Blank Cheque Trading Co.

Blank Cheque Trading Co. runs out of 180 East Street in the Rockhampton CBD, and it is a cafe with a purpose: the business backs the Blank Cheque Movement, supporting veterans, first responders and their families. For dog owners the pitch is simpler. It opens early, pours consistently good coffee, and the outdoor seating out front welcomes dogs, which makes it a natural first stop on a morning walk through the city.

The dog setup

Dogs settle in the outdoor seating along the street front, away from the indoor counter and kitchen. Staff are used to four-legged regulars and will usually bring out a water bowl on request, so ask when you order rather than waiting for one to appear. The deck fills with locals through the morning, so well-behaved dogs on a short lead fit right in with the neighbourhood feel.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is a morning operation. Doors open from 6:30am on weekdays and 7am on weekends, and trade wraps up by early afternoon, with Sunday finishing around midday and Mondays closed. Plan a breakfast or brunch visit rather than a late lunch. The menu runs to breakfast and brunch classics plus a few surprises, including a well-regarded steak sandwich, tapas and an almond croissant that regulars chase.

Getting there and a walk to pair

Free street parking is available around the CBD and the location is an easy walk from most of the city centre. A few blocks east, the Fitzroy River Walk along Quay Street gives you a paved, on-leash riverside stretch that pairs neatly with coffee. For a proper off-leash run, Kershaw Gardens in Park Avenue has a fenced dog enclosure with agility equipment; dogs stay on lead elsewhere in the gardens.

Make a day of it

Loop in Cousins On William or Coffee Society Rockhampton on other mornings, or browse the full Queensland dog friendly cafes list and the Rockhampton guide.