High Tide Coffee

High Tide Coffee is a small neighbourhood cafe in a Mooroobool shopping strip at 1b/8 Carnation Drive, a few minutes' drive from central Cairns. It opens early, 5.30am Monday to Saturday until 12.30pm, and 7am to 11am Sundays, and it is known around the suburb for two things: seriously good coffee and a warm welcome for dogs, down to puppuccinos behind the counter.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the cafe with their people, and the regulars roll in with dogs often enough that it counts as part of the furniture. Water bowls are typically on hand, and the famous move here is ordering your dog a puppuccino alongside your flat white. It is a compact space that gets busy in the morning rush, so keep your dog leashed and settled close to your chair, out of the queue's path.

Pepsi: Almond croissant for the humans, puppuccino for me, and the staff remember both our names. This is how mornings should work.

The vibe

Casual and community-minded, with kind staff who actually seem pleased to see you. The coffee runs from rich espresso through cold brew and iced drinks, and the cabinet covers flaky French pastries, the much-photographed almond croissants, quiche, filled doughnuts and gourmet toasties. Most trade is takeaway and short sit-downs, which suits the early-opening rhythm of a far north Queensland morning.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits in a residential and commercial strip on Carnation Drive, Mooroobool, with a free car park out front and street parking alongside. It is wheelchair accessible and an easy, low-stress stop if you are driving through the western suburbs with a dog in the car.

Make a day of it

The obvious pairing is Irene Street DogPark in the same suburb, close enough to walk to for an off-leash run before coffee. Further afield, Henleys Hill Park Fenced Dog Park at Earlville suits dogs who need fencing, and Koffeez covers the Westcourt side of town.

More options at dog friendly cafes in Queensland or around Mooroobool.