Locale Restaurant at De Bortoli Yarra Valley

Locale is the restaurant at De Bortoli's Yarra Valley estate at 58 Pinnacle Lane in Dixons Creek, an Italian-leaning long-lunch spot with sweeping views over the estate vines. The estate is a dog-friendly one: dogs on lead are welcome in the outdoor terrace and garden areas near the cellar door, and staff are used to having them around, so a vineyard lunch without leaving the dog at home is very much on the menu.

The dog setup

Dogs stay on lead in the outdoor terrace and garden precincts, where tables look over the vines, and the main Locale dining room is indoors and not for dogs. Ask for outdoor seating when you book and say you are bringing a dog, because garden tables that take pets are the popular ones on weekends. Bring your own water bowl, as the estate does not always have one on hand. A settled dog suits this stop, since it is a proper sit-down lunch rather than a quick bite.

Pepsi: book ahead and mention the dog so they hold you an outdoor table, and keep him on lead near the cellar door where other guests are tasting.

Worth knowing

The food is regional and seasonal with an Italian accent, the wine list leans heavily on De Bortoli's own Yarra Valley drops, and grazing platters make the outdoor tables easy for a slower afternoon. Lunch runs roughly noon to 3pm Thursday to Monday, with weekend breakfasts and a Saturday dinner service, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, so check the current schedule and reserve ahead. Confirm the dog arrangements at booking, because outdoor setups can vary by season.

Getting there and parking

The estate is just off the Melba Highway in Dixons Creek, about an hour northeast of Melbourne, with free on-site parking including accessible spaces and a flat walk to the restaurant entrance. Weekday lunches are the quiet window, easier to secure outdoor seating without a booking scramble, and calmer for the dog.

Close by with the dogs

Dixons Creek is dense with dog-friendly stops: Steels Gate Wines welcomes dogs on its terrace and vine-side lawn up the road, Sutherland Estate is another Melba Highway option, and De'Vine Escape is the overnight pick if the long lunch turns into a weekend.

More options are on the Victoria wineries guide and the Dixons Creek destination page.