The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel on Yarra Street is Warrandyte's long standing pub, and its FAQ sets out the dog terms in plain language: dogs are welcome to sit with guests at the footpath tables, they are permitted on the footpath only, and they must be kept on a leash. Doors open at midday, with Thursday running to 11pm and Friday and Saturday to midnight.

The Italian style kitchen is known for the chicken parma and veal schnitzel, with calamari and the usual pub classics alongside. The beer garden and balcony are for people; the footpath tables are where your dog is allowed, which the venue states outright rather than leaving to the discretion of whoever is on the floor that night.

The vibe

Live music runs regularly and the balcony looks toward the river, so evenings here have a proper country town pub feel despite being inside Melbourne's ring. With the rules written down on the venue's own FAQ, you can plan a lunch on the footpath and know exactly where you stand before you arrive. Sunday wraps at 9pm, earlier than the weekend nights.

Yarra Street parking serves the hotel, and the river reserve is a short walk across the bridge if you want to tire the dog out before claiming a footpath table. The pub sits in the middle of the township strip, so everything else is within walking distance.

Pair it with

The Warrandyte Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is close by for a run before lunch, and Ichimi Sake Japanese Restaurant is another dog friendly option in the suburb if you are planning dinner instead. Our Victorian pubs listing and the Warrandyte dog friendly guide round out the options.