door 50

door 50 is a neighbourhood cafe on Peerless Avenue in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, the kind of local where the baristas know the regulars by name. It runs on quality coffee and a tight breakfast-and-brunch menu, with footpath tables that make it an easy stop with a dog in tow.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor sidewalk and patio tables, which sit right beside you so a well-behaved dog can settle in comfortably. Staff are known to bring out a water bowl on request, though carrying your own is never a bad idea. Indoor seating is for people only, so head straight for the footpath section.

The vibe

Well-made espresso and iced lattes lead the list, with simple, fresh breakfast and lunch: jaffles, croissants, acai bowls and the like. The pull is the friendly local atmosphere more than any single dish, and it is a low-key spot rather than a scene. Hours run from 5:30am weekdays (6am weekends) until about 2pm, with a shorter breakfast window on weekends, so early is the operative word.

Getting there and parking

The address is 50 Peerless Avenue, a couple of streets back from the beach. Street parking runs along Peerless and the surrounding residential streets, and it tightens up at peak morning times, so arrive early or be ready to walk a short block.

Close by with the dogs

Mermaid Beach is a short walk away for a post-coffee stroll, with on-leash times set by council signage on the sand. If you are working the suburb's coffee strip, Chut & Co and The Holliday Coffee are close by, and The Glenelg Public House covers the later meal. More dog-friendly cafes in Queensland or plan via Mermaid Beach.

Best early on a weekday morning when it is at its most relaxed, coffee in hand and a leash-ready dog at your feet.