Candy Cafe Bar

Candy Cafe Bar is a long-running brunch spot on Grafton Street in the Cairns CBD, serving breakfast from 6am on weekdays and Saturdays and from 7am on Sundays until early afternoon. It sits a short stroll back from the Esplanade, so it works well as a first stop before an on-lead walk along the waterfront. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, and the kitchen turns out the kind of breakfast menu that makes the wait for a table worthwhile.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating out front, which is where most of the relaxed morning trade happens anyway. Staff have been known to bring out water bowls, but on a busy weekend brunch service it is worth asking or carrying your own. The footpath area is compact rather than sprawling, so a settled dog that is happy lying under a table will do better than one that wants room to sprawl. Weekday mornings are the calmest window; from about 8am on weekends the street fills up and the space between tables tightens.

What is on the plate

This is a proper breakfast kitchen, not just a coffee counter. The eggs Benedict is the signature order, built on three eggs with a house hollandaise, and the menu runs through avo toast, bruschetta, poached eggs and pulled pork quesadillas. Heartier plates like pulled lamb tacos cover the lunch side of the menu, and there are vegan options plus fresh juices made to order. Coffee has a strong local following, which is part of why the queue builds early.

Getting there and parking

The address is 70 Grafton Street, Cairns City, a couple of blocks inland from the Esplanade. Street parking runs along Grafton and the surrounding streets, mostly metered, so check the signs for time limits. Walking in from the waterfront side takes about five minutes, and there is a phone contact on (07) 4031 8816 if you want to confirm the outdoor tables before a longer drive in.

Close by with the dogs

The Cairns Esplanade is the obvious pairing: a long paved foreshore path that is on-lead but takes you most of the length of the city waterfront, with shade and water stations along the way. For an off-lead run, Bunny Jarrett Park Dog Off Leash Area in Whitfield is a short drive north. If you are making a cafe crawl of it, Lillipad Cafe on Spence Street welcomes dogs at its outdoor tables, and Mi Piace Espresso Bar is another CBD option with street-side seating.

Come early, claim an outdoor table, and let breakfast run long before the walk. Check the Queensland dog friendly cafes list or the Cairns City guide for more stops in the area.

Max: Three-egg Benedict under the table while the humans plan the Esplanade loop. This is how holidays should start.