La Marina Italian Restaurant & Bar

La Marina is a family-owned Italian restaurant on the Port of Airlie marina in Airlie Beach, serving handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and seafood with yachts lined up across the water. Dogs are welcome at the open-air tables alongside the marina, so a waterfront dinner does not have to mean leaving the dog back at the room.

The dog setup

The outdoor deck and patio section is where dogs go: leashed, settled close to your table, with space to lie down without blocking the foot traffic between tables. The area is open-air and breezy, and the indoor dining room stays dog-free. There is no venue water bowl arrangement to rely on, so pack a collapsible bowl, and mention you are bringing a dog when you book so you are seated in the right section.

Pepsi: request an outer table when booking. It is easier to get in and out for toilet breaks, and the marina breeze keeps the coat down.

The vibe

This is proper sit-down Italian rather than quick tourist fare: nonna's meatballs, veal scallopini, pumpkin ravioli and seafood risotto headline the menu, with a port list and sticky date pudding for after. It suits a longer dinner than a quick lunch stop, and the marina setting means plenty of movement and boats around for a settled dog to watch.

Getting there and parking

Port of Airlie sits at the southern end of Airlie Beach, reached off Shute Harbour Road, with parking at the marina precinct. It is also walkable from the main strip for those staying in town, and the foreshore boardwalk connects the two for an on-lead warm-up walk.

Close by with the dogs

Back in town, The Deck Airlie Beach keeps water points out for dogs at its street-front patio, while Harry's Corner Cafe and Rufus & Co. Cafe cover the coffee and breakfast end of the day.

More ideas are on the Queensland dog friendly restaurants guide and the Airlie Beach destination page.