The Corner Store

The Corner Store anchors the Mentone village end of Swanston Street at number 1, running an all-day kitchen from 7:30am most days through to 10pm at night. The draw for dog owners is the generous undercover outdoor seating: rain or shine, a table with your dog at your feet works here, and the beach is a short walk south when the plates are cleared.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, which you can reach straight from the street side without walking through the dining room. Inside is people-only under standard Victorian food rules. Keep them leashed, on the ground and off the chairs; staff have a friendly reputation with dogs, but bring a travel bowl since water is not guaranteed. Weekend brunch gets busy, so ask for an outdoor table when you book.

The kitchen

It is a modern Australian all-day menu: parmas, gnocchi, calamari, steak nights, vegan options and thick milkshakes, with happy hour offers and the occasional live music set. Breakfast through dinner in one room makes it an easy default whether you land at 8am or 8pm.

Getting there and a walk after

Street parking runs along Swanston Street and the surrounding blocks, though the shopping strip tightens at peak times, and Mentone station on the Frankston line is a short walk for a car-free trip. Mentone Beach sits under a kilometre south, and the sand between Charman Road and Plummer Road is a Bayside Council off-leash zone around the clock, all year. Dogs stay on-lead on the cliff-top paths above it.

Pair the meal with the Mentone Beach Dog Off Leash Area, or with Reg Marlow Reserve if you want a fenced run. Applehead Deli is a dog-friendly coffee stop on the same strip. The Victoria restaurants index and Mentone destination page list the rest.