Stonehouse Warrandyte Cafe

Stonehouse Warrandyte Cafe sits on Ringwood Warrandyte Road at the entry to the township, and its website is direct about the dog policy: Stonehouse is dog friendly, dogs are welcome, and walk ins are accepted at the outdoor deck where water bowls are set out. Weekday trading runs 6am to 3:30pm, with weekends opening later at 8:30am on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.

The veranda and balcony seating look over the property, and the menu covers eggs benedict, scones and waffles plus calamari for a later table. Inside, a fireplace takes the edge off winter mornings, though dogs will keep you on the deck, which on a fine Melbourne morning is no hardship.

Worth knowing

Because the policy comes from the venue itself, you can plan a dog outing around it with confidence: water bowls are already out, walk ins are fine, and the deck is the designated space. Early weekdays are the quietest window, and the weekend service stretches to 4pm for a slower brunch. The cafe draws a steady local crowd, so fine weather weekends fill the veranda early.

The cafe sits on the main road in from Ringwood, with parking on site, so arriving by car is easy even with a dog in the back. It also works as the coffee stop on the way into Warrandyte proper, where the river walks begin a few minutes further on.

Make a day of it

The Stiggant Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive back toward the river for an off leash run, and Cocoa Moon Cafe is another dog friendly cafe in Warrandyte for a second coffee. Our Victorian cafes listing and the Warrandyte dog friendly guide cover the rest of the township.