Curlys on the Boardwalk

Curlys on the Boardwalk is a family-run cafe on Breezeway Street in Mount Coolum, about 150 metres back from the beach, and it has become the post-swim stop for the suburb's dog owners. Dogs are welcome on the large undercover outdoor deck, the staff are genuinely pleased to see them, and the kitchen runs breakfast and lunch seven days of trading, from 7am to 2:30pm Tuesday through Sunday.

The dog setup

Dogs take the outdoor deck; indoor tables are for humans only, as is standard for a food venue. Staff usually put water bowls out, and reviewers repeatedly single out the team as welcoming to dogs rather than just tolerating them. The deck fills fast once the beach walkers arrive on weekends, so go early or expect to wait. Shade thins out once the sun is high.

What to order

Breakfast runs until 11:30am with the kitchen moving into lunch after that. Regular call-outs include the fish tacos, corn fritters and eggs benedict, plus house-baked sourdough and scones. Fresh juices and smoothies cover the post-swim crowd, there are vegetarian and vegan options, and the kids menu runs to items like Curly Tots calamari and chips.

Getting there and parking

There is no dedicated car park, so street parking around Breezeway Street and Boardwalk Boulevard is your best bet. Many people simply walk down from Mount Coolum Beach along the boardwalk paths with the dog already on lead.

Make a day of it

The natural pairing is water time first, food after. Coolum Beach Off leash dog beach at Stumers Creek, a few minutes north, allows off-lead dogs at all times on about a kilometre of sand north of the Stumers Creek car park, with a shallow creek inlet for dogs who prefer calm water and a wash-down hose on the way out. Keep the lead on through the car park and stay out of the dune conservation areas. If your dog needs a fenced run instead, Marcoola Fenced Dog Park is south along the coast, and Stumers Creek Dog Offleash Area rounds out the same patch. For another table with the dog, Alley Cat Coolum Beach sits up the road in Coolum.

Pepsi: swam the creek, got hosed down, ate the crumbs under the fish tacos. Perfect day.