Alkemist

Alkemist is a specialty cafe and bar at 1/1 Sunshine Boulevard in Broadbeach Waters, a few minutes' walk from the main Broadbeach strip. The room runs exposed brick and a licensed bar alongside the coffee machine, and it has a loyal local following of dog owners who loop past on morning canal walks. It opens 6am to 2:30pm, seven days.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor footpath and alfresco seating out front, where the space is roomy enough to sprawl without getting in anyone's way. Staff accommodate dogs warmly and water bowls are typically available after a walk, though carrying your own is never a bad idea on weekends. The indoor room stays for humans, so this is a footpath-table venue.

Pepsi: the footpath tables are the pick for a slow coffee here, there is real room between tables for a settled dog.

The vibe and the menu

The coffee pours from Elixir beans roasted for the venue, with alternative milks on hand, and the kitchen covers breakfast and brunch with dishes like chilli eggs, acai bowls and pancakes that get called out for presentation. Being licensed from mid-morning, it also works for a late brunch with a glass of wine, and the 6am opening makes it a genuine first-stop for early walkers.

Getting there and parking

Sunshine Boulevard sits in the canal-side residential grid of Broadbeach Waters, with free street parking in the surrounding blocks and an easy walk from central Broadbeach across the highway. The area's paved canal pathways make it a pleasant approach on foot with a dog on lead.

Close by with the dogs

Albert Park on Monaco Street is the suburb's local off-leash area, with open green space and canal access for a swim, just a few minutes away. Further south, Pizzey Offleash Dog Area in Mermaid Waters adds a fenced agility space, pine shade and a sandy lake beach for swimming, with the multi-use Pizzey Park circuit nearby for a longer walk.

For a second coffee, Cup O' Joy on Queensland Avenue is another dog-friendly stop close by. More are on the Queensland dog friendly cafes guide and the Broadbeach Waters destination page.