Iconic Cafe

Iconic Cafe occupies a freshly renovated white cottage at 115-117 South Gippsland Highway in Tooradin, opened by the operators behind the former Old Jetty Cafe as a roadside stop for traffic heading toward Phillip Island. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, which makes it a genuine stopover option for travellers with a dog in the car.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outdoors, with the cottage interior reserved for customers without dogs. The cafe fronts the main highway, so a short, secure lead is the sensible choice and keep your dog tucked between you and the building, not the kerb. No water bowl program is confirmed, so carry your own bowl and water for the trip.

The menu

The kitchen runs from early morning to mid-afternoon - doors open around 7am to 7.30am and close at 3.30pm daily - covering breakfast and lunch plates, with vegetarian and vegan options on the list. The Instagram feed names the Beef Burger Deluxe and Peking duck pancakes among the signatures. Drinks run from specialty coffee through smoothies and milkshakes, and the venue is licensed, so beer, wine and cocktails are available later in the service.

Getting there and parking

The cottage sits right on the South Gippsland Highway as it passes through Tooradin, with parking available on-site and along the roadside frontage. It is an easy pull-in stop on the Melbourne to Phillip Island run, and the location is walkable from the Tooradin town centre and foreshore side of town.

While you are out there

The Tooradin foreshore paths along Western Port are on-leash under City of Casey rules, with a maximum two-metre lead and no-go zones around the sensitive tidal flats, so keep the foreshore stroll short and leashed. For an off-lead leg, the Tooradin Recreation Reserve dog off-leash area is the designated spot nearby. If you are pushing on, Koo Wee Rup Royal Hotel further along the highway is the next listed dog-friendly stop. More of the area is on the Tooradin destination page, with the full list in the VIC cafes index.