Drift Coffee Company

Drift Coffee Company is a Scandi-styled neighbourhood cafe at Unit 8, 113 Landsborough Avenue, Scarborough, opposite the Redcliffe peninsula oceanfront. It is one of the most dog-geared cafes on the peninsula, with a sheltered courtyard, treats made for dogs and a reputation that keeps the local dog-walking circuit coming back.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on lead in the outdoor alfresco area and in the dedicated shaded courtyard, which is sheltered from the sea breeze and the morning sun. Water bowls are readily available, and the treats are the genuine article: puppachinos and organic dog cookies made from all-natural peanut butter, pumpkin and coconut. On busy mornings the courtyard fills early, so a calm dog that settles under the table gets the best of it.

Worth knowing

The menu leans coastal brunch, with smashed avo, granola bowls and gluten-free options alongside solid specialty coffee and cold-pressed juices, and the chai gets regular call-outs. Hours run from 5:30am on weekdays and 6am on weekends, both wrapping at 1pm, which makes this an early-morning venue by peninsula standards. It suits a pre-beach coffee perfectly: the sand is a few minutes' walk down the avenue.

Getting there and parking

Landsborough Avenue is the main foreshore run through Scarborough, with street parking along the strip and side streets behind. Weekend mornings tighten up with the beach crowd, but the early opening means the 6am arrivals park easily.

Close by with the dogs

The Redcliffe Dog Beach at Queens Beach North is the obvious pairing for an off-lead run, and the Abbett Park Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the fenced option back towards the sports grounds. Good Company and Lady Latte cover the rest of the avenue for repeat visits.

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

Max: head straight for the courtyard rather than the front alfresco, because it stays shaded later into the morning and the water bowls live there.