Gellibrand Cafe

Gellibrand Cafe is a relaxed suburban cafe on Gellibrand Crescent in Reservoir, doing all-day breakfast, hearty lunches and specialty coffee roasted for it by a local roaster. The footpath tables out front are where the dog comes in, and the staff are easygoing about four-legged customers.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, with plenty of footpath space directly out front to settle a dog or park a pram beside it. Indoors leans toward people, so plan on an outside table in the usual Melbourne-weather fashion. The mornings draw a steady stream of local dog walkers.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is known for generous plates: eggs benedict, haloumi, big chicken sandwiches, fresh juice and vegan options, with halal food on the menu too. Hours run 7am to 3pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 3pm Sunday, so it is a breakfast-and-lunch operation rather than an afternoon one. It closes early and the kitchen closes with it, so confirm before a special trip.

Getting there

The cafe sits at 16 Gellibrand Crescent, Reservoir, about 12 kilometres north of the CBD. Free street parking is on the surrounding streets, buses on Cheddar Road are a short walk away, and Keon Park Station is a longer one.

Pair it with

Edwardes Lake Park is the obvious walk either side of breakfast, and the Edwardes Lake Park off-lead area gives dogs room to run. The quiet residential streets around Gellibrand Crescent suit a calm post-coffee stroll as well.

If Gellibrand is full, Clayton & Me, All Heart Cafe and Lady Bower Cafe are fellow dog-friendly Reservoir stops. More options sit on the Victoria cafe guide and the Reservoir destination page.

Pepsi: big breakfast, flat white, a patch of footpath sun. Weekday mornings are our favourite slot here.