La Viennese

La Viennese is an Italian gelateria at 1/77 Mount Barker Road on Stirling's main street, churning small-batch Sicilian-style gelato daily. For dog owners it is the rare treat stop that genuinely includes the dog: doggie gelato is officially on the menu, not just a story about a friendly owner.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor and footpath seating out front, not inside the shop, which lines up with Adelaide Hills Council rules that keep dogs out of indoor food areas. Water bowls are usually on hand for canine visitors, and the pup gelato comes in its own serving. Keep your dog at the front tables and it is an easy stop.

What is in the cabinet

The gelato is made by a maker with Italian heritage, and reviewers repeatedly call out the Sicilian pistachio, the Piedmont hazelnut, dark cherry and lemon sorbet. There are coffee and cakes as well, but the gelato is the reason to come. Unlike the strip's cafes, it trades into the evening, which makes it a good after-walk reward in summer.

Getting there and hours

Free street parking runs along Mount Barker Road, with council car parks nearby when the main street is busy. Hours are Thursday 12pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 9pm, and Sunday 11am to 8pm, with the shop closed Monday to Wednesday, so a Hills day trip is best planned for the back end of the week.

Pair it with

For an off-lead run beforehand, the Wright Road Fenced Dog Park is a few minutes away, fully fenced with agility gear and a small-dog enclosure. Marshi's Kitchen is down the same strip if you want a full meal rather than a cone.

A warm afternoon after the dog park is the sweet spot. Pawscapes has more dog friendly cafes in South Australia and other Stirling places to try with the dog.