Olas Beach House

Olas Beach House runs long hours for a beachfront cafe: 7am to 10pm Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, at its shop on Alexandra Parade. That span is what separates it from most of the strip: breakfast with the dog, but also dinner as the parade lights up. The venue lists a designated pet friendly outdoor area where guests can sit with their dog, and the Google listing carries the same note, so the outdoor tables are the ones to ask for.

The menu leans more restaurant than cafe as the day goes on. Steak and a proper starters list show up alongside the coffee, and reviewers talk about the vibe as much as the plates. For dog owners the useful part is the schedule: the outdoor area works at breakfast when the sand is still quiet and again at dinner when the deck is at its best, and the indoor room carries the middle of the day.

Worth knowing

Because the venue site renders its text with JavaScript, the pet policy is carried as a reported practice rather than a published rule; a quick word to staff when you book is the reliable move, especially for dinner service when the outdoor area is in demand. The Monday closure catches people out, and weekend evenings book out through peak season, so a call ahead is worth the two minutes.

Close by with the dogs

The neighbours make a full day easy. Francis Bean is the morning coffee stop up the parade, and Juan Fifty Kitchen & Bar is the alternative when Olas is full. The Alexandra Headlands Hotel and our Alexandra Headland guide cover the rest of the strip, with the Queensland cafe list for the wider state.