Bean Smuggler

Bean Smuggler is the brunch destination on Sneydes Road that Point Cook keeps coming back to, and the undercover courtyard out the back is what makes it work for dog owners. The kitchen is run to a higher standard than most suburban cafes, so it doubles as a proper meal out rather than just a coffee stop.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor undercover courtyard, and it is a genuinely usable space in winter because standing heaters run through the colder months. Staff are friendly towards pets and water bowls are set out; still worth packing your own as backup on busy weekends. Seating is standard table service style, so tuck the dog in beside your chair and out of the waiter lanes.

Worth knowing

The menu is the reason for the 400-plus reviews: sweet potato waffles, miso salmon, toasties, carrot cake and a matcha latte that gets ordered again and again. Coffee rides on Five Senses roasts. There is a strong run of vegetarian and vegan plates, and the kitchen handles gluten-free requests. Weekends fill up, so arrive early with the dog or expect a short wait for courtyard tables.

Pepsi: heaters in the courtyard, a water bowl on the ground, and the best waffle of my life. Sorted.

Getting there and parking

You will find it at 225 to 229 Sneydes Road, Point Cook, with free parking in the surrounding centre car parks. Doors open early, 6.30am on weekdays and 7am on weekends, with the kitchen winding up at 3pm each day.

Make a day of it

The Saltwater Reserve fenced dog park on Middleton Drive is a few minutes away, with dual-gate entry, agility gear and bag dispensers. The Strand dog off-leash park near Sanctuary Lakes is the other good fenced option close by. Both sit under Wyndham City Council's on-lead rules outside the fenced areas, so keep the lead on between the car and the gate.

More options around the west are in the Point Cook guide and the wider Victoria dog-friendly cafes list, including Little Miss Violet if you want a second stop in the suburb.