The Frog's Kitchen

The Frog's Kitchen is a well-rated cafe inside the Grand Pacific Resort at Shop 5a, 38 Esplanade, Bulcock Beach, looking straight across at the water. Dogs are welcome on the undercover terrace, which sits at footpath level along the Esplanade, so a coastal walk with the dog can end at a table with a view instead of tying up outside.

The dog setup

Dogs take the outdoor, undercover terrace, which is the cafe's main seating and sheltered enough to work in sun or a passing shower. Staff are friendly to dogs and will often bring water, but a travel bowl is worth packing for busy periods. Keep the lead on and settled close to the table, since the boardwalk in front carries plenty of foot traffic.

The vibe

The kitchen runs an all-day breakfast and lunch menu: corn fritters, eggs benedict, croque madame, breakfast burgers, gourmet burgers and fresh salads, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options across the board. Coffee is organic Merlo, alongside cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Hours are 7am to 2:30pm every day except Thursday, so it is a breakfast-and-lunch room rather than a dinner option.

Getting there and parking

The Esplanade at Bulcock Beach has metered street parking along the frontage, with resort parking nearby. Walking the Bulcock Beach boardwalk from either direction is often easier than parking twice on a summer morning.

Close by with the dogs

The foreshore path in front of the cafe runs on-lead toward Happy Valley, and Sunshine Coast Council signage sets the rules along the beach. For fenced off-lead time, the Coochin Park Dog Off Leash Area at Dicky Beach is a short drive north. Other Caloundra dog-welcoming cafes include The Happy Turtle Cafe and Two Tides Cafe, and the BIG4 Caloundra takes dogs for overnight stays.

More options are on the Queensland dog friendly cafes guide and the Caloundra destination guide.