Boatshed Restaurant

The Boatshed sits on absolute lake frontage at Wendouree Parade, and its Lake Edge Patio is the dog-friendly draw: an undercover, heated deck right by the water of Lake Wendouree, where dogs are welcome at your table. For Ballarat locals doing the lake circuit, it is the standard reward at the end of the walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the Lake Edge Patio, which trades through breakfast, lunch and coffee service with the restaurant indoors. The patio is covered and heated, so it works through a Ballarat winter. Staff are used to four-legged regulars and the venue even runs pup cups for visiting dogs, though water bowls are not guaranteed, so carry one just in case. Keep your dog leashed beside the table; the deck is a working restaurant space with steady foot traffic, not a run-around area.

On the plate

The kitchen is modern Australian with a seafood lean: barramundi, prawn linguine, calamari and seafood platters anchor the menu alongside seasonal plates and a serious wine list. Hours run 8am to about 5pm Sunday to Tuesday and into the evening Wednesday through Saturday, which makes it both a long breakfast and a sunset-dinner option over the water. Book ahead for weekend breakfast, when the lake-walking crowd fills the patio fast.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant is at 27A Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree, on the western foreshore. On-street parking runs along Wendouree Parade but fills from mid-morning on weekends, so allow a few extra minutes or park a short walk north along the parade.

Close by with the dogs

The 6km foreshore track around the lake starts at the door, on lead the whole way, and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens across the road add shaded paths. For an off-lead session, Victoria Park - dog park and the Pierre De Coubertin Fenced Dog Park are both a short drive away in Newington. The Lake View Hotel further along Wendouree Parade is another lakefront option with the dog. More picks are on the Lake Wendouree guide and the VIC restaurants list.

Max: Book ahead for weekend breakfast on the patio. It fills fast once the lake walkers start arriving, so confirm the dog-friendly tables when you book.