Gourmet Hotdogs

Gourmet Hotdogs is a loaded hot dog stall under a red marquee at the Manly Creative Markets in George Clayton Park, on the bayside at Manly. This is a Sunday market feed rather than a fixed cafe: fresh hot dogs from classic to cheesy bacon, eaten on the grass or a park bench a short walk from the water. It trades Sunday mornings, roughly 7am to 2pm, so check the stall's social pages before you set out, since market dates can shift.

Dogs at the stall

With no indoor seating at all, dogs are simply part of the setting. You order at the marquee and settle on the park lawn or a bench, and the open-air foreshore park is used to walkers passing through with leads on. Keep your dog on-leash in the park. The markets themselves often have stalls selling dog treats and accessories, and the esplanade is an easy place to fill a water bowl. It is a casual setup, so bring your own bowl if your dog is fussy.

The vibe

Expect the usual market rhythm: early arrivals beat the queue, and the middle of the morning is busiest. The stall suits a grab-and-go feed before a walk rather than a long sit-down, which is exactly what most visitors use it for. George Clayton Park backs onto the harbour foreshore, so a hot dog in hand and a leash in the other is the standard order of the day.

Getting there and parking

The markets sit in George Clayton Park on the Manly Esplanade, about half an hour from the Brisbane CBD. Free street parking runs along the foreshore and side streets, but it fills early on market mornings, so arrive before nine if you want a spot near the gate. The Cleveland line stops at Manly station, a short walk from the park.

Max: Get there early, park near the esplanade, and walk the harbour first. The stall is the stop after the walk, not before.

Make a day of it

The off-leash stretch at Manly Off-leash Dog Beach is close by for a run before the markets wind down, and Lota Dog Park is a few minutes north for a fenced session. For a table afterwards, Andonis Cafe and Bar takes dogs on its outdoor deck, and Felons Brewing Co. pours on the water further along the esplanade.

Browse more dog friendly cafes in Queensland or see what else is around Manly for dogs.