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 2 October 2026 and 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
The rules decide whether a dog gets a seat, so this page sticks to what each place or listing actually says. All five places are in Northcote, near Thornbury but not in it.
Only The Herbert Cafe is a true cafe, and it is the only one whose own site uses the word dogs. The other four, Loku Sri Lankan Kitchen, Yuni’s Kitchen, Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar and Pizza e Vino, carry a Pet Friendly listing on the Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG). That listing does not say dogs, and it does not say inside or outside.
Each place was checked against at least two independent sources, and prices are copied as printed. Ask the venue before you bring a dog.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs welcome at outdoor seating | The Herbert Cafe | PRANA CHAI | $6.80 |
| Pet-friendly listing, Sri Lankan curry | Loku Sri Lankan Kitchen | Sri Lankan Roast Paan (VG) | $10 |
| Pet-friendly listing, Indonesian | Yuni’s Kitchen | see below | not printed here |
| Pet-friendly listing, soba | Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar (Northcote) | Kake Soba | A$17.90 |
| Pet-friendly listing, wood-fired pizza | Pizza e Vino | Margherita Monday: classic Large Margherita Pizza | $12 |
The Herbert Cafe — 41 Arthurton Road, Northcote VIC 3070
Status: its site says ‘DOGS WELCOME Dogs are always welcome in our outdoor seating areas.’ That is the only place on this page with a statement about dogs. The home page lists Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 3PM, Saturday 8:00AM - 3PM and Sunday 8:30AM - 3PM, with the kitchen open until 2:00PM daily, though other pages on its own site give slightly different hours. The menu lists BANANA BREAD at $6.50, and it mentions weekend and public-holiday surcharges, so check the menu.
On the menu (copied from theherbert.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- PRANA CHAI: $6.80
- HOT CHOC: $5.40
- FRIED EGGIES ON TOAST: $15
- BANANA BREAD: $6.50
Inside or outside only: Outside, as listed: the site covers outdoor seating areas and we found no statement about dogs indoors.
Loku Sri Lankan Kitchen — 298 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Status: AGFG lists Pet Friendly and Takeaway for this place, not specifically dogs. AGFG also lists Alfresco Dining, but nothing ties the two together. Its site lists dinner from 5:30pm-10:30pm Tuesday-Saturday and 6pm-9pm on Sunday, with Monday closed. The menu lists Lentil Curry (V/VG/GF) at $17, and says each curry is portioned for two.
On the menu (copied from loku.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Sri Lankan Roast Paan (VG): $10
- Lentil Curry (V/VG/GF): $17
- Chicken Curry (GF): $24
- Betel Leaf Tacos (2 pcs): $14
Bring: A question for the venue, since the AGFG listing says pet friendly without saying dogs or where they may sit.
Yuni’s Kitchen — 251 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Status: AGFG lists Pet Friendly and Takeaway, not specifically dogs. Its own site says outside tables are strictly non reserved and subject to weather conditions, and says nothing about dogs there. The same site says the room is small, with only one table of six at any one time. Its site lists Tuesday to Saturday 5.30pm - 9pm, with Sunday and Monday closed. We could not read item prices, so none are printed.
Inside or outside only: Unknown. Neither AGFG nor the site says where a pet may sit, so check with the venue.
Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar (Northcote) — 257 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Status: AGFG lists Pet Friendly for this place, not specifically dogs, alongside Alfresco Dining and Takeaway. Its site lists Mon- Sun 11.30am - 3.30pm (Last Order @ 2.30pm) and 5.30pm - 9.30pm (Last Order @ 8.30pm). Its own pickup ordering page lists Kake Soba at A$17.90 and Chicken Soba at A$32.90. The same page also lists Vegan Kake Soba at A$17.90.
On the menu (copied from shimbashi-kounta.deliverectdirect.com on 4 October 2026):
- Kake Soba: A$17.90
- Chicken Soba: A$32.90
- Roasted Duck Soba: A$34.90
- Vegan Kake Soba: A$17.90
Bring: Confirmation from the venue, because the listing does not say dogs or which tables.
Pizza e Vino — 232 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Status: AGFG lists Pet Friendly, not specifically dogs, with Alfresco Dining on the same listing. The site’s footer lists Sunday to Thursday 5 – 9pm and Friday - Saturday 5pm – Late, while AGFG hours differ, so check. Its homepage says MARGHERITA MONDAY EVERY MONDAY, a classic Large Margherita Pizza for just $12. The menu lists HOT STUFF pizza at S $17 / L $28.
On the menu (copied from pizzaevino.com.au and pizzaevino.com.au/dine-in-menu on 4 October 2026):
- Margherita Monday: classic Large Margherita Pizza: $12
- $20 Parmas (Wednesday): $20
- HOT STUFF pizza: S $17 / L $28
- BBQ CHICKEN pizza: S $17 / L $28
Inside or outside only: Not stated. AGFG lists Alfresco Dining and Pet Friendly separately, so ask which tables a dog can use.
Quick answers
Which cafes near Thornbury allow dogs?
This page lists no places in Thornbury itself; all five are in Northcote. The Herbert Cafe is the only one whose own site says dogs are welcome, and it says so for its outdoor seating areas. The other four carry an AGFG Pet Friendly listing that does not say dogs.
Can dogs go inside The Herbert Cafe in Northcote?
Its site says ‘Dogs are always welcome in our outdoor seating areas.’ We found no statement about dogs indoors, so treat it as outside only and check with the cafe.
Are the pet-friendly restaurants in Northcote dog-friendly?
AGFG lists Pet Friendly for Loku Sri Lankan Kitchen, Yuni’s Kitchen, Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar and Pizza e Vino. The listing does not say dogs and does not say whether that means inside or at outdoor tables, so ask the venue first.
When is The Herbert Cafe open?
Its home page lists Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 3PM, Saturday 8:00AM - 3PM and Sunday 8:30AM - 3PM, with the kitchen open until 2:00PM daily. Other pages on its own site differ slightly, so check before you go.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources between 2 October 2026 and 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites and the Australian Good Food Guide. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, between 2 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 photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of food or place, not the places 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
- The Herbert Cafe: openstreetmap.org/3822572657, theherbert.com.au/about, theherbert.com.au, theherbert.com.au/menu
- Loku Sri Lankan Kitchen: openstreetmap.org/5123921793, loku.com.au, agfg.com.au/loku-135186, loku.com.au/Loku-Two-Sided-Dinner-Menu-July-2025.pdf
- Yuni’s Kitchen: openstreetmap.org/1725251798, agfg.com.au/yunis-kitchen-46809, yuniskitchen.com.au/hours, yuniskitchen.com.au/menu
- Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar (Northcote): openstreetmap.org/12245827601, shimbashisobamelbourne.com.au/locations, agfg.com.au/shimbashi-soba-sake-bar-northcote-97918, shimbashi-kounta.deliverectdirect.com/shimbashi-soba-sake-bar-northcote, shimbashisobamelbourne.com.au
- Pizza e Vino: openstreetmap.org/6876562377, pizzaevino.com.au, agfg.com.au/pizza-e-vino-21911, pizzaevino.com.au/dine-in-menu
