Bone Appetit – 5 Dog-friendly Venues for National Puppy Day

They’re fluffy and playful, they yip and bark and are just all-round adorable – all they want is to be loved.

National Puppy Day celebrates our four-legged fur babies, making it quite possibly the cutest day ever; it was also established to bring awareness to puppy mills and how to go about adopting a rescue dog.

For a paws-atively good time on Saturday, March 23, we’ve rounded up five venues to take your pooch for National Puppy Day!

From farm gate to back paddock, Wild Food Farm and Café on Rhyll-Newhaven Road in Rhyll showcases the potential of Australia’s amazing variety of native herbs, spices, fruits and berries. Visit the family and pet-friendly homestead café, rainforest atrium events space, picnic parklands and native food trail; before heading to the gift and produce store, packed with treats inspired by a unique range of flavours and fragrances.

 

Meet Billie the kelpie as you start your day the right way with a breakfast hash of bacon, poached egg, hash potato, Warrigal greens and caramelised onion; or drop in for lunch with your fur baby in tow and enjoy barramundi in lemon myrtle tempura batter, with finger lime tartar, crispy chips and salad.

Botanica Garden Café on Bay Road is a tranquil oasis in Waverton, where guests can escape the hustle of Sydney city life. Established in 2012, the former nursery's polished timber walls and bare hanging light bulbs create a whimsically rustic vibe, while a bright mural-lined courtyard provides the ideal spot to soak up the sun.

 

Pooches are always welcome at Botanica, so bring puppy along on Saturday for a latte and breaky of Texan scrambled eggs, with smoked salmon, capsicum, avocado mash and a hash brown; or join the lively lunch crowd for a braised pork belly and brown rice bowl, with a poached egg, pickled cabbage, coriander, shallots, sautéed bean sprouts and sesame oil.

Pomona Village Kitchen on Memorial Avenue in Pomona is a slow-food restaurant supporting sustainably sourced seasonal, locally grown and raised, organic and healthy products, with low mileage and low wastage. Oozing rustic charm, dine alfresco on balmy Sunshine Coast days or head indoors and chill out on the leather Chesterfield couch amongst potted greenery and admire the eclectic mix of artwork adorning the walls as you peruse a menu to suit all tastes from breaky to lunch.

 

Four-legged friends are welcome in the courtyard as you sip a brew and devour a buttery croissant, stuffed with soft scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, roasted local tomatoes and Hollandaise, or a loaded campfire spud with smoked thrice-cooked pulled pork, rainbow slaw and rich house aioli.

Housed in the old 1950s Glen Huntly post office, head to pink-hued Major Mitchell Café on Grange Road in Carnegie for cocktails and fare with flair. From the bright pink door and terrazzo bar to the pink walls, this is the ideal chill-out spot for a Daly St Roasters Chosen One house blend and tempting brunch plates.

 

Puppycinos are on the menu so make sure to bring your pupster with you when munching on plates like pumpkin and feta fritters with beetroot labneh, smashed avocado, burrata, nuts and seeds on a rocket and currant salad with honey, ginger and lime dressing.

You know the scene at Republica in St Kilda even if you haven’t been there; its design and setup is a testament to the cool chic Melbourne lifestyle that is all about keeping it fun, fresh and funky. Found in the Sea Baths complex overlooking Port Phillip Bay, this venue ticks all the boxes - the ideal place for people-watching and serving great food every day of the week.

 

Republica is delighted to support the work of C.A.R.A Dog Rescue, a 100% volunteer organisation which works tirelessly to prevent animal cruelty by rescuing and rehoming unwanted and abandoned dogs. Bring your pooch along next time you stop in for a cheeky cocktail and slice of pork and fennel sausage pizza.