Bibi's Italian Restaurant

Bibi's Italian Restaurant sits at 40A The Esplanade in a bayside village suburb on the Gold Coast's northern Broadwater, directly across the road from the waterfront parklands. It is a casual, family friendly Italian kitchen doing wood-fired pizzas, seafood marinara, lasagne and house pastas, with a pistachio tiramisu that gets its own mentions. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, which makes the foreshore-to-table combination the whole appeal.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the alfresco tables out front, not inside. Because it is a sit down lunch and dinner venue, a settled dog that tucks in beside the table works best. Staff are accommodating with four-legged visitors, but bring your own water bowl to be sure. The access from the street is flat and level, so it is easy with a dog in tow.

The vibe

Expect a proper sit down Italian meal rather than a quick counter stop: garlic bread and halloumi to start, generous mains, and a steady local crowd on weekends. Lunch runs from 11am Friday through Sunday, with dinner service from 5pm the rest of the week, closed Mondays at lunch. Book ahead for weekend evenings.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking runs along The Esplanade and the surrounding village streets, and it fills on weekends, so arrive early. The parklands across the road give you a place to walk the dog while someone collects the table.

Close by with the dogs

The parklands and foreshore paths along the Broadwater are right across the road, with walking tracks along the water in both directions. Ripples Cafe and Bar at nearby Runaway Bay is another dog friendly option on the water, and Saltwater Fenced Dog Park at Hope Island is a short drive north for a proper off lead run.

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