Grano - Italian Cafe & Restaurant

Grano is an Italian pasta bar and restaurant in the historic Goods Shed precinct at 200 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill, immediately beside Ballarat railway station. The deciding fact for dog owners: dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating, so a handmade pasta lunch or woodfired pizza dinner does not have to leave the dog at home. The precinct setting, all red brick and steel trusses, makes it a proper occasion rather than a servo stop.

The dog setup

Dogs are permitted in the outdoor seating only, which sits within the shared Goods Shed precinct, and they need to stay leashed at your table. Because the outdoor area is precinct space rather than a private courtyard, keep the lead short and do not let your dog wander to neighbouring diners uninvited. Water bowls are not guaranteed, so bring your own.

Worth knowing

The pasta is made fresh on-site daily, with the rigatoni ragu, ravioli del plin and squid-ink linguine the regular standouts, and hand-stretched woodfired pizzas covering the simpler orders. Italian-style brunch runs in the morning service, and there is a solid range of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Trading hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 8am to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm, closed Monday and Tuesday; the brunch window is the quieter shift with a dog.

Getting there and parking

The Goods Shed sits right next to Ballarat railway station, so V/Line trains from Melbourne put you at the door, and the station's substantial commuter car park covers drivers. On-site parking is also available. The precinct is an easy walk from central Ballarat up Lydiard Street if you are staying in town.

Make a day of it

For a proper off-lead run before lunch, Pennyweight Park Fenced Dog Park in Ballarat East is fully fenced, and Victoria Park dog park offers a big open option on the other side of town. If the evening stretches on, Hop Temple in Ballarat Central is another dog-friendly venue worth knowing.

More options around the city are on the Ballarat destination page, and the full run is in the Victoria restaurants guide.

Max: Get here for the 8am opening if yours is still learning restaurant manners. By mid-morning the precinct fills up and a young dog has far more to stare at.