Fyansford Hotel

The Fyansford Hotel is a spacious country-style pub on Hyland Street, five to ten minutes' drive from central Geelong, doing big pub meals from 10am daily: all-day steaks, parmas, pork belly, seafood and pizza, with generous portions and a family-friendly feel that includes a kids' playroom. For dog owners the draw is the partly covered outdoor deck, where dogs are welcome while the main bar and dining room stay humans only.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed on the deck, not inside, and staff are generally accommodating about finding a table that works for you and the dog. Water bowls are usually out, but bringing your own is a safe bet on busy days. The deck is partly covered, so it holds up in light weather. On big weekend sessions the deck fills early, so book ahead if you want a table with some floor space for a larger dog.

The vibe

It is a community pub first: local group events run here, weeknights are quieter, and weekends bring the usual pub crowd. The green space immediately beside the hotel does double duty as an informal dog park, which is part of why the venue works so well for dog owners, and it hosted the Geelong Greyhound Walk among other local gatherings.

Getting there and a walk first

The hotel sits on Hyland Street (B140) with free on-site and surrounding street parking that is generally easy to find. Make a proper outing of it: the Buckley Falls and Barwon River walk starts nearby and earns the parma, or do a loop of the green space next door while you wait for a table.

Before or after, The Door Gallery Cafe in the same village does coffee with art, and over in Geelong West The Cork Bar is another dog-friendly pour. More of the area is on the Fyansford destination page and in the VIC restaurants index.