The Were Street Food Store

The Were Street Food Store is a long-running, family-run cafe at 30 Were Street in Montmorency, and one of the more genuinely dog-welcoming spots in Melbourne's north-east: dogs are allowed inside as well as out, and staff are known to make a fuss of visiting regulars. It has been part of the Were Street strip for over twenty years.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome inside and outside, which is rare and means your dog stays beside you rather than tied up on the footpath. There is footpath seating and at times a courtyard area, though nearby construction has shuffled the outdoor setup on and off. Water bowls are dotted around and there is a treat jar for canine regulars, so a stop here tends to be a hit even with fussy dogs.

Worth knowing

The menu covers breakfast, brunch and lunch with regulars pointing to the coffee, the dhal roti wraps, bagels and homemade cakes. It doubles as the village's community hub, so weekend mornings are busy and there is a rolling regular crowd. Hours run 5:30am to 3pm weekdays and 6:30am to 3pm weekends, which makes the early coffee run easy.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on the main Were Street shopping strip, a short walk from Montmorency Railway Station on the Hurstbridge line. Free street parking is available on Were Street and the surrounding streets, though the strip is compact, so early arrival helps on Saturday mornings.

Close by with the dogs

The fenced run at Malcolm Blair Reserve in Greensborough is the nearest proper off-lead option a few minutes' drive away, while Banyule's general rule keeps dogs on-lead within five metres of shared paths around the village. If you are cafe-crawling, The Monty Pantry & Cafe and New Neighbour Coffee are both close by and dog-friendly at their outdoor tables.

Pepsi: walked straight in the front door on a cold morning, got a biscuit from the treat jar before my human even paid.

More dog-friendly venues in the suburb are on the Montmorency destination page, with the full state list in the VIC cafes index.