Bean Loved

Bean Loved is a retro coffee van set up at an old garage site at 31 Aldinga Road, Willunga, pouring De Groot Coffee Co. beans roasted down the road at Port Elliot. Everything happens in the open air around the van, which makes it one of the simplest dog stops on the Fleurieu: walk up, order, and take a seat with your dog beside you.

The dog setup

Leashed dogs are welcome right at the van, and the owner has a habit of slipping visiting dogs a treat. A resident house dog often lounges nearby, so it best suits calm dogs rather than keen greeters. Seating is limited and casual, which makes it a natural mid-walk coffee rather than a long brunch. Bring your own water bowl to be safe.

Worth knowing

The van runs Wednesday to Friday from 6:30am to 1pm and weekends from 8am to 1pm, and closes Monday and Tuesday. Alongside the coffee there are home-style cakes, cookies and sweet treats, and bags of the De Groot beans are available to buy. With a 1pm close every day it is a morning-and-lunch stop rather than an afternoon one.

Getting there and parking

The site at 31 Aldinga Road is a short walk from Willunga's High Street, with street parking along Aldinga Road. It folds neatly into a loop through the old town, or into a longer outing on the Willunga Basin Trail, which starts from town and works through vines and hills.

Close by with the dogs

Willa Coffee Shop on High Street keeps a dog-friendly courtyard out the back if you want a sit-down breakfast instead, and the Willunga Basin Trail is the pick for a proper walk with the coffee to go. More options around the region are on the Willunga destination page and in the South Australia dog friendly cafes guide.

Max: the van shuts at 1pm sharp, so make it a morning stop and pack a water bowl in the car.