The Lake View Hotel

The Lake View Hotel sits directly opposite Lake Wendouree at 22 Wendouree Parade, and the outdoor footpath tables look straight across the water. For Ballarat dog owners doing the lake circuit, it is the obvious stop: the hotel's own FAQ confirms dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, water bowls are available on site, and staff suggest a quick note on your booking at peak times so an outdoor table is ready when you arrive.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outside, on the footpath seating that runs along the lake side of the hotel. Indoors is for humans only, as you would expect in a working bistro. The tables fill fast on sunny weekends because nearly everyone walking the lake ends up here, so either arrive early or flag it when you book. Water bowls are put out for canine guests, which saves you carrying one.

The kitchen

This is classic pub food done properly: chicken parmigiana, scotch fillet, steak sandwiches and calamari, with gluten-free options on the menu. The drawcard is the setting rather than experimentation, and a cold beer at a lakefront table at sunset is the whole point of the visit.

Getting there and a walk after

The hotel fronts the road that circles the lake, with free street parking along Wendouree Parade and the side streets. It tightens up on fine weekends, so leave a few minutes for a short walk from the car. The flat 6km foreshore loop around the lake is on-leash the whole way, and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the western shore add shaded, on-leash paved paths if you want to extend the outing.

Further along the foreshore, the Boatshed Restaurant also keeps dog-friendly deck seating if the pub is full. The Ballarat Farmers Market is a good morning pairing when it is on. More options sit on the Victoria restaurants index and the Lake Wendouree destination page.

Max: A lap of the lake, then a parma facing the water. This is what weekends are for.