Cali Breeze

Cali Breeze is a casual beachfront cafe on the Esplanade at Golden Beach, next to Military Jetty Caravan Park and looking straight across at the Pumicestone Passage. Fish and chips, burgers (including a well-reviewed loaded burger), calamari and barista coffee are the draw, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor deck tables with a water view.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor deck, and staff will generally bring out a water bowl. A few reports mention dogs being allowed inside as well, but treat that as one to confirm on the day rather than count on, and keep your dog leashed at the table either way.

Worth knowing

It is a no-fuss setting rather than a destination diner, which is exactly the point: the deck sits over the calm, sheltered water of the passage. Mid-morning coffee is the quiet window; the deck fills over lunch on weekends, so a weekday visit is the relaxed option for a dog that needs a bit of space.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on the Golden Beach Esplanade in Caloundra's north. Street parking runs along the Esplanade and the nearby side streets, and it is an easy stop on foot if you are already walking the foreshore path, which runs directly past.

Close by with the dogs

The Golden Beach foreshore offers calm, shallow tidal flats that are good for a paddle after lunch, but Sunshine Coast Council rules vary along this stretch, so check the signage for on-leash and off-leash zones before unclipping. For a proper off-lead run, Pelican Waters Dog Park is the fenced option a few minutes south. If you are making a day of the passage, Chill Gelato Bar is nearby on Golden Beach, and The Frog's Kitchen at Bulcock Beach is another dog-welcoming cafe with ocean views.

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