Frankie & Co Cafe

Frankie & Co Cafe at Shop 3/10 Victor Crescent is a well-liked breakfast and brunch spot near Fountain Gate, with a small footpath seating area where dogs are welcome. It is a genuine neighbourhood cafe: stop for a coffee and a proper breakfast with the dog settled at your feet, rather than expecting a destination.

The dog setup

Dogs go in the outdoor seating along the footpath out front; the indoor room is compact and not the plan for a dog day. Staff are used to canine regulars and will usually bring a water bowl over, though there is no formal dog menu, so carry a bowl on busy mornings. If the weather turns, call ahead rather than gamble on the tables.

On the menu

Breakfast and brunch do the heavy lifting: smashed avo, hearty breakfast boards and hot plates, with a lunch cabinet of paninis, wraps, focaccias and loaded sandwiches. The display case runs to cakes, muffins, cookies and vanilla slices, and the drinks list covers barista coffee, spiced chai lattes and thick fruit smoothies. Doors open 6am weekdays, 7am Saturdays and 8am Sundays, all closing at 4pm, so the early hours are the reliable window.

Getting there

Find it on Victor Crescent a short hop from the Princes Highway, with free off-street parking plus street parking along the crescent. The footpath tables are limited, so an early or mid-morning weekday visit gives the best shot at a spot with room for the dog.

While you're out there

For an off-lead run after breakfast, the fenced Kalora Park Oval dog park in Narre Warren North has waste bag stations and water, and Berwick Springs dog park is the southern option. If you would rather make a morning of it, Primary at Pioneers Park in Berwick has a sheltered alfresco deck that takes dogs.

Best as the coffee leg of a dog-park morning. Weekday early hours are calmest; weekends fill with the regular brunch crowd.