Berwick Springs Hotel

Berwick Springs Hotel is a big, modern family pub on Clyde Road in Berwick, with a bistro, a sports bar and an indoor playground pulling in the crowds. For dog owners the draw is simpler: designated outdoor tables where your dog can sit with you while you eat, close to the wetlands loop for a walk either side of the meal.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the designated outdoor seating, generally the tables along the front and perimeter, and they stay on-lead the whole time. Indoors is off limits, which covers the bistro, the sports bar and the kids' play area. There is no traditional beer garden here, so plan on an outdoor table rather than an enclosed garden. Water bowls are not put out automatically, so bring your own to be safe, though staff will usually arrange water on request.

The vibe

This is value bistro territory: generous specials, a busy sports bar and a family focus, which makes it a casual midweek feed rather than a quiet dinner. Expect weekend noise and lots of kids, and pick a perimeter table if your dog would rather watch the car park than the playground traffic.

Max: Ask for a perimeter table when you book. With the volume this place does on weekends, a corner spot away from the entry doors is the calm choice for a dog.

Getting there and parking

The address is 288-296 Clyde Road, Berwick, in Melbourne's southeast. There is extensive free on-site parking and direct car access off Clyde Road, so arrival is one of the easier ones in the area.

Pair it with

The paths around Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick make a proper on-lead walk before or after, and the Akoonah Park dog off-leash area is nearby for a run. If you want another dog-friendly pour, the Berwick Inn Hotel is the other pub option in the suburb, and Gather Food Coffee and Co covers the daytime coffee.

More venues are listed on the Victoria dog friendly pubs page and in the Berwick guide.