Rise & Set Restaurant Cafe

Rise & Set is a warehouse-style brunch cafe on Pine Ridge Road in Coombabah, on the northern Gold Coast, and it treats the dog-friendly brief seriously. The shaded outdoor courtyard is set up as a comfortable space for dogs rather than an afterthought, and the kitchen's fusion brunch menu gives you a proper reason to linger.

The dog setup

Dogs are permitted in the outdoor courtyard, which is shaded and arranged so a dog can settle beside the table without blocking the path. Only assistance animals go indoors, as with any standard food venue. Staff are generally accommodating, but bring your own water bowl to be safe, and confirm the current layout at booking or on arrival since seating arrangements can change.

The menu

The kitchen leans Asian and Mediterranean fusion, and the menu is the reason people drive here: fried chicken on French toast, red velvet pancakes with homemade ube ice cream, kale quinoa salad, lamb kofta and pulled pork tacos. Presentation gets as many mentions as the flavours. Expect a busy brunch crowd on weekends; weekdays are noticeably calmer.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 1D/610 Pine Ridge Road, Coombabah, with free on-site and street parking available. Access from the car park to the outdoor area is level and easy with a dog on lead.

Make a day of it

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area and Coombabah Creek both have walking paths close by for a leg-stretch after brunch, though check current dog rules for the conservation area before you go. For off-lead play, the Abbott Park Fenced Dog Park at Parkwood and the Musgrave off-leash agility dog park at Labrador are both short drives. If you are back for coffee another day, Cafe Chaat & Chill is the suburb's other option. The local list is on the Coombabah destination page, with more in the Queensland cafes index.

It opens 7am to 2pm daily. Book or arrive early on weekends and let the courtyard do its thing.