Stella's By The Lake

Stella’s By The Lake is a dog-friendly café on Beissel Street in Belconnen, directly across from Lake Ginninderra. It caters for breakfast, brunch and lunch, with all-day breakfast and brunch classics, relaxed lunch options, coffee and treats for the wider family. The setting works well for a casual meal before or after time by the lake, with outdoor seating for sunny mornings and comfortable indoor chairs when the weather is cold or wet.

Dogs are central to the café rather than simply allowed at the edges. Stella’s provides beds and water bowls, along with a dedicated pup menu featuring puppachinos, donuts, dog beer and take-home treats. That makes it a practical choice for people who want to bring their dog along, whether they are meeting a friend, spending time with family or stopping in for a relaxed coffee. The café’s approach also extends to the story behind its name: owners David and Ashlinn Reid, a father-and-daughter team, named Stella’s in memory of one of their late dogs.

The regular menu is built around straightforward café food intended for everyday eating. The website singles out the Potato Stack and Tank’s Breakfast Roll as popular choices, with the latter named after another of the family’s much-loved dogs. There is also a focus on coffee and treats, making the café suitable for more than a full meal. Families can find options for people and dogs in the same place, while the lakeside position and welcoming indoor space give solo visitors and small groups a comfortable setting to sit for a while.

Stella’s has also received recognition beyond its local following. It was a finalist in the Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence for Best Breakfast Restaurant and Café Dining in 2021, 2022 and 2023, then won Café Dining in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The café says it was also awarded Australia’s Best Breakfast Restaurant, received silver for Café Dining nationally and was named Most Outstanding Café in Canberra in the 2023 Local Business Awards. For Belconnen locals and visitors looking for a lake-adjacent café where dogs are genuinely part of the experience, Stella’s offers a clear point of difference.