Elephant Cafe(Williamstown)

Elephant Cafe at 60 Ferguson Street is one of Williamstown's busiest brunch addresses, a family-friendly room with a house coffee blend and a full all-day breakfast and lunch menu. The sheltered courtyard is where dogs go, and local owners use it enough that a dog at the next table is entirely normal.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the courtyard and outdoor area, which is sheltered enough to work on a cool bay morning as well as a warm one. Some visitors report dogs being accepted in parts of the indoor room too, but treat that as confirm-on-arrival and plan for the courtyard. Water bowls usually come out for dogs without being asked. Service is quick and used to kids and dogs, so a mid-morning weekday visit is the relaxed option; weekends fill up fast.

The menu

The kitchen trades 6am to 3pm weekdays, from 7am Saturday and 8am Sunday, on a contemporary brunch menu. Signatures include the Hathi veggie rosti, a housemade potato rosti carrying poached eggs, avocado, halloumi, cavolo nero and broccolini, and the Flora smashed avo with beetroot hummus and dukkah on sourdough. Coffee is the house Elephant blend, with loose leaf tea, sticky chai, fresh-pressed juices and thick shakes filling out the list.

Getting there

Ferguson Street runs through the middle of Williamstown's cafe strip, about ten minutes on foot from North Williamstown station. Free street parking sits on Ferguson and the surrounding streets, competitive on weekends, and the waterfront at Nelson Place is a short walk downhill.

Close by with the dogs

Pair brunch with the Williamstown coastal loop for a bay-side stretch of on-lead walking, or give the dog a proper run first at the Williamstown fenced dog park. Down on the water, The Kiosk by Dasporto is the other dog-friendly stop on the waterfront.

See more dog friendly restaurants in Victoria or browse Williamstown.