Bay Merchants

Bay Merchants opens at 6am on weekdays, which makes it the earliest coffee stop on the Middleton Beach strip and a natural first stop for dog walkers getting the morning walk done before the heat arrives. The cafe sits on Adelaide Crescent a couple of minutes from the sand, and visitors report that dogs are welcome at the outdoor footpath and patio tables while the counter takes care of everything from long blacks to takeaway cups for the walk home.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the footpath and patio seating, per visitor reports and the venue's own social pages, and that arrangement holds in both fine weather and the odd Albany drizzle. Indoor dining and the food display areas stay dog free, so plan on an outdoor table for the whole visit. The layout is compact, which works in your favour: the barista is never more than a few steps away if one of you needs to pop inside to pay or collect an order while the other holds the lead.

The vibe

This is a bakery style cafe rather than a long brunch institution. The case runs to ham and cheese croissants, muffins, cakes and a frittata for something more substantial, and the coffee gets consistent praise from early risers. Saturday trading wraps up at midday and the doors stay shut on Sundays, so weekend visits need to be a morning affair. Parking runs along Adelaide Crescent and the neighbouring streets, and the foreshore path puts the beach within a two minute stroll of your table.

While you're out there

Once the coffee is done, the foreshore path runs straight along Middleton Beach for a lead walk with ocean views the whole way. For a second caffeine stop, The Surfing Bean pours just up the road, and dog owners staying overnight are within walking distance of both The View Albany and BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park. Broader options are listed on the WA cafes page and in the Middleton Beach guide.