Mount Gambier Brewery

Mount Gambier Brewery on Caldwell Street pairs craft beer with American barbecue, pouring tasting paddles of its own brews next to slow-cooked brisket, beef and pork ribs, pork belly, fried chicken, burgers and pizzas. There is a fireplace inside and an open alfresco area out, and it is the alfresco side that welcomes dogs, which makes it an easy settle-in after a walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor alfresco area; indoor dining stays people-only. Staff are dog-friendly, but bring your own water bowl so your dog stays comfortable across a longer barbecue sitting, and ring ahead on the day because the alfresco setup can shift with weather and bookings.

Worth knowing

This is a slow-food venue rather than a quick pint stop, so it suits dogs that settle happily for a long table. Hours are limited too: open Thursday from 3pm, Friday and Saturday midday to 10pm and Sunday midday to 8pm, closed Monday to Wednesday, so plan the visit around a Thursday-to-Sunday window.

Getting there and parking

The brewery is at 5 Caldwell Street, next to Forty Winks, with street parking available around Caldwell Street. It is on the residential side of town, a short drive from the Commercial Street strips.

Close by with the dogs

The Blue Lake Loop is the classic pre-lunch walk a few minutes away, and the Mount Gambier off-leash area plus the Hastings Cunningham Reserve fenced dog park cover a proper run first. In town, South Eastern Hotel is another dog-friendly dining option and Breaking Bread handles the daytime coffee shift.

More options are on the South Australia dog friendly restaurants guide and the Mount Gambier destination page.

Pepsi: order the beer paddle and let the dog settle while you work through it. The alfresco fills up quickly on Friday and Saturday evenings.