The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham

The Cosmopolitan Hotel is a rebuilt 1866 country pub at 21 High Street, right in the middle of Trentham, and the drawcard for dog owners is the beer garden under a canopy of century-old elms. It also operates as a hotel, so it doubles as a base for a Macedon Ranges weekend with the dog.

The dog setup

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome across the beer garden, courtyard and verandah, with water bowls usually set out in the outdoor areas. Indoor bistro and bar rooms stay people-only, so plan on garden or verandah tables whatever the weather leans towards. Keep the lead on and the dog close; the garden fills on weekend nights.

The vibe

Wood-fired pizzas and solid bistro food head the menu, poured alongside Macedon Ranges wines and local cider, and the shaded elm canopy makes the garden a genuine warm-weather asset. Weekday lunches and early evenings are calmer than weekend service, and booking a garden table ahead is worth the phone call in summer.

Getting there

Street parking runs along High Street in the centre of town, and Trentham sits an easy drive from both Woodend and Daylesford, which makes it a natural lunch stop on a country loop. Trains to Trentham station on the Bendigo line leave a short walk into town.

Make a day of it

Warm the dog up first at the Trentham Off-Leash Dog Park, or walk off lunch on the Domino Trail out of the old station. Staying over, Acre of Roses is a dog-friendly option on the edge of town, and Trentham Falls is a short drive for a leashed lookout walk.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly pubs guide and the Trentham destination page.