Cafe 445

Cafe 445 is a relaxed roadside cafe on the Princes Highway in Officer, tucked beside the Shell service station, and it makes a habit of looking after dogs at its outdoor tables. Free dog treats sit behind the counter for visiting four-leggers, staff make a fuss of them, and weekday hours mean it works as a breakfast or early-lunch stop rather than an all-day hang.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating area only; inside is off limits. Keep your dog on a short lead and tucked close to your table, because the Princes Highway runs right there and the car park is working traffic, not a plaza. Free Wi-Fi and quick service make it a handy tradie-and-commuter stop, and there is no ordering loop your dog needs to join, just settle in and wait for the treats.

Max: clip the lead on before you open the car door. The highway is a few metres away, and this is a clip-on-arrival cafe, not an off-lead one.

Worth knowing

The menu runs to generous portions of classic cafe food: chilli scramble, toasties, french toast and solid coffee, with waffles and burgers for the bigger appetites. Hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm with the kitchen winding up around 2:30, and weekends are closed entirely, so this is a weekday-only dog plan.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at Unit 20/445 Princes Highway, Officer, right off the highway next to the Shell station, with plenty of free on-site parking, accessible entry and Officer station a short drive away.

Make a day of it

Pair breakfast with a proper run at Onyx Crescent Fenced Dog Park, the suburb's fully fenced off-lead space, or Don Jackson Reserve Fenced Dog Park if you are heading towards Pakenham. For an on-lead leg stretch, the Cardinia Aqueduct Trail is close by.

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