Rival Brothers Mount Barker

Rival Brothers is a family-owned specialty coffee roaster and cafe at 6 Dutton Road, Mount Barker, in the central retail precinct of the Adelaide Hills town. It is genuinely set up for dogs: water bowls and treats are kept on hand for visitors, and the roomy outdoor seating takes a dog without fuss. Doors open 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 3pm Sunday, no bookings needed.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor and footpath tables, with enough space to settle a dog beside your chair even at busy times. Water bowls and treats are provided, so this is an easy one to rock up to without packing anything. Keep your dog leashed and out of the indoor counter area.

Worth knowing

The coffee is roasted in-house, including the 953 Blend, with a focus on organic and sustainable beans, and the smoothies and iced coffee earn their own mentions. The kitchen runs an all-day breakfast and lunch menu until 2pm, then wraps and toasties from the fridge afterwards. An off-peak weekday gets you the pick of the shaded outdoor tables before the morning rush.

Getting there and parking

Dutton Road sits close to central Mount Barker's shops, so the cafe slots easily into a walking errand, with street parking available nearby.

Close by with the dogs

Keith Stephenson Park on Adelaide Road is a pleasant on-lead walk with the playground and linear trails, but dogs are not allowed off-leash there under council rules, so for a proper run head to Barka Park Fenced Dog Park on Zanker Drive, open 24 hours with separate large and small dog areas and agility gear. Laratinga Wetlands suits an on-lead circuit, and Gawler Street Cafe is another dog-friendly table in town.

More options are on the South Australia dog friendly cafes guide and the Mount Barker destination page.

Max: do the off-lead lap of Barka Park first, then claim a footpath table. A dog that has already run settles under a cafe chair like a pro.