Howlin' Jay's
- Dogs
- Welcome
- Where
- Cairns City, QLD
- Policy checked
- 2026-06-11
What visitors mention
Pet policy
It opens from 11am seven days, running late on Friday and Saturday, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables on the marina boardwalk - a fried chicken lunch with the dog stretched out next to the water is the standard way to do it. Its multi-level car park usually has an initial free undercover period before hourly rates, with a flat overnight fee between 10pm and 6am and a 1.9m height limit on the garage, and there is street parking along Pier Point Road.
Howlin' Jay's is a loud, casual Nashville hot chicken joint at The Pier on the Cairns waterfront, at 1 Pier Point Road beside the Marlin Marina. It opens from 11am seven days, running late on Friday and Saturday, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables on the marina boardwalk - a fried chicken lunch with the dog stretched out next to the water is the standard way to do it.
The dog setup
Leashed dogs are allowed at the outdoor tables on the walkway facing the marina; the indoor section is people only. The patio is compact, so pick a table with a bit of room and keep your dog clear of the boardwalk foot traffic. Water is sometimes on hand but bring your own bowl to be safe, and skip the midday tropics heat for a morning or evening slot in the wet season.
The vibe
The kitchen fries to order with a spice ladder from mild up to clucking hot: hot chicken tenders and wings, the Howlin' chicken burger with slaw, pickles and comeback sauce, a waffle burger with maple syrup, and southern sides like mac and cheese and fried pickles. Frozen cocktails and cold tap beer handle the heat. It gets busy and noisy at peak, so it best suits confident dogs that are settled around crowds.
Getting there and parking
The Pier sits at the end of the Cairns Esplanade. Its multi-level car park usually has an initial free undercover period before hourly rates, with a flat overnight fee between 10pm and 6am and a 1.9m height limit on the garage, and there is street parking along Pier Point Road. Walking the boardwalk in from the Esplanade is the easiest approach with a dog.
Pepsi: Marina views, a spice burn I am not allowed to share, and every passerby stops to say hello. Ten out of ten.
Close by with the dogs
The waterfront boardwalk runs right past the door and is an easy pre- or post-meal walk. For other dog-friendly sits on the strip, Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is around the marina, and Lillipad Cafe does the breakfast shift. More Far North options are on the dog-friendly restaurants in QLD list and the Cairns City guide.
Policy verified 11 June 2026 Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
