Single Shot Cafe

Single Shot Cafe is a small, coffee-focused local at 257 Bluff Road, Sandringham, that opens early and keeps things simple: good beans, pastries and a compact front seating area that works as a stop on a morning walk rather than a destination brunch. Reviews consistently call out the friendly barista and the early hours, which is exactly what you want on a dog-walking route along the Bayside foreshore side of the suburb.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor pavement seating out the front on Bluff Road, where your dog can settle beside the table for a quick coffee or a slower brunch. Inside is for humans. This is a compact neighbourhood cafe rather than a full beachside set-up, so bring your own water bowl rather than counting on one being put down.

Worth knowing

The coffee is the draw: ethically sourced beans, a short pastry case and a takeaway trade that keeps the pavement tables turning over. The menu runs to cafe staples, with gozleme and bacon rolls among the items that get ordered most. It opens early on weekdays, which suits the pre-work crowd and anyone finishing a dawn walk. There is no dedicated dog menu, so treat this as a coffee stop with your dog at your feet rather than a feeding stop.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Bluff Road in Sandringham's residential backstreets, with street parking along Bluff Road and the side streets. It is an easy walk from the surrounding houses, and the Sandringham to Brighton Bay Walk passes within reach if you are linking coffee to a longer coastal leg.

Close by with the dogs

Merindah Park Dog Off Leash Area and Royal Avenue Reserve both give you an off-lead run before the coffee, and Sandringham Harbour Dog Beach covers the salt-water version a short drive towards the water.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Sandringham destination page.

Max: grab the footpath table on the cafe side of the foot traffic, not the kerb side. Bluff Road cars pass closer than you think at 7am.