Waterfall Gully Cafe and Nursery

Waterfall Gully Cafe and Nursery sits on Old Cape Schanck Road in Rosebud, a garden cafe set among a working plant nursery, back from the busy Mornington Peninsula coastal strip. Dogs are welcome across the outdoor areas, and dining surrounded by greenery makes this a relaxed sit-down stop rather than a quick footpath coffee.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome outdoors: the deck, the nursery courtyard and the outdoor tables among the plants, with the indoor dining room off limits. Fresh water is put out for dogs, and staff have been known to hand over a blanket for the seat, a nice touch on a cool Peninsula morning. The staff are relaxed and welcoming with dogs, so a well-mannered dog that settles under the table fits right in.

Worth knowing

The kitchen has a local name for homemade cooking at reasonable prices: rosti, Devonshire tea with homemade scones, egg and bacon rolls, quiche and sausage rolls, plus matcha lattes and good coffee. Being attached to a working nursery, you can browse trees, indoor plants and garden supplies with the dog in tow while you wait for food. Hours run from early morning to 4pm Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 87 Old Cape Schanck Road, Rosebud, easily reached by car from the freeway exit and away from the foreshore congestion. There is on-site parking, which makes it an easy stop even when the coastal strips are packed.

Make a day of it

The Rosebud foreshore is a short drive for a coastal walk, and McCrae-Rosebud Beach Dog Off Leash Area gives the dog proper sand time. For a fenced run, Lawson Park Fenced Dog Off Leash Park is the suburb's dedicated option, and Zarb and Ru is a fellow Rosebud cafe if you are cafe-hopping.

More picks are on the VIC dog friendly cafes guide and the Rosebud destination page.

Max: weekday mornings are the quiet window. Bring the dog, order the rosti, and browse the nursery while you wait - the water bowl is already out.