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Back in the day, you'd be barking mad to bring along your slobbering (and yet somehow still gorgeous) golden retriever to Sunday lunch. In this modern dining era, however, it's commonplace to spot a few four-legged friends in a beer garden or lounging on a wine bar's patio. Heck, you might even see a waiter doling out liver treats from their apron.
New research from OpenTable shows that dining at pet-friendly restaurants across Australia has spiked by 20 per cent over the past year alone. Not only do we accept the presence of furry folk chilling under our table – we actually plan around it.
Half of the 505 Aussie dog owners surveyed in OpenTable's project share that pet-friendly food or drink options matter when choosing where to eat, while 37 per cent admit that they've skipped a booking altogether if it meant having to leave their pooch at home.
Yep, we get it. Trying to resist puppy dog eyes is no joke.
“Aussies consider their dogs to be part of their family, and our data shows they increasingly expect the hospitality industry to accommodate that,” said Jackson Pola, district manager at OpenTable in Australia.
And in honour of International Dog Day on August 26, OpenTable has released its 2026 Top Restaurants for Pet-Friendly Dining report – a list that covers some of the most loved doggo-welcoming dining spots across Australia.
Melbourne favourites include the Royal Oak Hotel in Fitzroy North, Sister of Soul and Lion and Wombat in St Kilda, Mona Castle Hotel in Seddon, the Standard Hotel in Fitzroy, Sporting Club Hotel in Brunswick and 3030 Waterfront in Werribee South, alongside regional Victorian stops like Bridge Road Brewers in Beechworth and St Andrews Beach Brewery in Fingal.
Whether you're looking for shady outdoor spaces, designated dog areas, water bowls on hot days or clear pet-friendly signage and policies, these spots are worth visiting with your best mate.
Check out Victoria's complete list of inclusions below.
Victoria's top dog-friendly restaurants:
- 3030 Waterfront, Werribee South
- Anh Chi Em, Highton
- Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale
- Lion and Wombat, St Kilda
- Mona Castle Hotel, Seddon
- Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North
- Sister of Soul, St Kilda
- Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick
- Stags Head Hotel, Williamstown
- Tesoro Gastronomia, Balwyn North
- The Morning Star Hotel, Williamstown
- The Standard Hotel, Fitzroy
- Three Crowns Hotel, Melbourne
- Bridge Road Brewers, Beechworth
- Launching Place Home Hotel, Launching Place
- Lost Watering Hole - The Lancefield Brewery, Lancefield
- Merricks Store, Merricks
- St Andrews Beach Brewery, Fingal
- The Victoria Woodend, Woodend
Head here to read the report, which reveals OpenTable's methodology and its top dog-friendly venues across Australia.
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