LISHAYZ

LISHAYZ is a small, low-key cafe in Southport that reviewers describe as pet-friendly, running on coffee, acai bowls and quick, fresh food. It is a local coffee stop rather than a destination, best folded into a walk rather than planned around, and the compact setup means dogs are an outdoor-table affair.

The dog setup

The pet-friendly reputation comes from the casual outdoor seating, where a well-settled dog at your feet fits the relaxed room. Staff are described as welcoming, but with no published policy to point to, confirm the dog seating with staff when you arrive and bring your own water bowl, since provision is not guaranteed at a cafe this size.

Worth knowing

The menu runs to acai bowls, quiche and a decent spread of quick bites, with friendly service the recurring note in reviews. Hours run weekdays from 6am to 3pm, with Saturday and Sunday closed, so this is a midweek stop. Details change quickly at small cafes, so check current trading before a special trip.

Close by with the dogs

The Musgrave Park Dog Off Leash Area gives your dog a proper run a short drive away, and the Broadwater Parklands are the natural follow-on for a leashed walk along the water. Broadwater Cafe is the other Southport stop on the list for a second visit.

More Gold Coast options sit under the QLD cafes listing, and the Southport destination page rounds up the suburb's dog-friendly spots.