Little Brick Road Espresso

Little Brick Road Espresso is a small specialty coffee shop on Railway Avenue in Railway Estate, a street or two back from the Rowes Bay side of Townsville's inner south. It is a compact neighbourhood spot rather than a destination cafe, and the useful bit for dog owners is the outdoor seating out front.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating on the footpath in front of the shop, on lead. The interior is small and carefully curated, so expect to stay outside and be served through the counter window or at the door. Locals report sitting out front with a dog and a flat white without any fuss; bring your own water bowl since this is a footpath setup rather than a proper courtyard.

The vibe

The shop doubles as an artisan gift and self-care boutique, with homewares, body products and candles on the shelves around the counter, which gives the place its cosy, cult-following feel. Coffee runs on Coffee Supreme beans with Prana Chai and Love Tea alongside, and there is a rotation of house-made slices and baked goods. It is more grab-and-go than linger, though the community-minded owners make it a genuine morning-ritual stop for the street.

Pepsi: tiny shop, big candle collection, and my human came out with a chocolate slice and no self-control.

Getting there and parking

You will find it at Shop 7/68-70 Railway Avenue, Railway Estate. Street parking along Railway Avenue and the surrounding blocks is straightforward, and the suburb sits minutes from South Townsville and the Strand side of the city. Doors open Tuesday to Friday 6am to 1pm and Saturday 7am to midday, closing Sunday and Monday.

Close by with the dogs

The National Park fenced dog park on Brooks Street is a couple of minutes away, with an agility course and secure enclosures under Townsville City Council's off-leash rules. Lou Litster Park at Hermit Park adds a large unfenced free-run area along the creek if your dog has reliable recall. For another dog-friendly sit-down nearby, try The Old Railway Cafe in the city.

The Railway Estate guide and the Queensland dog-friendly cafes list cover the rest of the area.