HR Cafe & Bar

HR Cafe & Bar sits at 492 St Kilda Road, an all-day spot that runs from morning coffee through to after-work drinks and dinner. Reviewers single out the corn and zucchini fritters, the gourmet burgers and a generous chicken parma, alongside a solid beer list and well-priced cocktails. For dog owners it is a handy footpath stop after a walk along the St Kilda Road tree lines or the Shrine reserve nearby.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor and footpath seating, and indoor seating is for people only aside from assistance animals, which is the standard arrangement under Victorian food regulations. Staff will typically bring out a water bowl on request, but with the foot traffic on this stretch of St Kilda Road it is worth packing a collapsible bowl so you are not relying on it.

Pepsi: mid-morning or mid-afternoon is when the footpath tables are easiest to get and the tram noise is the least intrusive.

Getting there and parking

This is a very tram-accessible corner: the St Kilda Road routes stop near Anzac Station, a short walk away. Street parking on and around St Kilda Road and Birdwood Avenue is a mix of free and paid with time limits, so read the signs carefully.

Close by with the dogs

The Shrine of Remembrance reserve is a short walk for an on-lead stroll on the lawns, and the paths alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens work well too, though dogs are not allowed inside the gardens themselves. For a proper run, Fawkner Park Dog Off Leash Area is just over the road, and Albert Park Dog Off Leash Area has designated zones near the lake. If you are heading toward the water afterwards, Halcyon Days on Montague Street welcomes dogs in its outdoor seating.

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