Leaf & Vine Cafe and Wine Bar

Leaf & Vine is a small cafe and wine bar at 34 Panfield Avenue in Ringwood, tucked into a quiet leafy street off the main retail strips. It is a community-minded spot with a seasonal kitchen, Genovese coffee and a curated wine list, and it welcomes dogs at its outdoor tables.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the undercover outdoor seating, on lead. Staff are accommodating and will bring out water bowls and the odd pat, and the space is intimate, so it suits a calm, well-behaved dog comfortable settling in a smaller seating area rather than a wide-open deck. Book ahead for weekends, since the outdoor tables are limited and this backstreet local fills with regulars.

The vibe and the menu

Open 7:30am to 3pm every day. The kitchen runs a fresh, seasonal list with inclusive options as a genuine strength: baked chilli eggs, eggplant schnitzel, forest field mushrooms and eggs benedict, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free dishes throughout, plus a kids menu and house-baked sweets. Reviewers call it a backstreets local done well, praising warm service and quality brunch food, and the wine bar side makes it an option for a late-morning long lunch.

Getting there and parking

Panfield Avenue has street parking out front, and the cafe is a short drive from Eastland and Ringwood station. For an off-lead run either side of brunch, the Greenwood Park dog off-leash area is nearby, and the Peter Vergers Reserve off-leash area is another close option.

For other dog-friendly coffee in the suburb, Bean in the Woods and Fingers Crossed Cafe are both solid picks.

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