Kaffeine Cafe.

Kaffeine Cafe is a family-run local eatery in the Gwelup shopping strip at Shop 4, 707 North Beach Road, serving Perth's northern suburbs from early morning. It is the sort of neighbourhood cafe where the staff know the regulars and the regulars bring the dog, with a dog-friendly outdoor seating area that makes it a practical breakfast stop before a walk at nearby Lake Gwelup or the coast.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, which is sheltered by protective blinds when the sea breeze picks up. The alfresco space is compact, so it suits dogs that settle calmly beside a table; keep the lead on and your dog on the ground rather than on chairs, and mind the walkway past the tables. Water bowls are often provided, but bring your own to be safe, and aim for off-peak times if your dog is still learning cafe manners.

Worth knowing

The all-day breakfast is the draw: big cooked plates, avocado smash on sourdough and bacon-and-egg rolls, with pizza on the board alongside the daytime menu. Coffee is consistent, muffins and slices fill the cabinet, and gluten-free options are available. Doors open early, generally around 6am, and the kitchen winds down mid-afternoon, so it is a breakfast and lunch venue rather than a dinner one.

Getting there and parking

The address is Shop 4, 707 North Beach Road, Gwelup, in the shopping centre strip, with ample free off-street parking at the door and step-free access throughout. It is about 15 minutes north of the CBD via Mitchell Freeway, an easy detour on the way to the beach suburbs.

Close by with the dogs

Carine Fenced Dog Park is the obvious pairing for a secure off-lead run, and Charles Riley Memorial Reserve Fenced Dog Park adds another fenced option a suburb over. On warm days, point west to North Beach Dog Beach for sand and water instead.

More options around the suburb are on the Gwelup destination page, and the full run is in the Western Australia restaurants guide.

Pepsi: We do the early shift: 6am doors, big brekky, then Carine for the off-lead zoomies before the heat. Mine is asleep under the table by the time the coffees land.