Cafe Elemento

Cafe Elemento is the family-run cafe in the Brightwater shops on Attenuata Drive, and it makes a point of welcoming dogs at the outdoor courtyard tables with water bowls on hand. It is a neighbourhood regular rather than a destination cafe, which is exactly what you want for an easy coffee with the dog after a walk around the lakes.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating in the shopping courtyard, well away from traffic, and water bowls are provided. There is also a doggie menu, though it is not printed on the wall, so ask the staff what is running on the day; the kitchen has been known to do puppuccinos and other treats.

The tables sit on flat paving with step-free access from the car park, so it works for older dogs and prams alike. Keep your dog settled at your feet, since the courtyard is shared with the general shopping traffic.

The vibe

This is a community cafe in the truest sense: friendly owners, a steady stream of locals and a breakfast and lunch spread that covers pancakes, benedicts, toasties and gnocchi. The coffee holds its own, and the topics boards repeatedly call out the blistered cherry tomatoes and the eggs Benedict.

Hours run Monday to Friday from 6am to 2pm, Saturday from 6am to noon, and the kitchen closes on Sunday, so plan around an early start rather than a late lunch.

Getting there and parking

You will find the cafe at Shop 8a, 69-79 Attenuata Drive in the Brightwater Marketplace, near the ALDI complex. Parking is free in the surrounding lot, close to the door.

Make a day of it

Pair coffee with a run at the Brightwater Park Fenced Dog Park, which has agility gear and water troughs a few minutes away on Heliconia Street. For an on-lead warm-up, the Mountain Creek Recreational Trail threads through the suburb, and The Drop Espresso Bar on Karawatha Drive is another dog-tolerant coffee option if Elemento's tables are full.

Browse more dog-friendly spots on the Queensland cafe guide or the Mountain Creek destination page.

Pepsi: the courtyard tables come with water bowls before you even ask, and the staff usually come out with something for me. Ask about the secret dog menu.