Mi Piace Espresso Bar

Mi Piace is a small, well-liked Italian-style espresso bar on Sheridan Street in the Cairns CBD, strong on coffee and a tight breakfast-to-lunch menu. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, which makes it an easy coffee stop with the dog on the way through town rather than a destination sit-down.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating only: a compact footpath area opening straight onto the sidewalk. Staff are known to be good with dogs and have offered water to visiting pups, but bring your own bowl since the space is small and the footpath is tight. Pick a quieter end of the seating on busy mornings, and keep your dog close; this is a working CBD footpath with foot traffic passing all morning.

The vibe

The pull is the Italian coffee, backed by pastries and a short list of breakfasts and lunches, with dishes like the chilli eggs and pancakes drawing regular praise. It opens early and runs to early afternoon on weekdays, with a shorter Saturday and no Sunday service, so it is strictly a morning venue. Expect a quick, friendly counter experience rather than a leisurely table.

Getting there and parking

The address is 1/119 Sheridan Street, central and walkable if you are staying in the CBD. Street parking runs along Sheridan Street and the side streets, mostly metered, so check the signs for the time limits.

When to go

Early to mid-morning on a weekday, before the footpath fills and the tropical heat builds. It suits a calm dog happy to settle at a small streetside table.

Close by with the dogs

The Cairns Esplanade is a short walk away with a long flat path along the water, and Muddy's parklands and the boardwalk give more room for an on-lead wander. For other stops, Lillipad Cafe and Blu Marlin Bistro are both central, and Espresso Italiano sits just north of the city.

More options are on the Queensland dog friendly guide and the Cairns City destinations page.