The Salty Dog Cafe

The Salty Dog Cafe sits at 47 The Esplanade on Fishermans Beach, the quieter east end of Torquay's sand, and it opens 6am to 3pm every day of the week. The name is not decoration: the kiosk tells visitors their salty dogs are welcome, and it backs the promise up with a dog treat station stocked with homemade treats and water bowls set near the tables.

That combination of beach, kiosk and dog-first service makes it one of the most reliable morning setups on the Surf Coast. The beachfront location puts the sand within a few steps of the outdoor seating, so the routine writes itself: off leash play on the dog friendly stretches, then coffee at a table with the view while the dog works through the treat jar.

Pepsi: homemade treats. At the beach. The humans got eggs on chilli scramble and I got the better deal.

The food

The kitchen keeps the beach menu tight and done well: chilli scrambled eggs and eggs benedict carry the breakfast list, the coffee moves at kiosk speed without kiosk compromise, and friendly staff get named in review after review. Seating is all outdoors under the shade structures, which suits the salt air and the dogs equally, and the 6am open means an early start is rewarded rather than punished. It is the sort of place where ordering a second round happens because sitting there is the point.

While you're out there

Fishermans Beach connects to the wider foreshore walk in both directions, and Jan Juc Dog Beach is the dedicated off leash run a few minutes along the coast. Back towards the surf club end of town, Bayaroma Cafe is the other strong coffee stop, and the full suburb rundown is on the Torquay page with the Victorian dog friendly cafes list beyond it.