Spero

Spero is a Greek restaurant on the Mooloolaba marina at 33-45 Parkyn Parade, doing gyros, saganaki, calamari and cutlets alongside a broad spread of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free plates. It trades daily from 11:30am to 9pm, and dogs are welcome at a specific set of outdoor tables rather than anywhere on the property, so it pays to know which ones before you book.

The dog setup

Dogs sit at the outdoor front tables set among the herb pots and lemon trees. They are not permitted on the main deck overlooking the boat harbour, so ask to be seated in the dog-friendly section when you arrive rather than letting the host walk you to the water view. Bring your own water bowl, as this outdoor area is a simple extension of the restaurant rather than a kitted-out beer garden.

Worth knowing

The outdoor tables can get hot under midday summer sun, so an afternoon or evening sitting is more comfortable for the dog, and the tables catch pleasant winter sun if you are visiting in the cooler months. The menu runs from lamb shoulder and halloumi fries to prawns and pork belly, and the kitchen handles dietary requests well, which makes group bookings with mixed eaters straightforward.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant sits right on the marina on Parkyn Parade. On-site and street parking along the parade is limited, so allow extra time to find a spot in peak holiday periods, or come by the Alex Head to Mooloolaba foreshore boardwalk if you are walking from the north.

Close by with the dogs

The Parkyn Parade foreshore paths along the Mooloolah River and the Spit are both a short walk for a leg-stretch before or after the meal, and Prawn Star on the trawler next door and Via Mina give you other dog-friendly dinner options on the same strip. Heading inland, Backstreet Cafe covers the coffee end of the day, and Toro Bar and Kitchen in Maroochydore is a few minutes up the road.

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

Pepsi: tell them you have the dog when you book, otherwise you will get walked straight past the herb pots to the harbour deck and have to ask to move.