Miami Tavern

Miami Tavern is a big, long-running local on the Gold Coast Highway directly across from the beach, and after a substantial coastal makeover it now pairs ocean views from the upper deck with a roomy ground-level outdoor area. For dog owners the ground-level space is the relevant one: leashed dogs are welcome in the undercover outdoor seating, while the indoor bistro, gaming rooms and the upstairs deck stay people-only.

The dog setup

Plan on the outdoor undercover area rather than anything inside, with your dog settled beside the table on lead. The space is genuinely roomy, so there is room for a dog to lie flat without being in the traffic flow. Water bowls are often available and staff are generally accommodating, but bring your own on busy days. This is a lively venue with regular live music and big weekend trade, so it suits a calm, settled dog far better than an anxious one. Licensed-venue dog access can change, so confirm with staff when you arrive.

Max: aim for the outer edge of the outdoor area, away from the doors, so the noise spilling out does not keep your dog on alert.

Worth knowing

The bistro covers modern pub ground: rump steak, chicken parmi, burgers, share platters and a known seafood tower, with live music adding to the noise at peak times. Trading runs long, from 10am daily with late finishes most nights. Outside the weekend and evening peaks the outdoor area is much calmer, which is the window to aim for with a dog.

Getting there and parking

The address is 2172 Gold Coast Highway, Miami. On-site parking fills on weekend evenings, with side-street parking nearby as the fallback. Being on the highway side of the beachfront means the sand and the oceanway boardwalk are just a short cross away, handy for a pre-lunch walk.

Close by with the dogs

Miami Beach itself is on-lead only for dogs, with a ban within 200 metres of patrolled areas under City of Gold Coast rules, so it is a leash walk rather than a run. For proper off-lead time, the Pizzey Park Fenced Dog Park in Mermaid Waters is a few minutes inland with fenced agility space, and the Palm Beach Dog Off-Leash Beach south of Miami offers all-hours sand and surf. In the suburb itself, Caffeine Kings covers the morning coffee run, and Burleigh Town Hotel is another pub option to the south.

More on the area at Miami with your dog.