Abbie Lane at Highfields Arts & Crafts Village

Abbie Lane sits inside the Highfields Arts and Crafts Village on the New England Highway, a garden cafe with a well-kept courtyard where dogs are actively welcomed rather than merely tolerated. Between the village stalls to browse and the cafe's reputation for fresh food and coffee, it is the easy half-day out for Highfields and Toowoomba's northern suburbs.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor courtyard, at tables under umbrellas in the garden setting. The staff have a reputation for looking after dog owners, including shifting tables under cover when rain rolls in. There is room to put a water bowl down, though it is worth carrying your own to be sure. Inside the cafe is for two-legged customers only.

The vibe and the food

Reviewers rate the coffee, desserts and burgers, and the general tone is relaxed and rustic with a quiet atmosphere that suits a settled dog. Hours are Tuesday to Friday 8am to 2pm, Saturday 7am to 2pm and Sunday 8am to 2pm, closed Mondays. After eating, the surrounding Arts and Crafts Village gives you shops and craft studios to wander, which is what turns lunch here into an afternoon.

Getting there and parking

The address is 10522 New England Highway, on the main route north out of Toowoomba. Parking is ample and free in the village lot, close to the courtyard seating, so the walk from the car with a dog is short.

Nearby with the dogs

For the run before or after lunch, Michael Park off-leash dog park on Orange Grove Road is fully fenced with a dog water fountain, and Harris Park's off-leash area is the other council option a short drive away. Highfields Falls Bushland Reserve suits a leashed walk if you want scenery instead of a run. The Chocolate Cottage is the other Highfields garden-cafe fixture if you are pairing stops.

More options in the region are on the Highfields destination page, and the full list is in the QLD cafes index.