Baan Mai

Baan Mai is the local Thai on Mudjimba Beach Road, a dinner-only restaurant that has built a following on the Sunshine Coast's northern beaches for its curries, and the outdoor tables out front take dogs. The easy evening plan writes itself: beach walk first, curry after.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating only, kept on the ground and on a lead in line with Queensland food safety rules for non-enclosed dining areas. Staff are easy about it and have been known to bring out a water bowl, though on a warm night it is safer to carry your own. The dog-friendly tables are limited, so book ahead if you want a guaranteed outside spot.

Max: Dinner only here, so plan the walk for the evening and keep your dog settled, because the outside tables sit close to the footpath.

Worth knowing

The kitchen's strengths are the slower dishes: the Massaman beef curry and the red duck curry are what regulars come back for, with the prawn pad thai, chicken satay and soft shell crab reliable orders too. Service runs from 5pm in the evening with Mondays off, and it is worth confirming the week's opening days when you book because they can shift with the season.

Getting there and parking

Baan Mai is at Unit 5, 160 Mudjimba Beach Road, Mudjimba, in the small complex at the heart of the village. Free street parking runs along Mudjimba Beach Road and the surrounding streets, and the footpath along the road suits a pre-dinner stroll.

Close by with the dogs

Mudjimba's off-leash beach is the obvious warm-up for a dog that needs a run before sitting still. On the esplanade itself, The Island Surf & Espresso covers morning coffee, and Florentina's Trattoria is the fallback if your crew votes Italian.

More options across the state are in the guide to dog-friendly restaurants in Queensland, and the local guide to Mudjimba rounds up the village.