Slow Lane Coffee

Slow Lane Coffee is a vintage '61 split-screen Kombi coffee truck stationed at Parkwood Reserve, 35-39 Tortice Drive, Ringwood North, in the community complex that also houses the North Ringwood Community House and a toy library. The pitch is simple: coffee and a dog-park run in the one stop, because the truck parks right beside the Parkwood Fenced Dog Park. It serves Code Black specialty coffee, chai, hot chocolate and Tea Drop teas, with House of Gingerbread sweets alongside.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the open-air space around the truck, and as with any food-handling van in Victoria they stay outside rather than in a queue inside a building. Visitor reports mention dog biscuits being handed over the counter, so it pays to ask. Water is not guaranteed, so bring a bowl, and keep your dog leashed while you wait since the reserve paths are shared.

Max: Coffee truck next to a fenced dog park is the dream combo. Run first, then flop under the table while the humans sort out the caffeine.

Worth knowing

It trades Monday to Thursday from 9am to about 11:45am and closes Friday to Sunday, and it does not usually trade on public holidays or school holidays. The schedule shifts with weather, so check the Slow Lane Coffee Facebook page before you head out. This is a quick order-and-go stop rather than a sit-down brunch destination, so time it mid-walk rather than as the main event.

Getting there and parking

Warrandyte Road is the main way in, and the community complex has plenty of free off-street parking, so arriving by car is easy even on weekday mornings when the community house is busy.

Close by with the dogs

The Parkwood Fenced Dog Park shares the address, with separate areas for large and small dogs, agility tunnels, sandpits, climbing mounds and internal walking tracks per Maroondah City Council. The BJ Hubbard Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is another Ringwood North option if the fenced park is crowded, and This Little Kitchen is a sit-down cafe alternative in the same suburb.

More options are on the dog friendly cafes in VIC list or in Ringwood North.