the other dog-friendly coffee in the suburb. Further along the bay, Merrymen in Hampton is another Bayside option.

More options are in the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Highett destination page.