Rebecchi's

Rebecchi's is a retro diner-style cafe at 11 Rutland Street in Newtown, on the Geelong side of the Pakington Street strip, set in a warehouse space in an old wool mill with a vinyl record store built in. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, and the room inside runs small anyway.

The dog setup

Dogs settle at the outdoor tables, which is where you want to be in a compact space like this. The cafe leans into the dogs-and-coffee crowd and staff are friendly to four-legged regulars, but it is a small shop, so bring your own water bowl rather than assuming one is on hand.

Max: warehouse cafes echo. A dog that whines at home will sound twice as loud in here, so pick the outermost table and give yours a job, like a stuffed chew, before you sit down with your flat white.

Worth knowing

Regulars rate the tuna melt, the cheeseburger, the caesar salad and a stack of pancakes, all served with a retro feel and solid specialty coffee. It runs 8am to 3pm Monday to Saturday and closes Sundays, and Saturday mornings fill up fast, which matters because the outdoor tables are where your dog needs to be. Check hours before a special trip, as small operators shift them.

Getting there

Rutland Street sits just off the river end of the Pakington Street strip, a short walk from the Geelong West side. Street parking is on the surrounding blocks.

Pair it with

The Pakington Street strip is an easy on-lead stroll past other dog-friendly spots, with Line Up Coffee and The Birch Geelong both in the directory, and the Barwon River trails are a short drive for a proper walk first.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Newtown destination page.