Beermash

Beermash is a craft beer bar and bottle shop at 306 Smith Street, Collingwood, and it earns its spot on this list for one unusual reason: well-behaved, leashed dogs are generally welcome inside the bar itself, not just at the street seating. On a rainy Melbourne afternoon that makes it a genuinely useful mid-walk stop on the Smith Street strip rather than a fair-weather-only option.

The dog setup

The deal is a settled, leashed dog while you drink. There is footpath seating out front for warmer days, and staff are accommodating about four-legged guests, though it is worth carrying your own water bowl. The room is small and gets busy and loud as the evening rolls on, so it suits a social dog that is comfortable around crowds; a dog that spooks easily will be happier at a street table early in the day.

The beer and the bottle shop

Twenty-plus rotating taps pour local and international craft beer, plus ciders and a short wine list, and the fridges run deep. The bottle shop half means you can drink in or take away. Bartenders know the range and will steer you through it, which helps when you are juggling a lead and a pint. Hours run from noon daily, closing around 11pm to midnight later in the week.

Getting there and parking

The 86 tram stops at Gertrude and Johnston streets, both an easy walk to the door. Street parking on Smith Street and the side streets like Perry and Charles exists but is time-limited and often hard to find, so tram-and-walk is the lower-stress option with a dog.

Close by with the dogs

For a proper run before a session, Victoria Park fenced dog off leash area in Abbotsford is a short walk over. Edinburgh Gardens off leash area is the other favourite inner-north option. For another pint with the dog, The Fox Hotel on Wellington Street welcomes dogs in its rooftop and outdoor spaces.

More of the suburb is on the Collingwood destination page, and the full list is in the VIC pubs index.