Cups Espresso Cafe & Catering

Cups Espresso Cafe & Catering is a compact, coffee-focused local cafe at Unit 1A, 98-104 Station Street, Nunawading, a short walk from Nunawading Station. For dog owners it is a footpath-and-coffee stop rather than a lingering brunch venue, and a genuinely good one.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, with indoor space generally off limits apart from service dogs. Staff are accommodating, and the setup suits a quick coffee with a settled dog at your feet. Bring your own water bowl; this is a small operator rather than a big courtyard cafe.

The vibe and the food

The draw is the Vietnamese banh mi, with the pork roll the local favourite, alongside paninis, bacon and egg rolls, burgers and solid coffee at takeaway prices. It is popular for a fast, affordable weekday lunch. Note the hours skew to workdays: Tuesday to Friday, 7am to 3pm, closed Mondays and weekends, so this is a weekday plan.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Station Street near Nunawading Station, an easy walk from the platform if you are coming by train, with parking available in the surrounding streets. Because seating is outdoor and limited, quieter off-peak times away from the lunch rush give you the best shot at a table with the dog.

Nearby with the dogs

Nicoll Park Dog Off Leash Area is a few minutes away: an L-shaped grass strip wrapping the Nunawading Tennis Club courts, designated off-leash by Whitehorse City Council with shaded seating and multiple entrances. Blackburn Lake Sanctuary suits a longer leashed bushland walk, and The Peddler Cafe is the same-suburb alternative for a sit-down brunch.

More options are on the Nunawading destination page, and the full cafe list is in the VIC cafes index.