The Yankees Restaurant and Bar - Hope Island

The Yankees Restaurant and Bar sits on the marina level at 12 Santa Barbara Road in Hope Island, serving American-style food with harbour views, live music and a cocktail list. For dog owners the draw is the outdoor marina terrace, where dogs are welcome at the tables with their owners.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor dining areas overlooking the marina, which are shaded and catch the afternoon sea breeze. Keep your dog leashed, settled under or beside the table and under control; staff are accommodating with outdoor tables but this is a working restaurant, not a dog park. Bring your own water bowl on warm days, and pick an evening slot if your dog reacts to weekend bustle, because live music nights fill the terrace.

Max: Go for the sunset slot. The terrace faces the water, the crowds thin after the early diners leave, and a tired dog is a well-behaved dinner companion.

The vibe

It is a relaxed, design-led space running from breakfast through dinner, with a menu of burgers, pasta and seafood; reviewers single out the crab linguine, chicken parma and baby barramundi. The elevated position over the marina gives most tables a water view, and regular live music gives weeknights a reason to linger. It works equally as a long lunch stop after a morning at the dog park or a sunset dinner.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant is inside the Hope Island shopping centre precinct on the northern Gold Coast, with the marina level reached by lift or ramp. Ample free parking sits in the centre's car park, and local bus routes serve the precinct. It is about 15 minutes from the central Gold Coast via the M1 and Hope Island Road.

Make a day of it

The Saltwater Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away, with a fenced off-leash area and a swimming lake, and it pairs naturally with a terrace lunch afterwards. In the same precinct, B.Social Cafe Santa Barbara covers the coffee run. Further inland, the Coomera Sports Park Fenced Dog Park is another fenced option. Find more dog friendly restaurants in Queensland or see what's on in Hope Island.