Amaroo at the Brewery

Amaroo at the Brewery is a Latin-inspired food van parked at Maggie Island Brewery at 9 Esplanade, Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island, a short walk from the jetty and directly opposite the beach. The beer is brewed on site, the van plates up empanadas and street food to go with it, and the brewery's outdoor dog-friendly area is where you eat it, with the dog at your feet.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the brewery's dog-friendly area within the Seasalt Arcade courtyard where Amaroo serves. Lead hooks are fitted under the tables and there is free water for dogs, so you are not juggling a lead between bites. Keep your dog leashed and under control as you would at any shared outdoor venue, and this being an island venue, a well-socialised dog suits the easy-going crowd best.

Pepsi: the Esplanade path runs right past the door, so stretch the legs along the waterfront before or after a feed. Picnic Bay beach is on-leash, so keep the lead on for the stroll.

Worth knowing

It is an order-at-the-van setup rather than table service: Latin-inspired tapas, empanadas and fries built to pair with the house beer. Opening days vary through the week, roughly midday starts with Friday to Sunday running to 8pm, so check the day before you plan the walk over. Late afternoon is the pick, when the heat eases and the sun starts dropping over the bay.

Getting there and parking

Most visitors arrive by the passenger ferry to Nelly Bay and the bus or a short drive across to Picnic Bay, but if you have a car on the island, free off-street parking sits along the Esplanade nearby. From the Picnic Bay jetty it is an easy walk, and the whole waterfront strip is dog-friendly on lead.

Close by with the dogs

For a swim stop, Dog Shed Water Hole (Cockle Falls) is the island's dog water hole, and Tropical Tide in Nelly Bay covers the coffee end of the day.

The island's options sit on the Queensland dog friendly restaurants guide and the Picnic Bay destination page.