Isabella's Restaurant Yarra Valley

Isabella's Restaurant is the dining room at Rochford Wines on the Maroondah Highway at Coldstream, serving a seasonal modern Australian menu built around Yarra Valley produce and built to pair with Rochford wines. The grounds are the dog-friendly part: the outdoor terrace and the garden spaces around the restaurant and cellar door are where a dog is welcome.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor terrace and general garden areas across the Rochford complex, and you can take a walk through the vines with your dog before settling into a table; the main indoor dining room stays dog-free. Keep your dog on a lead and bring your own water bowl. One real catch: on major concert days, such as A Day on the Green events, pets are prohibited from the venue grounds and car parks entirely, so check the Rochford events calendar before a weekend visit.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs a seasonal a la carte menu alongside set menus and a kids' menu, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly options widely represented. Doors open 10am to 5pm seven days, with lunch service from 11:30am to 4pm, and lunch bookings are strongly recommended, especially for a weekend when the grounds fill with visitors.

Getting there and parking

The winery sits at 878-880 Maroondah Highway between Lilydale and Healesville, with ample free off-street parking on the grounds and easy access off the highway.

Make a day of it

The Rochford lawns and vine rows suit an on-lead wander before or after lunch, and the Rochford Wines Yarra Valley cellar door is on the same site. Further afield, Healesville Showgrounds Dog Off Leash Area gives your dog an off-lead run, and Oakridge Wines is another Coldstream cellar door option.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly restaurants guide and the Coldstream destination page.