Salt Cafe Bar

Salt Cafe Bar sits in the Brickworks Centre on Ferry Road in Southport, a modern Australian cafe and bar running 7am to 3pm every day. The leafy, open-plan outdoor dining area welcomes dogs, and the free on-site parking that comes with a shopping centre base is a genuine advantage when you have a dog in tow.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, shaded by umbrellas and surrounded by landscaped greenery, which gives them a proper spot to settle rather than a footpath squeeze. Staff will usually bring a water bowl, but carrying your own is safer. Pet dogs should plan on the outdoor area; policies around the indoor sections vary, so confirm with staff on the day, especially if weather has pushed the seating around.

Worth knowing

The menu runs broader than the average brunch spot: eggs benedict and scones in the morning, then a calamari salad, steak sandwich, gnocchi and seafood linguine through lunch, with coffee and a full bar behind it. There is a beverage window if you just want a quick takeaway while passing through the precinct with the dog. Weekdays and early mornings are the calm windows before the shopping precinct fills.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at the Brickworks Centre, 107 Ferry Road, Southport, easy to reach off Ferry Road and a few minutes from the Southport CBD. The centre has substantial free on-site parking, so finding a spot near the cafe is rarely a problem. The Brickworks precinct itself is comfortable for a leashed wander around the shops.

Close by with the dogs

The Broadwater Parklands are a short drive east for a long waterside walk, and the Musgrave Park dog off-leash area covers off-lead time. Fellow Southport cafes 5B2F Bakehouse in Chirn Park and Caffe Republic round out the suburb.

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