Le Capucin

Le Capucin is a French-style bakery cafe in the middle of Portsea village, a short stroll from the pier, and it has quietly become the Peninsula's most reliable coffee stop with a dog on the lead. Croissants, baguettes and house-made pies come out from 8am to 3pm, seven days.

The dog setup

Dogs join you on the outdoor terrace out front, right at footpath level, so getting in and out with a lead is effortless and staff are known for making a fuss of canine visitors. No dedicated water bowls are mentioned, so pack your own on warm days. The terrace is the only dog zone, so leave the interior to the bakery queue.

Worth knowing

The baking is the draw: fresh croissants and baguettes daily, egg and bacon rolls, quiches, and savoury pies that people queue for, including a boeuf bourguignon pie and a chicken and leek. Coffee gets consistent praise, and there is a shelf of French provisions and take-home meals if you are stocking a holiday house. Weekday mornings are the easiest time for a terrace table; weekends fill fast once the village wakes up and summer holidays are the busiest of all.

Getting there and parking

It sits on Point Nepean Road in Portsea village, at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Melbourne. Street parking runs along the road out front but gets tight on weekends, so an early start helps. The pier and front beach are a few minutes on foot.

Close by with the dogs

Work off the pastry at the Shelley Beach dog off-leash area a short drive along Point Nepean Road, or the Sorrento Beach dog off-leash area one suburb back down the bay. If you are making a weekend of it, Moody's Motel at Blairgowrie takes dogs too.

More options are on the Victorian dog friendly cafes guide and the Portsea destination page.