Pooches & Pastries

Pooches & Pastries is a European-style cafe and bakery in the Emerald Lakes French Quarter at Carrara, and dog friendliness is the whole point of the place rather than an afterthought. It sits under the trees of the quarter, with breakfast and brunch plates, daily-baked breads and a coffee program built on Toby's Estate beans.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the tree-lined outdoor courtyard and at the footpath tables, and inside as well, so a wet-weather brunch is not a problem. Water bowls are put out for visiting dogs. Keep your dog leashed and out of the waiter lane around the courtyard. A dog grooming salon operates right next door, so a coffee can be planned around a wash and trim in one trip.

The vibe

The bakery is the draw: artisan breads baked daily, warm croissants served with French butter and specialty jams, and custom-baked cakes and specialty muffins. The savoury side covers breakfast and brunch plates with a well-regarded mushroom dish, and there is a solid gluten-free and vegetarian range. Chef-prepared grab-and-go meals, grazing boxes and catering are available, so it doubles as the local provisions stop.

Getting there and parking

The address is 7/3029 The Boulevard, Carrara, in the Emerald Lakes French Quarter. Free street parking and nearby public parking are usually available, though it gets busy on weekends. Bus routes 739 and 745 stop about a nine minute walk away if you are leaving the car behind.

Close by with the dogs

The cafe sits right on the Emerald Lakes walking path, so a lap of the lake before or after coffee is the obvious move. For a proper off-lead run, Cabana Offleash Dog Area and Scenic Park Fenced Dog Park are both a short drive into Benowa. Fellow Carrara cafes Ocean 4218 cafe and Local Joe Cafe are on the site as well, and the Carrara destination page has the full suburb round-up.

Hours run 6am to 2pm weekdays and 6am to 1pm on weekends. Weekday mid-morning is the easiest time to land a courtyard table with the dog. More options sit under the QLD cafes listing.