The Food Store

The Food Store is a busy all-day cafe on the edge of Maffra's town centre, pouring espresso from 6am on weekdays and running wood-fired pizza nights on weekends. It is a genuine working-town cafe rather than a destination gimmick: tradies at the counter, locals on the deck, and dogs welcome at the outdoor tables out front.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the alfresco seating outside, with footpath access straight off the street. A walk-up window means you can order and collect without leaving your dog tied up out of sight, which matters more than it sounds on a hot Gippsland morning. Water bowls appear from time to time but are not a sure thing, so pack your own. Outdoor tables can fill on weekend mornings, so arrive early if you want a corner spot with room for a dog to settle.

The vibe

Breakfast runs all day: eggs benedict gets repeat mentions, as do the milkshakes, home-style muffins and cakes baked on site. Lunch leans burgers and hearty plates, and on Friday and Saturday nights the deck turns into a wood-fired pizza and fish and chips dinner service, bookable by phone on 03 5141 1579. Staff come up again and again in visitor feedback for being welcoming, and the room has that country-cafe efficiency where nobody waits long.

Pepsi: Friday night pizza on the deck with the dog under the table beats any fancy city reservation I've had.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 39 Carpenter Street, Maffra, a block from the Johnson Street strip, so it is an easy walk from anywhere in town. Free angle parking sits close by on both streets, and there is enough room to swing a van through if you are towing between Gippsland towns.

Close by with the dogs

The Macalister River Parklands are a short drive or a solid walk away for a riverside leg-stretch, and Maffra Botanic Gardens on McLean Street is another good on-lead wander. If you are heading toward Sale afterwards, Sale The Dog Park gives the dog a proper off-lead run, and redd catt or Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters in Stratford cover the next coffee stop.

Browse more dog friendly cafes in Victoria or start from dog friendly Maffra.