Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources between 3 October 2026 and 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
A park is only off-lead where the council says so. This guide gives Footscray Park’s council rules first, then four venues that print a dog line of their own.
It covers five places in and around Footscray: three in Footscray and two in Yarraville. Where a venue says dogs are welcome without saying where, we say we could not find the limit. We do not guess off-lead hours, so check the council order.
Each listing was cross-checked with no fewer than two sources that do not depend on each other. Rules and menus change, so check with the council or venue before you go.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council off-lead area | Footscray Park | see below | not printed here |
| Dogs on the rooftop | Moon Dog Wild West Footscray | Chicken parma | $33.50 |
| Pub with a dog-friendly line | Station Hotel | HAND CRUMBED CHICKEN PARMA | $34 |
| Cafe opposite a dog park | Bass Note Cafe | Basic Coffee Regular | $5.50 |
| Dog-friendly pub in Yarraville | The Victoria Hotel (Yarraville) | see below | not printed here |
Footscray Park — Ballarat Road, Footscray VIC 3011
Status: one designated off-lead area. Per council, it is on the western side of Thomson Water Garden, the Victoria University side. Elsewhere in the park the council says all dogs must be on a lead, and ‘Dogs must be on-lead when in five metres of the trail along the Maribyrnong River.’ The council also says ‘Dogs are not permitted in the playground area at any time.’ Its feature list includes a drinking fountain, toilets, a barbecue and a walking path. We could not find off-lead hours, so check the council order.
Off-leash status: Off-lead only in the council-designated area, on lead everywhere else, as listed.
Moon Dog Wild West Footscray — 54 Hopkins Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Status: rooftop only, per the venue. Its site answers ‘Can I bring my doggo? Dogs are allowed on our rooftop!’ We could not find a dog line for any other area. The site lists Friday-Saturday 11.30am-1am. The menu prints Chicken parma at $33.50 and Vegan parma at $27.50.
On the menu (copied from moondog.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Chicken parma: $33.50
- Vegan parma: $27.50
- Beef burger: $26.50
- Chips: $14.50
Inside or outside only: Rooftop only, as the venue’s own site puts it.
Station Hotel — 59 Napier Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Status: dog friendly, as listed. The pub’s site says ‘Plus, we’re dog friendly – so bring your furry friend to ours!’ We could not find a line saying which areas that covers. Its hours list Monday - Thursday 12pm - 10pm. The menu prints STATION CHEESEBURGER at $25 and HAND CRUMBED CHICKEN PARMA at $34.
On the menu (copied from thestationhotel.com.au and thestationhotel.com.au/STN_-Midweek-Lunch-Menu.pdf on 4 October 2026):
- HAND CRUMBED CHICKEN PARMA: $34
- WAGYU BEEF BURGER: $31
- STATION CHEESEBURGER: $25
- Sunday Roast: $38 Adults
Inside or outside only: The site does not say, so ask before you take a dog indoors.
Bass Note Cafe — 3 Harris Street, Yarraville VIC 3013
Status: welcoming, as listed. The cafe’s site says ‘Located across the road from Yarraville Gardens dog park, we’re always happy to see our four-legged friends.’ It does not say whether dogs may come inside. The site places it within Kindred Studios in northern Yarraville, and the menu prints Basic Coffee Regular at $5.50 and Milkshakes Regular at $7.50. We could not find opening hours.
On the menu (copied from bassnote.cafe on 3 October 2026):
- Basic Coffee Regular: $5.50
- Milkshakes Regular: $7.50
Bring: A lead for the walk across to the park, and check its off-lead rules before you unclip.
The Victoria Hotel (Yarraville) — 188 Hyde Street, Yarraville VIC 3013
Status: dog friendly, as listed. The pub’s site says ‘We’re also dog-friendly, so bring your furry companion along!’ The same page lists semi-covered outdoor seating with ordering by QR code, but does not tie the dog line to a particular area. Its hours list Monday – Friday 12pm – Late, Saturday 11:30am – Late and Sunday 11am – 11pm. We could not find menu prices.
Inside or outside only: The site does not say, so confirm which areas allow dogs when you book or arrive.
Quick answers
Is there an off-lead dog area in Footscray?
Yes, per the council. Footscray Park has a designated dog off-lead area on the western side of Thomson Water Garden, the Victoria University side. Everywhere else in the park dogs must be on a lead, and we could not find off-lead hours, so check the council order.
Can you take a dog to a pub in Footscray?
Two Footscray venues print a dog line. The Station Hotel’s site says it is dog friendly, without saying which areas, and Moon Dog Wild West Footscray’s site says dogs are allowed on its rooftop. In Yarraville, The Victoria Hotel’s site also says it is dog-friendly.
Which cafe near Footscray is close to a dog park?
Bass Note Cafe in Yarraville. Its site says it is across the road from Yarraville Gardens dog park and is always happy to see four-legged friends. It does not say whether dogs may come inside.
Are dogs allowed in the Footscray Park playground?
No. The council’s page for Footscray Park says ‘Dogs are not permitted in the playground area at any time.’ Dogs may only be off-lead in the designated area on the western side of Thomson Water Garden.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources between 3 October 2026 and 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages, the places’ own websites, Broadsheet and the Australian Good Food Guide. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, between 3 October 2026 and 4 October 2026, the date given beside each menu. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Footscray Park: openstreetmap.org/45792871, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Footscray-Park
- Moon Dog Wild West Footscray: openstreetmap.org/28615140, moondog.com.au/wild-west, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, moondog.com.au/MD4097_MDWW_Menu_OCT-2026_A3_FOOD.pdf
- Station Hotel: openstreetmap.org/320400959, thestationhotel.com.au, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, thestationhotel.com.au/STN-FoodMenu-Apr26.pdf, thestationhotel.com.au/STN_-Midweek-Lunch-Menu.pdf, thestationhotel.com.au/sundayroast, thestationhotel.com.au/beer-garden, thestationhotel.com.au/jazz-night
- Bass Note Cafe: agfg.com.au/bass-note-cafe-136290, bassnote.cafe, bassnote.cafe/menu
- The Victoria Hotel (Yarraville): openstreetmap.org/265732757, agfg.com.au/victoria-on-hyde-23412, vichotelyarraville.com.au, vichotelyarraville.com.au/beer-garden
