Emma & Ivy

Emma & Ivy is a plant-filled cafe on Main Street in Lobethal, set inside a converted 1800s garage, and it has built a reputation as one of the more reliably dog-friendly stops in the Adelaide Hills. Half plant studio, half kitchen, it draws a steady crowd from across the hills on weekend mornings.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables out front on Main Street, where water bowls are commonly put out for visiting dogs. The indoor space doubles as a dense plant studio, so treat it as off-limits for dogs and check with staff on the day if you are unsure. Keep leads short: the tables sit right on the main road, and the street stay busy through service.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is known for house-made shortbread and pastries alongside its coffee, with crumpets, hash browns and gluten-free options filling out the brunch menu. If you are waiting on a table, the botanical side of the building is worth a browse. Weekdays run from 6:30am, weekends from 8am, closing at 3pm, and the outdoor seats can fill early on Saturdays.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 47 Main Street, Lobethal, on the town's main strip. Street parking is available directly out front and along the nearby side streets, and the drive up from the city through the hills is part of the appeal.

Close by with the dogs

The Cudlee Creek forest areas are a short drive for a longer walk, and Balhannah Dog Park gives the dog an off-lead run on the way through. For a second stop, Avalon of Woodside is next town over and Olive Branch Cafe is close by. The hills cellar doors welcome the idea of a wine finish too: Golding Wines and Tilbrook Estate are both near Lobethal.

More options are on the SA dog friendly cafes guide and the Lobethal destination page.

Pepsi: arrive before 9am on a weekend if you want a front table. The brunch crowd in the hills starts early and the footpath seats are few.