Miss Marmalade & Gilpin Park

Upon recommendation, we ventured to Brunswick to sample the delights of 'Miss Marmalade'. Stating on their website that dogs are always welcome on the terrace, we felt relaxed knowing we were visiting a dog-lovers cafe! We were reassured when we saw three other dogs brunching with their owners. It is wonderful to see so many people out and about with their dogs on the weekend. Doggy brunching is trending ;)

Drinks arrived promptly. We had a case of envy when we saw the Bloody Mary menu after we had ordered. One arrived at a nearby table and looked amazing!

Gypsy and Poppet were brunch dating with their cousin Rufi today. 

Here is Rufi getting a kiss on both cheeks from the pugs.

Rufi in a pug sandwich!

The breakfast menu was fantastic. So many choices and we love a cafe that put a twist on staple breakfast items. Like pancakes. 

Wait for it.....Gingerbread hotcakes with poached fruit, Tahitian vanilla bean and maple mascarpone and chopped pistachios! 

The only negative in ordering something this decadent is if the pugs catch a glimpse of it first......then eating becomes a sport of not giving in to guilty eyes that cry 'please, please, please'.....

We are sure we read pancakes on the Doggy Menu!!??

Is any of that for me?

The other menu choice that was popular on our table was Jacks cheddar on organic sour dough with vine ripened tomatoes and rosemary with a hash brown and bacon.

View the breakfast menu here:

Miss Marmalade Breakfast Menu

Or better still, head on over there for brunch today! ;)

Gilpin Park

Albert St,

Brunswick

Rufi showed us one of the many off-leash dog parks in Brunswick. Gilpin Park is close to Miss Marmalade and a lovely haven for dogs and their owners surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Brunswick. There is nothing manicured about this park, it felt more like we were in bushland and for dogs who love exploring, what more could you want?!

Gypsy and Rufi playing fetch. 

For the humans, there were wide walking tracks, but we have been blessed with sunshine over the past few days in Melbourne, so the grass wasn't too wet and we enjoyed the 'discovery trail' just as much as the girls did. If your dog loves puddles though, be prepared!  There are plenty here! Mud baths for dogs! Gypsy loves planking. In puddles. It's her sport. As you can see below, Poppet hates getting her paws wet. She will crazy yoga style reach over water to not get her paws wet. Bless her heart.

There is a dog waterbowl on the walking track. We only spotted this one but the park is small enough that you reach the waterbowl on a quick ten minute lap.

Poppet met another pug called Murphy. Pug kisses. Aw! For Pug-lovers, Murphy's Mum informed us that there are five pugs in the area that regularly visit the park. 

Here are a list of other off-leash parks in Brunswick, as noted on the Moreland City Council webpage. Check your council webpages for further information and advice on visiting off-leash parks.

A G Gillon Oval, Hope Street. Melways 29 E6

Balfe Park, John Street.  Melways 30 A9

Clifton Park, Victoria Street. Melways 29 E7

Fleming Park, Victoria Street. Melways 30 A8

Methven Park, Methven Street. Melways 29 K8

Reaburn Reserve, Pearson Street. Melways 29 E7

Roberts Reserve, Harrison Street. Melways 30 B6

Another day, another brunch and park visit. 

Tough life being a pampered pug!

We are the Sweetest Dogs...really!.....BRUNETTI!

194-204 Faraday St

Carlton Vic 3053

(03) 9347 2801

or 

214 Flinders Lane

Melbourne VIC 3000

(03) 9663 8085

Off we go to Brunetti Carlton. Yum Yum Yum!

Brunetti is an institution. Any sweet tooth in Melbourne needs to pay a visit. 

Brunetti Carlton



Brunetti City Square

We have visited the City Square cafe and the Carlton cafe with the dogs. Both have large alfresco areas and heaters. The City Square heaters are so warm you feel like you are sitting indoors which is a bonus over the cold winter months!

Whatever your guilty pleasures are we are sure Brunettis will provide!

The novelty of strolling a Brunetti counter, taking in all the desserts on offer, never wears off. If you are indecisive, go for the minitures and select 2-3 to try. You will not be disappointed!

Please please please!! You can't be serious? 

You are going to eat them all by yourselves?

Oh. Sad face.

You were serious. 

Their affogatos are something special & top off the dessert experience if you can handle another hit of cream & sugar & ice cream. YUM!

