Moon Rabbit Cafe

Moon Rabbit Cafe operates at 218 High Street, Preston, a social-enterprise cafe run by Bridge Darebin that trains young people with additional learning needs. It is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 2pm, and closed Friday through Sunday, so this is a mid-week dog-walk destination. Dogs on leads are genuinely welcome, with sunny outdoor seating and courtyards rather than a token strip of footpath.

The dog setup

Dogs settle in the outdoor seating areas and courtyard, and the cafe has run dedicated dog-friendly days with house-made dog treats, so check their socials before you go and time your visit with one. Keep your dog on lead and close to the table, since High Street foot traffic builds through the morning. The vibe is casual and the staff are visibly pleased to see pups.

Worth knowing

The menu leans into creative jaffles with rotating vegetarian and vegan fillings, vegan sausage rolls with house-made relish, bagels, cakes and brownies, plus good coffee. The room has a cosy, nanna-chic feel, and there is a zero single-use cup policy backed by a community mug library. Profits feed back into Bridge Darebin's community programs, so the visit does a bit of good beyond lunch.

Getting there and parking

Preston station on the Mernda line is a short walk away, the 86 tram runs along High Street, and free street parking is nearby though it fills up. A High Street stroll with the dog pairs naturally with breakfast.

For off-lead time, G.H. Mott Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the local run, and Red Bean Coffee Roaster on Plenty Road is the same-suburb roastery with a big front deck. More in the VIC cafes index.

Pepsi: they have run dog days here with treats made in-house, so it is worth checking their socials before you go to time your visit with one.