Cafe La Mer

Cafe La Mer holds the corner of 570 Royal Esplanade in Manly, on the Brisbane bayside, with the deck looking out over the water towards the marina. Zucchini fritters and efficient service keep the regulars coming, and the waterfront position means most seats come with a sea view attached. It trades 7am to 3pm every day of the week. The deck seating is the draw: wide views, room between tables, and enough cover that a hot morning does not ruin the visit.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcomed on the outdoor deck, and the cafe says so itself: the venue's own site and the local pet friendly guide to the Wynnum Manly area both confirm the welcome. The deck is built around the fig trees, so there is shade over the tables for most of the day, and water bowls are provided for dogs rather than improvised. Staff are accustomed to dogs under tables, which keeps the whole visit low effort.

The esplanade position makes arrival easy: walk the waterfront path with the dog, pick a deck table, and order without leaving anyone tied up outside. Morning is the calmest window, before the weekend lunch crowd claims the water views. Bring the lead anyway: the esplanade paths are shared space and a loose dog near the coffee line will not win anyone friends.

Make a day of it

The Manly Off-leash Dog Beach is the obvious pairing, letting dogs swim and socialise off leash before or after breakfast. Further along the bay, Andonis Cafe & Bar is a reported dog friendly stop for another morning, and the Manly Boathouse covers the waterfront dining end of the day. Our Manly dog friendly guide lists the rest of the suburb's options.