Stamford Park Homestead

Stamford Park Homestead is a restaurant and event space set in a restored 1882 homestead at 8 Emmeline Row, Rowville, in Melbourne's outer south east. The heritage building sits in manicured gardens that have been a local landmark for well over a century, and the kitchen has built a following around high tea, weekend brunch and a seasonal lunch and dinner menu. Dogs are welcome across the outdoor seating, which makes this one of the more pleasant garden-side tables in the Knox area to keep the dog company.

The dog setup

Dogs join you on the verandah and in the garden courtyard, both outdoor areas, and the venue's own FAQs spell the rules out: keep them leashed and under control, and leave the indoor heritage rooms to humans and registered assistance dogs. There is no dedicated dog menu, so pack your own treats if your dog expects a course of their own, though staff are generally happy to bring out water for outside guests. Ask for a verandah table when you book and your dog gets the garden view as well.

The vibe

The kitchen leans towards occasion dining. High tea is the signature, with scones and lemon tart doing the heavy lifting, while the a la carte side covers dishes like scallops, prawns and bouillabaisse built on local produce. Weekend brunch draws a crowd, so bookings matter, and it is worth mentioning the dog when you reserve so you are placed outside. Lunch runs from 11am on weekdays with slightly longer sittings on weekends.

Getting there and parking

The homestead sits off Stud Road in Rowville, around 30 minutes from the Melbourne CBD in clear traffic. Free parking is available across the road from the homestead with more on Enterprise Drive, and bus routes 681, 682 and 901 stop within a five minute walk. Entry from the car park is flat and pram friendly, which helps with dogs in tow.

Close by with the dogs

Stamford Park Reserve wraps around the homestead, with open lawn and loop paths that suit an on-leash leg stretch before or after your table. If your dog needs a proper run instead of a stroll, Emerson Place Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away, and Top Seeds Coffee covers the coffee-and-pastry end of Rowville on other days.

Book ahead for high tea and weekend brunch, when the outdoor tables go first. A calm dog that settles on a verandah will have the best of it here.