Donato

Donato is a family-operated cafe at 88 Craigie Road, Mount Martha, and it welcomes dogs on lead in the spacious outdoor seating out the front. It is a long-standing local rather than a seaside scene stop, with a kitchen that stretches well past standard cafe fare into house-made pastas and a bakery cabinet.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor front seating and dining areas, on lead, with umbrellas for shade over the tables. The front area is generous by Peninsula standards, so there is room to settle a larger dog without blocking the footpath. No water station is advertised, so bring your own bowl and ask staff when you arrive.

The vibe and the menu

The menu is broad: eggs benedict for the traditionalists, focaccia sandwiches, gnocchi and house-made pastas for lunch, and a bakery side known for its vanilla slice. Coffee holds up well, and the atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly. It opens early, from 6:30am, and runs through to 4pm, so it works for both post-walk breakfasts and a late lunch.

Getting there and parking

Craigie Road runs inland from the Mount Martha foreshore, with parking easy in the surrounding streets and at the shops nearby. From the cafe it is a short drive to the bay side, and the village hub on Lochiel Avenue is close by if you are linking stops.

Close by with the dogs

The Community Forest fenced dog park gives the dog an off-lead run beforehand, and Hawker Beach covers the coastal leg-stretch. For another dog-friendly coffee nearby, Via Battisti is in the village.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Mount Martha destination page, with the wider list in the VIC cafes index.