Choux Box

Choux Box has been on Marine Parade in Kingscliff since 1993, sitting right on the beachfront strip and directly opposite Kingscliff Beach. It is one of the more reliably dog-friendly cafes in town: the outdoor seating out front welcomes dogs, reviewers regularly call out the staff for accommodating them, and the position means a pre-breakfast beach walk is built into the visit.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the undercover and footpath seating that runs along the front of the cafe. That seating sits beside the main beachfront walkway, so there is steady foot traffic and your dog has room to settle without being underfoot. Staff are happy to bring out a water bowl for visiting dogs, though on a packed summer morning it never hurts to carry your own. Keep leads short and anchored, since the parade gets busy with other dogs passing by.

The vibe

The menu is broad by beach-cafe standards: eggs benedict and sweet potato fritters at breakfast, nasi goreng and chilli and lime squid for the lunch crowd, plus fresh juices and a cabinet of house-baked cakes. Sourdough turns up across the menu and the coffee holds its own. It is a big, busy room on weekends and school holidays; midweek mornings are the easy window for a table with a dog.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 82 Marine Parade, Kingscliff, facing the beach. Metered parking runs along the parade and fills through peak periods, so arrive early on weekends or take the walk from the back streets. Note the kitchen closes around 2pm each day and shuts entirely on Wednesdays, so plan breakfast or lunch rather than a late-afternoon stop.

Make a day of it

Kingscliff Beach is across the road and the Marine Parade walkway stretches north and south for an on-lead stroll either side of your meal. The Kingscliff Dog Off Leash Area covers the off-lead run, Mockingbird is another cafe option on the strip, and the Pottsville Dog Beach is a short drive south. More are in the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and on the Kingscliff destination page.