Ripe Sassafras

Ripe sits on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Sassafras, in the thick of the Dandenongs' village strip, and its dog policy is stated on the venue's own site: dogs are welcome on the dedicated front deck among the trees, with water bowls typically provided. The catch worth planning around is deck size, because the outdoor space is limited and you are asked to mention your pet when booking so the table is held. That is a fair deal in a village where most cafes would rather not commit.

The kitchen is Dandenongs comfort food: scones with jam and cream, rosti, poached eggs, a proper sausage roll and a hot chocolate list that suits the mountain weather. Hours run 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday, to 4pm on weekends, and the deck's tree cover keeps it usable in light rain, which the Dandenongs supply generously. It is a day trip venue for most of Melbourne, and the combination of mountain air, a deck and a dog is the reason people keep driving up.

Worth knowing

The booking note about the dog is the one rule that matters here: without it you may be seated inside, where dogs are not welcome, and the deck is first claimed by those who asked. Parking along the Tourist Road fills from mid morning on weekends as the Olinda and Sassafras villages draw their crowds, so a pre 10am arrival secures both parking and deck. Because the welcome is the venue's own published policy, you can book with confidence rather than hope.

While you're out there

The mountain villages cluster close together for a dog friendly loop. Kallista Tea Rooms and Olinda Tea House are the other village stops up the hill, Johns Hill Lookout Reserve gives the dog an off leash run nearby, and our Sassafras guide plus the Victorian restaurant list cover the wider Dandenongs.