Shack and Co

Shack and Co, also signed as Shack Cafe, sits in the Bell Central complex at 2 Bell Place, Mudgeeraba, and it is a genuinely dog-friendly local breakfast institution in the Gold Coast hinterland's village suburb. Bring your dog to the outdoor tables and you will not be turned away.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the large outdoor seating area beside the entrance, which is covered and part-sheltered from sun and rain. Water bowls are usually about; if you cannot see one, ask the staff, who are used to dogs. Dogs stay outside rather than in the indoor dining room, which is standard for a Queensland food venue.

The vibe

It is a busy, family-oriented cafe pouring Byron Bay Coffee Co. beans with a big all-day breakfast and lunch menu and a licence for beer and wine. The eggs benedict, hash stack and zucchini and corn fritters stack do the heavy lifting, acai bowls cover the fruit side, and there is a kids' play area. Weekend mornings get full and loud, so a nervous or reactive dog is better off midweek or in a quieter corner of the deck.

Getting there and parking

Free parking is easy in the Bell Central car park directly outside, near Coles, and the complex sits just off the Mudgeeraba side of the Robina district. Hours run from 6am (7am Sundays) to about 1:30pm daily, so it is a morning operation; come earlier on weekends to beat the family rush and claim a shaded table.

Close by with the dogs

Mudgeeraba Creek parklands are a short stroll away if you want to walk the coffee off, and there is a dedicated fenced dog park in the suburb for an off-leash run before breakfast. The village strip itself is a pleasant on-leash wander with heritage buildings and other cafes.

For the off-leash leg, the Hinterland Regional Park fenced dog park is the local pick. Village alternatives include Millers Espresso and The Hearth Cafe and Providore. More options sit under the Queensland cafes listing and the Mudgeeraba destination page.