Badger & Hare

Badger and Hare occupies a cottage style corner of Tyers Street in Stratford, and it has quietly become the town's default answer to where to take visitors for breakfast. Visitors report that the cottage garden and courtyard seating out the back welcomes leashed dogs, which turns a coffee stop into a proper leg stretch when you are passing through Gippsland with the dog aboard.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden and courtyard area, a practice reported by visitors and reflected in the cafe's Google listing. The garden setting gives dogs room to settle out from underfoot while you eat, and the staff are used to four legged regulars. Water bowls are not guaranteed, so pack a collapsible one, and keep leads tidy while plates and coffee move between the tables. Summer mornings are the kindest slot for thick coated dogs, since the courtyard holds the afternoon sun.

On the plate

The kitchen works through brunch classics and beyond: poached eggs, gnocchi and pork belly all show up, while the banana bread and the citrus tart are the recurring reasons people detour here. Doors open at 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, with last orders mid afternoon, so plan the dog walk for before or after rather than the 3pm close.

Getting there is easy: street parking runs along Tyers Street and the side streets, and the Princes Highway is only a couple of minutes away if you are driving through. Stratford's township is compact, so a short walk either side of your meal keeps the dog settled.

Make a day of it with lunch here and dinner down the road at A Taste of Avon, or set up the van at Stratford Caravan Park and make it a weekend. More options sit in our Stratford destination guide and the full list of dog friendly cafes in Victoria.