Double Barrel Kitchen and Bar

Double Barrel Kitchen and Bar sits right on the water at 1 The Concourse in Benowa, a relaxed lakeside venue doing breakfast and brunch from 7am to 2pm every day. It has built a name as one of the Gold Coast's genuine dog-friendly dining spots, with lounge-style deck chairs and tables over the water where your dog is welcome to settle in for the length of a long brunch.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcomed in the outdoor seating area looking over the lake; the indoor restaurant stays dog-free. The venue is used to four-legged guests, and locals bring dogs along as a matter of routine on weekends. Water provision is not guaranteed at every table, so a travel bowl in the bag covers you. On busy Sunday mornings the deck fills, so arrive early or check ahead that outdoor tables are available.

Max: ask for a deck chair away from the walkway, nervous dogs settle faster when the foot traffic is behind them.

Worth knowing

The menu leans coastal brunch: chilli crab scrambled eggs, crab omelette and eggs benedict get the regular mentions, and specialty coffee, cocktails and a wine list cover the rest of the day. Hours run 7am to 2pm daily, so this is a morning-and-lunch venue rather than a dinner option.

Getting there and parking

The Concourse is the waterfront precinct off Ashmore Road in Benowa. There is street parking plus a free car park, and the path from the parking into the outdoor dining is flat and easy, which matters for older dogs or prams. It also sits handy to the Carrara and Emerald Lakes side of the city.

Pair it with

Run the legs off first at Benowa Scenic Park fenced dog park or the Cabana off-leash area, both nearby. Across in Varsity Lakes, Frascott Park is a solid off-leash session, and Pooches & Pastries in Carrara is a dog-first coffee stop built entirely around pups.

More options are on the Queensland dog friendly restaurants guide and the Benowa destination page.