Sun's Kitchen Group

Sun's Kitchen Group is a small, well-rated cafe at 35 Petronella Avenue in Wheelers Hill doing something a bit different: handmade Chinese dumplings alongside Japanese light meals, brunch plates and coffee. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, which makes it an easy stop after a walk through this leafy part of the south-east.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating only; inside is people only, in line with Victorian food rules. The outdoor area is on the compact side, so it suits small to medium dogs that settle rather than a big excitable one. Water bowls are not guaranteed, so pack your own travel bowl. Step-free access to the outdoor seating is a plus for older dogs.

Worth knowing

The dumplings are the draw, and the menu drifts between croissants and focaccia, ham and cheese toasties, milkshakes and coffee, which tells you it serves the neighbourhood rather than a concept. Reviewers consistently name the friendly staff. Hours run roughly 8am to 4pm daily with a shorter Sunday, so mornings and early lunches are the reliable window.

Getting there and parking

There is a free car park at the Petronella Avenue address plus free street parking right outside, which is as easy as a cafe arrival gets. Nothing about this stop is stressful for a dog in the car.

Pair it with

Lum Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the natural run before coffee, and the Jells Road Reserve Dog Off Leash Area extends it into a longer outing beside Jells Park. Code Five is another Wheelers Hill cafe if the outdoor tables are taken.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly cafes guide and the Wheelers Hill destination page.

Max: the outdoor tables are tight, so a dog that folds up under a chair is the right guest here. Bring the travel bowl; dumplings and no water is a bad combo.