A craft brewer that loves canines so much, it produces its own dog-friendly bone beer? Count us in. (Okay, so it’s bone broth rather than actual beer, but it’s in cutely designed tinnies, so that makes it totally acceptable). Spoil your furry mate with one of ‘Dog Nation’ nourishing brews, which run the nutritional gamut from a calming concoction for the socially anxious to a seniors’ golden blend, bless. And for the humans? Hit the buzzing Footscray taproom to sample your way across 19 taps while going face-down in one of the many tempting pizza options on the Good Pizza menu. Unit 6/107-109 Whitehall St, Footscray; hopnation.com.au

It makes sense that the cafe at the Collingwood Children’s Farm is a dog-friendly zone, such is the dog-friendliness of the rolling green habitat close to the Yarra River. Walk in off the Main Yarra Trail and make a beeline for this indoor-outdoor cafe, where shaded picnic tables make a cute setting for eggs every which way, breakfast paninis and a ploughman’s lunch that is very likely to see the odd piece of salumi ‘accidentally’ falling to the ground. If you’re very lucky, your best mate will wind up as ‘dog of the day’ on the Farm’s Instagram page. Children’s Farm, Main Yarra Trail Collingwood, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford; farmcafe.com.au

Chez Misty is a human-friendly dog restaurant. The St Kilda creperie offers healthy food for both dogs and humans. The buckwheat galettes are gluten and dairy free and designed specifically for canine health. In the heated backyard humans can choose from a menu of savoury or sweet crepes and wash them down with wine, beer or French liquor – all in the company of their dogs. And if your pup is having a birthday? Sign up for a party package to remember – complete with candle, party hat and puppycinos for the furry birthday boy or girl. 103 Grey St, St Kilda; chezmisty.com.au

Dogs are most welcome at this funky beer hall, with its retractable roof and cubby house that is a winner with the kidlets. Settle your hound by the fire and gather with friends around one of the long tables. Don’t go past the latest in the Into the Woods series, a craft ale collab between Stomping Ground, Westward Whiskey and Proud Mary Coffee. The whiskey barrel-aged ale with coffee pairs well with the venue’s classy pub meals. Burgers, pizzas and sensational winter slow roasts are all on the menu here. 100 Gipps St, Collingwood; stompingground.beer

At this cafe dogs are the primary customers and the deli is a doggo’s delight. The range of raw dog food includes a nutritional mix of meat and vegetables with options such as emu, rabbit, turkey, lamb and kangaroo for puppy or adult dog diets. The counter is crammed with jars of bully sticks, lamb ankles and other treats to reward your pup. Outdoor booths are equipped with heaters and humans can indulge in a glass of wine while their pooches play off the lead with their puppy pals. 195 Johnston St, Collingwood; doghousecafe.com.au

This food truck park with a huge beer garden and a pretty epic arcade in Northcote (that’s right, it’s not in Thornbury) is eternally dog friendly, but it lifts its already excellent pro-canine game for a calendar of regular pup-centric events under the ‘Good Dogs of Darebin’ banner. Expect dog treats and extra puppy love as money is raised in the name of various animal rescue charities. For the rest of us, the regular KPIs here aren’t bad either: check the park’s socials for the rotating food truck line-up and hit the bar for negronis, sunshiney cocktails and all the beers. 520 High St, Northcote; welcometothornbury.com

Sometimes it can feel like this inner-northern favourite is populated by more dogs than people – in fact, so great is the pup love here, their range of merch includes a GNH-branded dog leash with a built-in bottle opener. The beer garden is the favoured habitat here, but if you’re lucky, you might also find a pup snoozing under the pool table in the front bar. When they’re awake, they can enjoy a Hop Nation ‘Dog Nation’ bone broth brew, while human types can feel the love for 22 beer taps, solid pub-grub classics and a $30 Sunday roast. 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North; gnh.net.au

Blessed be the dogs at this former residence of the Wesley Uniting Church caretaker. This bijou joint is anointed in illustrious doctrines such as the World’s 50 Best Bars, but it’s won our hearts for its devoutly pro-pooch policy. Take your furry best friend for a session that involves a comfy bed (for them) and water top-ups (for both of you). Just add a pint of Guinness, a cold gin martini or one of the award-bait cocktails prepared by the savviest team in town. Outside, there are even nice grassy patches to roll around on, if your dog lets you. 139-141 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne; caretakerscottage.bar

