Smiths Gully Cafe

Smiths Gully Cafe is a country general store, post office and cafe rolled into one at 914 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, deep in Nillumbik's bush north-east of Melbourne. It is the kind of stop cyclists plan rides around: doors open at 6:30am on weekdays, the coffee is house-roasted, and the homemade gourmet pies, including a steak and mushroom that locals talk about in serious tones, come straight out of the kitchen. On cold mornings there is a fireplace going inside.

Where the dog goes

Dogs are welcome on the deck and outdoor seating areas, where staff are used to four-legged visitors and usually bring a water bowl out on request. It is a casual country setup: keep your dog leashed beside the table and settled away from the serving counter. The outdoor covered area makes it workable even on drizzly days. Horse riders and cyclists passing through the ridges are part of the furniture too, and the store's Tripadvisor listing confirms the pet-friendly welcome.

Worth knowing

The famous Gully Burger, a generous double-patty affair, is the other reason to stop, alongside sandwiches, slices and a small range of local produce. Hours run 6:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 4pm on weekends, so it covers both the early ride crowd and afternoon return trips. Weekend lunchtimes fill with riders; early morning is the calm window.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on the Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road at the Smiths Gully crossroads, with parking out front and room for bike trailers. It is roughly a 40-minute drive from the Melbourne CBD, and the roads in are popular cycling climbs.

Close by with the dogs

The St Andrews Hotel down the road is the classic pairing for a longer lunch, and Cafelicious and Co is the suburb's other village cafe. For an afternoon tasting, Easthill Estate is a short drive back towards Kangaroo Ground.

The Smiths Gully destination page lists local dog-friendly venues, and the VIC cafes index covers the wider region.