The affogato. All we can say is WOW ;)

There is no table service, so BYO water for the dogs. If you decide to visit the Carlton cafe you could always take your dogs for a stroll down Lygon St afterwards as some cafes along the strip have water bowls out the front. 

This is only half the counter at Brunetti Carlton!

Both Brunetti Carlton and City Square are always bustling with lots of people constantly walking by. Gypsy and Poppet love all the stimulus! They were so well behaved and we are so lucky to have dogs with social etiquette. They happily chill near our table and look forward to all the pats that come their way by the new people they meet.

The pugs people watching ;)

What are your favourite desserts? Gypsy loves raspberries & carob. Poppet loves waiting for cake crumbles to fall! ;-)

Right.....off to the park to run all these calories off.....the humans might have to do extra laps around the oval with the pugs!

News Update! Brunetti café is moving back to its original home and will be located at 380 Lygon Street, Carlton sometime in 2012. We will be sure to check if the new premises are dog~ friendly!

http://www.brunetti.com.au

 

100th Post! Four-Legged Fun in Fitzroy!

Our 100th post will feature Fitzroy, the cultural hub of Melbourne. The thing we love about Fitzroy is that it is unpretentious and people and dogs from all walks of life feel welcome and happy here. It's where the bohemians roam free and the trendsetters find what's trendy. We love visiting Fitzroy with our dogs and meeting a diverse group of locals and visitors who gather here for the same reasons we do no doubt. It makes them happy ;)

The girls exploring Brunswick St, Fitzroy

When you get a chance, follow this link and check out the awesome street view panoramic style photograph (apologies to our creative photography friends for lack of lingo!) of Brunswick St. You can scroll across to view the street (click on odd/ even to change sides of the road). It is so realistic!

http://www.brunswickstreet.com.au/

Madame Sousou

231 Brunswick St

Fitzroy

ph 9417 0400

http://www.madamesousou.com.au/

Brunch is at the oh-so-Frenchy Madame Sousou. We love the European flavour of this place, the chairs in the alfresco area neatly placed side by side, facing outwards. With light rain, there was a good covering and both humans and dogs stayed dry whilst enjoying the people and pug watching ;) The girls may have sampled the double smoked bacon and delighted in meeting the many passers-by!

Perfect coffee looking out at trams passing by - wonderful Melbourne!

European style seating 

Oh! Is that Latte for me?!

Spanish Omelette

Sousou Breakfast

Sampling the double smoked bacon...nom nom nom!

Rose St Market

http://www.rosestmarket.com.au/

After brunch, we decide to roam Brunswick St, we are stopped along the way by children, a nan and the gorgeous man affectionately known as the 'market man' who sits on the corner of Brunswick and Rose St and encourages pedestrians to wander up to Rose St Markets. We did just that, admiring the street art along the way. The markets are a mix or indoors and outdoors so your dog(s) would only be able to visit the stalls in the courtyard area. 

Check out the awesome street art in Rose St!

Rose St Market, as featured on Coxy's Big Break

A taste of the artist stalls at Rose St Markets

When we returned to Brunswick St, the girls again said hello to the 'Market Man' who then quickly went inside the store 'Rich' and returned with liver treats for the girls! The girls in Rich were incredibly down to earth and loved the dogs stopping in for a quick hello and pat. Then we were off on our way again. 

Brunswick St is the perfect place to roam with your dogs, especially on a wet day when the park is not an option. The girls had fun meeting new people and dogs and just love getting out in new environments in general. Think from a dog's perspective ~ how many new smells and sights there would be in Fitzroy! There are always new musicans, shops and people popping up everywhere on Brunswick St!

Saffron on the Hill

 To end our 100th Post, it wouldn't be right not to mention our favourite family on the Hill. Saffron on the Hill kicks off an online auction tonight to raise money and 100% of the funds raised will go straight towards food, care, vet treatment and rehabilitation of their rescue dogs. Poppet, along with most of her family are leading happy lives filled with love and freedom thanks to Saffron on the Hill. Their lives are a far cry from their previous ones of breeding machines in horrible living conditions. Head on over to their online auction now and support a great cause!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saffron-on-the-Hill/205155356184048

Alternatively, have you checked out their amazing collars, harnesses and leads?! You will find the current ribbon range on Saffron on the Hill's Facebook page too ;)

We hope our blog inspires you to continue to lead a really full and enriching life with your dog.  We look forward to blogging more of dog-friendly Melbourne! Don't forget to share with your friends in Melbourne and head on over to our Facebook page and 'Like' us to keep updated on new posts!