Cocoa Moon Cafe

Cocoa Moon Cafe sits on Yarra Street in the middle of Warrandyte, a riverside village where the dog leads the morning routine as often as not. Visitors regularly report bringing their dogs to the covered outdoor seating along the front of the cafe, and the surrounding streets and river paths are among the most walked in Melbourne's outer east.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the covered outdoor tables that run along the front of the cafe, a spot that stays usable through light weather and gets good shade in summer. Because the cafe sits right in the Warrandyte shopping strip, it is an easy stop at the halfway point of a riverside walk. Water bowls for canine guests are reported by visitors rather than advertised, so it is worth asking staff when you arrive.

The kitchen leans into generous, hearty plates: a beef brisket benny, a solid chicken burger and a potato rosti that visitors single out, with coffee refills that get a regular mention. Portions run big, so plan the walk accordingly. The cafe is at 166 Yarra Street, open 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday, with street parking along Yarra Street and the side streets, though weekends bring day trippers so arrive earlier for a front table.

Make a day of it

Warrandyte is one of the better dog walking hubs on the edge of Melbourne. Pair breakfast with a run around the Warrandyte River Reserve Dog Off Leash Area, or follow the water on the Yarra River water frontage walk before you eat. For more tables that take dogs, Now and Not Yet is up the road, and our Warrandyte guide collects the rest alongside dog friendly cafes across Victoria.