Merrijig Kitchen

Merrijig Kitchen is the dining room of the Merrijig Inn at 1 Campbell Street, in what is counted among Victoria's oldest licensed inns. The kitchen works from a daily changing menu built on local produce, and the draw for dog owners is the sheltered garden, where well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome while you eat. This is a dinner venue rather than a quick bite, so plan for a longer sit.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outdoors in the garden area on a lead. The main dining room inside the historic building is for humans only. When you book, ask specifically for a garden table and flag that you are bringing a dog, because the room is small and garden seats go first. The garden is quiet and sheltered, which helps a dog settle, but bring your own water bowl rather than assuming one will be waiting. The Merrijig also runs dog-friendly overnight accommodation, so dinner can turn into a full stay in town.

Worth knowing

The menu is short and changes daily with the seasons, and the wine list gets steady praise, so it suits owners after a proper evening meal rather than a casual counter order. Because the tables are close and the setting is intimate, it works best for a dog that lies down quietly for a couple of hours. Book ahead, especially around summer and the Port Fairy Folk Festival when the town fills.

Getting there and parking

Campbell Street sits central in Port Fairy, walkable from most town accommodation. Street parking runs along Campbell and Sackville Streets and is tightest in peak season. The Moyne River wharf area is about a block away for a short on-lead stroll either side of dinner.

For a run before an evening booking, East Beach allows off-lead dogs under effective control outside the summer 9am to 6pm window that Moyne Shire sets between late December and Easter Monday. Griffiths Island is strictly off limits at all times for the shearwater colony. Earlier in the day, Borough Chambers is an easy town coffee stop, and Bottega Toscana is the other town restaurant to try on a second night. The Koroit Dog Park is a short drive inland if you want a fenced run.

More options across the state are in the Victoria restaurants index and the Port Fairy destination guide.

Max: garden table booked, water bowl in the car, and the muttonbirds can keep their island to themselves.