The Fox Hotel

The Fox Hotel holds the corner of Wellington and Johnston Streets in Collingwood, a big old backstreet pub with a rooftop, a courtyard and a serious local following. It earns its reputation on Sunday roasts, a wide tap range and a kitchen that takes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free orders properly. Dogs are welcome in the courtyard and on the rooftop deck, both covered and heated, so the pub works in July as well as January.

The dog setup

Downstairs is a sunlit courtyard and upstairs is the alfresco rooftop deck, and dogs are allowed across both with water bowls provided on each level. Keep your dog on-lead and settled: this is a large, busy pub and the rooftop can fill fast. One practical check before you climb the stairs, sections of the deck or courtyard occasionally get booked out for private weekend functions, so confirm with the bar if a particular space matters to your plans.

The vibe

Expect a proper pub rather than a bistro with chairs. Tap beers and ciders rotate, board games and a pool table are in the mix, and the crowd ranges from post-work locals to long Sunday sessions. Weekday afternoons and early evenings are calm; Sundays are the loudest and busiest, so if your dog prefers a quiet corner, the courtyard beats the deck.

Getting there and parking

The 86 tram stops nearby at Gertrude and Smith Streets, and Collingwood Station is an easy walk. Street parking around Wellington Street is limited, as anywhere this close to the city, so public transport is the low-stress choice. Arrive outside peak hours if you are bringing a car.

Close by with the dogs

Darling Gardens is the closest green space for a walk before lunch, and Battersea Off Leash Dog Park adds a bigger run over in Abbotsford. For another dog-welcoming drink, Two Hands Rooftop Bar has its own beer garden, and Stomping Ground Brewery on Gipps Street keeps water bowls in its beer hall.

Max: stakes out a courtyard corner at 4pm on a Tuesday, accepts pats from every second table, and calls it a shift.

More sessions like it are on the Victoria dog friendly pubs list, and the rest of the neighbourhood is covered in our Collingwood guide.