Parkstone

Parkstone is a busy neighbourhood cafe at 9 Parkstone Avenue in Pascoe Vale South, a local fixture for brunch that also gets a steady stream of cyclists and dog walkers coming off the nearby reserves. The dog setup is the footpath seating out front, and staff are used to four-legged regulars.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the small tables on the footpath at the front of the cafe, on lead. The frontage is compact, so keep your dog tucked in clear of pedestrian traffic and settled beside your chair. Inside is for people and assistance dogs only. Broadsheet lists the cafe as dog friendly, and staff will generally sort out water if you ask, but bring your own bowl as backup.

The vibe and the menu

The kitchen runs inventive brunch plates: eggs benedict on a waffled hash brown with maple bacon, chilli scramble, carrot pancakes and miso mushrooms, with a kids menu and solid vegetarian options. Coffee is ST. Ali and consistently praised, and the Aperol spritz on the drinks list gives it a Saturday-lunch feel. Hours are 6:30am to 3pm weekdays and 7am to 3pm weekends, and weekend mornings get lively, so come early or expect a short wait for a table.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits in a quiet residential pocket of Pascoe Vale South with street parking on the surrounding avenues. It is an easy walk from the Shore Reserve dog off-leash area, with Brearley Reserve also close for an off-lead run before brunch.

Other dog-friendly coffee in the pocket includes Old Faithful Cafe and Cactus.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Pascoe Vale South destination page, with the full state list in the Victorian cafes index.