Home Plate Kitchen

Home Plate Kitchen is a neighbourhood brunch cafe at Shop 4, 6 Treeview Drive in Burleigh Waters, and it earns the dog-friendly tag honestly: shaded outdoor tables out front, staff who know the canine regulars by now, and water bowls usually on hand. It opens early, 5:30am most days, which suits walkers who want coffee before the heat arrives.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the shaded outdoor seating area at the front, on a lead and settled close to your table. Water bowls are typically available, though bringing your own is smart on a hot Gold Coast day. Keep your dog clear of the walkways; tables fill fast and service moves quickly through the outdoor section. This is a good fit for social dogs who stay relaxed around a steady flow of people, less so for dogs who mind prams and foot traffic.

The vibe and the menu

The menu runs generous: eggs benedict on brioche, chilli scrambled eggs, a big brekky, brekky burritos, halloumi, pumpkin and corn fritters, and a karaage burger for the lunch crowd. Coffee is consistently good and the drinks list covers smoothies, juices and protein shakes. Portions are large and prices sit fair for the quality. Hours are 5:30am to 1:30pm Monday to Saturday and 6am to 1pm Sunday; weekend mornings are the busiest, so an early or midweek visit gets you the pick of the shaded tables.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits in a residential pocket of Burleigh Waters, with free street parking along Treeview Drive and the surrounding streets, and flat, easy access if you are walking the dog in from nearby.

For off-lead time either side of brunch, the fenced run at Frascott Park in Varsity Lakes is close, and the off-leash sand at Tallebudgera dog beach is a short drive south. Espressions Cafe is the other dog-friendly coffee stop in the same suburb.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Burleigh Waters destination page, with the full state list in the QLD cafes index.