Your Ultimate Guide to Dog-Friendly Melbourne

Can’t bare being away from your pooch? No sweat. You won’t need to leave your doggo behind when you em-bark on your next Melbourne adventure.

Where to stay

Dog lovers rejoice! Somerset on Elizabeth [250 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne] is welcoming pooches great and small. That’s right, quality pet-friendly accommodation in Melbourne has arrived, so you and your four-legged sidekick can take on a city adventure, hand in paw. More than dog friendly, this place knows how to treat our furry friends. All pet-friendly rooms offer a complimentary welcome pack (including a treat and toy), a doggy bed with a cosy blanket, access to the pet-friendly courtyard and, of course, the necessities like doggy bowls and toilet bags. In addition to five-star treatment for your beloved pupper, you’ll be welcomed into a contemporary room and perfectly positioned to enjoy some of Melbourne’s best experiences (for both humans and canines). Settle in, relax and enjoy a Melbourne escape with your dog.

Somerset on Elizabeth's paw-cation offer ends 31 December 2019. Don't miss out on pampering your pooch, check out availability for your paw-cation here somerset.com/pawcation

What to do

The options are endless when it comes to adventures with your dog in Melbourne. Where to start? If you prefer to keep your dog on-lead, make a beeline for one of Melbourne’s most picturesque spots: Royal Botanic Gardens [Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra]. Take a leisurely stroll along one of the paths that snakes through the gardens and enjoy views of Ornamental Lake and the stunning flora and fauna. Or, if your dog has more energy to burn why not take on a lap of The Tan — an almost four-kilometre running track that wraps around part of the gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance and more.

If sharing your Melbourne experience with some like-minded dog lovers sounds like your idea of a good time, check out Gourmet Paw Prints, a tour company dedicated to dogs and their adoring humans. Its Doggy Walking Tour will see you and your best friend strolling through the seaside suburb of Williamstown, delving into its fascinating history and seeing some of its best sights. A doggy dip at Williamstown Beach might even be on the cards.

Speaking of beaches, if your pup loves having a splash in the ocean but you’re after somewhere a little closer to town, head to Port Melbourne Dog Beach [Bay Trail, Port Melbourne] just four kilometres from the CBD. Here, you can enjoy a run or walk along the wide stretch of sand while they frolic off-leash in the water to their heart’s content.

Where to eat

It wouldn’t be a Melbourne escape without checking out the foodie scene. Head just north of the city to Welcome to Thornbury [520 High Street, Northcote] — a food truck park where bringing along dogs is not only welcome but encouraged. Enjoy sampling delights from a rotating lineup of Melbourne’s best food trucks — regulars include Mr Burger, Poncho Mexican Food and Pasta Face — and listening to sweet tunes, while your pooch takes in the sites and sounds of this northside hot spot.

If your thirst is calling stronger than your hunger, Lulie [225 Johnston Street Abbotsford] is the perfect place for you and your dog. This character-filled warehouse tavern offers a plethora of solid and experimental beers in bottle, canned and draught forms all for your drinking pleasure. Meanwhile, Fido is welcome to chill out with the other pups. If you get a little peckish, you can order delicious wood-for pizza from Rita’s Cafeteria [239 Johnston Street, Abbotsford] from the Lulie’s bar.

Prefer cocktails over beer? Head to Madame Brussels [59 Bourke Street, Melbourne] — one of Melbourne’s fanciest and quirkiest rooftop bars. It’s garden party themed, but here the only tea you’ll be sipping on is the Long Island variety. With your cocktail in hand, pull up a pew on the terrace and enjoy the view while your pooch relaxes by your side.

For a place that’s completely dedicated to canines, you can’t go past Doghouse [195 Johnston Street, Collingwood]. This cafe serves doggocinos, pupcakes, doggy doughnuts, ice cream and brisket bones for four-legged friends, while brewing great Melbourne coffee for their owners. Perfect for dogs that love to socialise and humans who love Melbourne’s coffee culture, why stop in for an afternoon treat the next time you and your dog are in town?

Ready to start your paw-cation?
somerset.com/pawcation