Red Cacao Chocolatier

Red Cacao Chocolatier works out of Mount Barker Road in Stirling, part dessert bar, part working chocolate house, and the reason many Adelaide families drive into the hills on a Sunday. Doors open at 8:30am on weekdays and the hot chocolate, waffles and house-made truffles run all day, with Friday nights trading late for the dessert crowd.

Dogs at the tables

The venue's own FAQ page sets the policy plainly: dogs are welcome in the outdoor street-side seating any day of the week, with pupperchinos and water bowls provided. The street-side tables look over the Mount Barker Road traffic and the hills beyond, so a settled dog has plenty to watch while the waffles disappear. Because the chocolate bar and kitchen live indoors, this is strictly an outdoor-table arrangement, but the staff supply the extras without prompting and the welcome for dogs is part of the house style.

Worth knowing

Hours run 8:30am to 6pm Wednesday to Saturday, from 9am on Sundays, with Tuesday closed and Fridays stretching to 9:30pm. Street parking along Mount Barker Road fills on weekend afternoons, though the side streets behind the shops free up within a minute's walk. In summer the verandah shade handles the heat and in winter the street-side tables catch the low sun, so timing matters more here than at most hills cafes.

Make a day of it

Stirling holds the rest of the day easily. The Evelyn Halliday Reserve gives dogs open reserve ground a short drive away, La Viennese covers the other end of the pastry spectrum, and Miss Perez Kitchen & Bar takes the evening with dogs on its outdoor deck. Start from the Stirling guide or the list of dog friendly cafes in South Australia for the wider hills.