Chichi House Cafe

Chichi House Cafe is an Asian-fusion brunch spot at 13 Willesden Road in Hughesdale, and the drawcard for dog owners is a proper leafy courtyard rather than a squeeze of footpath tables. It is a popular neighbourhood operation that fills fast, so a little planning goes a long way with a dog in tow.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor courtyard, an Asian-influenced garden space, but not inside the main dining room. Staff are friendly towards dogs and water is usually on hand. The outdoor seating is limited and the cafe is busy, so book ahead online and mention you are bringing a dog if you want a guaranteed courtyard table, particularly on weekends.

The vibe and the menu

The menu leans Asian-fusion brunch: pandan French toast, Indomie fried chicken noodles, cauliflower bao, nasi goreng and bubur ayam, with prawn chorizo and fritters rounding it out, plus a strong vegan and vegetarian range and quality coffee and matcha. Hours run 6:30am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 7:30am Saturdays, closed Sundays, so plan around that. A weekday morning is the easy window for a quieter courtyard.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking is available out front and on the surrounding streets, and it is an easy walk from Hughesdale station. For an off-leash run either side of brunch, the Jack Edwards Reserve off-leash area is close by, as is Boyd Park one suburb over. Cafe Omnia in Murrumbeena is another courtyard-friendly dog stop, and Temperance Society is the local coffee alternative in the same strip.

More dog-friendly venues around the suburb are on the Hughesdale destination page, and the full list is in the VIC cafes index.