Lucci Eatery

Lucci Eatery is an Italian-leaning all-day cafe at 226 Waterdale Road, Ivanhoe, run by the family behind Via Porta. Weekdays run 6:30am to 3pm and weekends 8am to 3pm, with the kitchen closing at 2:30pm. It is a proper sit-down brunch spot rather than a takeaway window, with a spacious rear courtyard that carries the dog policy.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the rear courtyard and at the front footpath tables, on lead, and there is a rear entrance off the lane behind the cafe, handy for arriving straight from a walk without threading the shop. Indoor dining is people only. Ask staff for a water bowl on arrival; the courtyard fills on weekends, so a weekday or an early weekend table is the calmest option for a dog.

On the plate

The menu blends cafe classics with Italian flourish: truffle scramble, salmon on house rye, ricotta pancakes and fresh La Pasta dishes, plus pastries delivered daily from the family's Via Porta Bakehouse. Coffee is specialty-grade and the venue runs primarily on walk-ins, though groups of eight or more book ahead by email. Expect a bustling neighbourhood room on weekends, not a hushed one.

Getting there and parking

Waterdale Road sits in central Ivanhoe, with street parking along the strip and the side streets. Weekend mornings tighten up, so arrive before 8am or be prepared to walk a block.

More walks nearby

Two Banyule off-lead reserves are close: Sparks Reserve at Lower Heidelberg Road and The Boulevard, and Seddon Reserve, both off-lead with effective control and the usual playground exclusions. For a bigger outing, the Darebin Creek Trail into the Darebin Parklands corridor is a short drive south. Bambino Coffee Bar is the quicker coffee alternative in Ivanhoe.

Max: come in via the rear lane with a trail-dusty dog, order the truffle scramble, and let the courtyard do the rest.

The Ivanhoe guide collects more dog-friendly cafes and parks in the suburb.