A huge mural of a hound welcomes all your pups to this Richmond rooftop bar. City views, pimped up pub classics, and live music make a great backdrop for cocktails and long Sunday sessions for you and your pooch. Pop in for Bingo, Drag Trivia, a Bottomless Brunch or just to watch a sports game on the big screens. All dietaries catered for, just request upon ordering your schnitty, burger, snacks or salads. Don’t miss the sensational Belgian waffles with butterscotch sauce. Doggies are also welcome in the ground level beer garden. 447 Church St, Richmond; harlowbar.com.au

Cool dogs (and cooler cats) head to this buzzing Americana dive bar, where it’s always midnight inside. Luckily dogs have an easier time seeing in the dark than humans; get your four-legged buddy to show you to a pool table, or just find a booth for a session involving jugs of beer and the Tex-Mex fun of jalapeno poppers, fish tacos, mighty burgers and – best of all – $1 chicken wings on Thursdays. Alternatively, head up to the light, AKA the recently added Full Moon Fever rooftop bar, which makes like a spaghetti western in the middle of the urban jungle. 225 Johnston St, Abbotsford; lulietavern.com

Cocktails, tapas and cocker spaniels triangulate at this cute Bay Street venue. First, take your pooch for a walk on the beach, just a few blocks away, then retire to the dog-friendly courtyard here to share a charcuterie board, buttermilk chicken and chips or jamon croquettes. The covered and heated space is also the setting for dedicated dog parties, where you can lavish your best four-legged friend with all the decorations, party favours and love they deserve, whether it’s their birthday, gotcha day or bark-mitzvah (NB: responsible service of alcohol laws mean the Aperol spritz is strictly for the humans). 359 Bay St, Port Melbourne; thetipsycow.com.au

When it’s time for a Sunday session and you want to go where everybody knows your dog’s name, this is the place. Surly’s lives up to its boast of being Preston’s friendliest neighbourhood bar and garden by offering a comfortable place with only one rule: Don’t be a jerk! Order pizza or pasta from Don Antonio’s next door or food from nearby restaurants. Wednesday night is Trivia night. Dogs (and their humans) flock to the beer garden for locally sourced craft beers, cocktails and wine, no matter the day of the week. 570 High St, Preston; surlysbar.com.au

Whether you want to drink wine, cider, juice, shots, or even beer, in the Beer Garden, or you’re keen to up the ante with a long lunch and a more sophisticated tipple in the Rosé Garden (opening September 1), the Commons Collective is a destination in itself. It aims to create community connections which revolve around food. Doggos are welcome at any of the outdoor tables. Menus change with the seasons, and are currently stacked with hearty winter offerings like Shepherd’s pot pie, spiced roasted chicken and a plethora of crispy snacks. 17 Moubray St, Melbourne; thecommonscollective.com.au

Right on the sand at St Kilda West Beach, this impressive indoor-outdoor venue happily welcomes guests of the four-legged variety to its sprawling deck. Take a seat (or better still, a sun lounger) to admire the local labradoodles, cavoodles and schnoodles as they lap up attention from the staff. It’s a breakfast-to-dinner proposition here, with a menu that has a sweet spot for pizza, fish and chips and happy-hour cocktails. Restless pups can be taken for a spin at the off-leash beach on the other side of Catani Gardens. 330A Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West; westbeachstkilda.com.au

There’ll be no sitting under a table outside on the footpath at this firm Fitzroy favourite, where well-behaved pooches are welcome to hang out in the front bar; they can even gently toast their fur by the open fire if it’s chilly. Nice. But there’s plenty on offer here for the humans, too, from some of the city’s most excellent pub grub – whether that’s the gin-cured ocean trout with horseradish creme fraiche, the rockling burger with bang-on perfect chips or just some bloody good potato cakes with aioli – to a tidy little wine list. Woof. 411 George St, Fitzroy; marquisoflorne.com.au