Paperbark Cafe

Paperbark Cafe sits inside Kuranga Native Nursery on York Road in Mount Evelyn, a relaxed all-day breakfast and lunch spot surrounded by Australian native plants. Leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables overlooking the nursery, which makes this an easy stop that doubles as something to actually do, not just a coffee.

The dog setup

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio, and there is plenty of room to tuck a dog under the tables away from foot traffic. Water is generally available on request, but bring your own bowl to be safe. The setting is calm and green, which suits dogs that prefer a quiet table to a busy street strip.

The menu

The kitchen leans into modern Australian bush food, with saltbush calamari the dish people come back for, alongside house-made cakes and a vanilla slice with a local following. The nursery and gift shop make a pleasant on-lead wander afterwards. Hours run 8:30am to 4:30pm every day of the week.

Pepsi: The outdoor tables catch good afternoon shade under the nursery plantings, which is handy on a warm day.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 118 York Road, an easy detour off the Warburton Highway, with a large free off-street car park on site, so parking is never the hard part here.

Close by with the dogs

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail passes close by for a proper long walk before or after, and the Lillydale Lake off-leash area gives dogs a water-and-grass run a short drive away. Manna Lane Cafe at Mooroolbark is another dog-friendly table in the next suburb along.

More dog-friendly venues around the suburb are on the Mount Evelyn destination page, with the wider list in the VIC cafes index.