Buoy oh Buoy

Buoy oh Buoy is a small neighbourhood cafe at Shop 8, 27 Falkinder Avenue, on the village strip of a bayside suburb on the Gold Coast's northern Broadwater. It opens 6am to 2pm every day and has built a loyal local following on its motto of good coffee, good food and good people, with the foreshore parklands just across the road.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor footpath tables, not inside. The seating is compact and partly sheltered, so a small or settled dog fits best, and staff are good with four-legged visitors with water bowls usually available. Bring your own bowl as a backup on busy mornings, and pick a table where your dog can settle clear of the footpath traffic.

Pepsi: the foreshore path across the road makes this an easy mid-walk stop. Settle your dog at a table first, then order.

Worth knowing

The coffee pours from Blackboard Coffee Roasters beans, with slow-steeped cold brew, iced lattes, smoothies and juices alongside. The kitchen is known for its hearty brekkie roll, fresh acai bowls, eggs benedict and homemade muffins, with lighter lunch options such as salads and toasties. Service gets strong personal reviews, which explains the regular crowd.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Falkinder Avenue in the village strip, with free street parking plus a nearby free car park, both filling quickly on weekends. Arriving early for breakfast is the simplest way to score both a park and an outdoor table.

Close by with the dogs

The foreshore parklands across the road have walking paths along the Broadwater and an off-leash zone at their northern end. A short drive north, Saltwater Fenced Dog Park is a large fully fenced park with a dedicated small-dog area, agility obstacles and a saltwater pond for swimming, while Bayview Park Fenced Dog Park in Hollywell is the closest fenced option. For another coffee, Ripples Cafe and Bar at Runaway Bay is a few minutes south.

More options are on the Queensland dog friendly cafes guide and the Runaway Bay destination page.