Lenny's Ice Creamery

Lenny's Ice Creamery is a footpath ice cream and gelato spot on Murradoc Road in St Leonards, on the Bellarine Peninsula, a couple of minutes' walk from the foreshore. It is genuinely set up for dogs, with its own dog menu and water on tap for visitors stopping in after a beach walk.

The dog setup

Seating is outdoors on the footpath, and dogs are welcome there on lead. The shop keeps water on tap plus treats for dogs, including a house-made frozen dog ice cream, so nobody has to share their own cone. Indoors is off limits, but ordering from the door while the dog waits is easy.

Worth knowing

The drawcard is the range: gelato, sorbet, Greek loukoumades with a choice of toppings, milkshakes, frappes and slushies, with vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and gluten-free options and reliably friendly, allergy-aware staff. Trading is seasonal, leaning on the warmer months with weekend-heavy hours, so check the shop's Facebook page before a visit outside summer rather than turning up on spec.

Getting there and parking

The shop is at 1367 Murradoc Road in the centre of St Leonards, opposite the local IGA, with free parking in an on-site lot and on the street, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Close by with the dogs

The St Leonards foreshore and beach are an easy walk away for a stretch before or after your order, and St Leonards Picnic Ground Fenced Dog Park is the suburb's dedicated off-lead option. If you are working the Bellarine strip, The Wooden Whisk and Gee Marie Cafe are fellow dog-friendly St Leonards stops.

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

Pepsi: summer afternoons fill the footpath fast, so go early. Water on tap and a proper dog menu means the dog gets their own course for once.