Rochester Castle Hotel

The Rochester Castle Hotel, known to everyone as the Rochey, is a Johnston Street pub whose leafy rear beer garden keeps landing on lists of Melbourne's best. Dogs are a normal part of the furniture here, which makes it an easy call for a post-walk pint in the inner north.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the pub's outdoor spaces: the street-art covered beer garden out the back and the street-side tables out front under the umbrellas. The rear garden is the pick if your dog settles better away from foot traffic on Johnston Street. Keep leads on and dogs under control throughout, and note that busy weekend sessions with live music can be a lot for a nervous dog.

The vibe

This is a classic Fitzroy local rather than a fancy gastropub. The kitchen does Modern Australian food with Asian-inspired mains, plus the parmas and gnocchi the regulars come back for, with vegan options alongside. There is a solid craft beer and cocktail list, fireplaces for winter, comedy and trivia nights through the week, and deals like Monday oysters. The crowd skews relaxed on weekdays and gets loud on weekends.

Getting there and parking

The Rochey sits at 202-204 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. Catch the 11 tram to stop 16 on Brunswick Street and walk a couple of minutes. If you are driving, street parking is available on the surrounding streets, with George Street and Napier Street worth trying when Johnston itself is full.

Close by with the dogs

Edinburgh Gardens off leash area is five to seven minutes on foot, an easy off-leash run before or after lunch. The Merri Creek Trail gives you a longer creekside option in the same direction, and if you are making a pub crawl of it, the dog-friendly Rainbow Hotel is a short walk up St David Street.

For a table in the beer garden without the wait, aim for a weekday evening or early on a Sunday. See more dog friendly pubs in Victoria or browse what else is on offer in Fitzroy.