Frankies At Forde

Frankies at Forde is the local cafe in the Forde shops at Gungahlin's northern edge, known for hearty brunch and a covered outdoor courtyard that runs properly dog-friendly. On a good weekend morning the courtyard fills with almost as many dogs as people, and the staff are used to it.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the large, mostly covered courtyard, on lead. Staff often put a water bowl out for canine visitors, and puppacinos are on offer, though bringing your own bowl as backup is still sensible when the courtyard is busy. Indoors is for service dogs only, so if the courtyard is full, the wait is real.

The food and the vibe

Brunch is the drawcard, particularly the smoked eggs benedict and the bacon and egg roll, with gluten-free options across the menu and a banana bread regulars order on arrival. The tone is casual and family friendly, and reviewers consistently mention staff being genuinely accommodating with dogs. Hours run 8am to 4pm on Tuesdays, and 8am to around 9pm Wednesday through Saturday, with Sunday to 5pm; Mondays are closed.

Getting there and parking

The address is 1/26 Francis Forde Boulevard, Forde ACT 2914, in the Forde group centre. Free parking is in the shops carpark directly out front with street parking nearby, and the walk from the car to the courtyard is short and flat.

Close by with the dogs

Forde Dog Park is just across the road for an off-lead run before or after brunch, and Franklin Dog Park and Springbank Rise Dog Park at Casey are the other Gungahlin options close by. One caution: Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, a short drive away, does not allow dogs inside its predator-free conservation area, so plan a park run instead of a sanctuary walk. For dinner rather than brunch, The District at Crace is the other dog-friendly pub option in the valley.

More options across Gungahlin are on the Forde destination page, with the full list in the ACT restaurants index.