Cleopatra Scarborough

Cleopatra is a busy all-day cafe and restaurant on The Esplanade, directly across from Scarborough Beach in Perth's northern suburbs. It trades from 6:30am through to dinner, seven days a week, covering breakfast, lunch and an evening menu with ocean views over the foreshore. Dogs are welcome at the street-front alfresco seating, which makes it a workable stop whether you are in for breakfast before the beach or dinner after it.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the outdoor alfresco tables, which open straight onto the footpath. The indoor dining room is off limits, so this is an alfresco-only stop. Keep your dog on a lead and settled next to the table. Staff often bring water for four legged guests, but pack your own bowl so your dog is set from the moment you sit down. The outdoor tables facing the beach are the prime seats, so book ahead through the venue website if you want to lock in a spot at peak brunch or sunset hours.

The vibe

The menu stretches from breakfast to dinner, and the kitchen does not phone it in at either end. Breakfast covers the likes of the Big Cleo, a full plate of bacon, sausage, mushrooms, spinach and eggs on ciabatta, and the Summer Hollandaise with avocado, bacon and poached eggs on a bagel. Dinner moves to garlic prawns, pork belly, gnocchi and prawn linguine, backed by a solid cocktail and wine list. It hums along with the coastal crowd, so expect a bustle rather than a quiet corner.

Getting there and parking

The venue is at Shop 8/9 The Esplanade, Scarborough, right opposite the beach foreshore, about 20 minutes north of the Perth CBD. Free street parking runs along The Esplanade with paid lots nearby, and buses along West Coast Highway stop within walking distance. Opening hours run 6:30am to 9:30pm Sunday to Thursday and to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

Close by with the dogs

The foreshore paths across the road are the obvious leg-stretch before or after a meal. For an off leash swim, Peasholm Dog Beach is a short drive south with wash down facilities, and Abbett Park Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the inland option for a secure run. If you are staying for the weekend, Good Company is another dog-friendly table in the same strip.

Max: garlic prawns at a footpath table with the beach across the road. Book the ocean-side seats.

More dog-friendly dining is on the WA restaurants list, or browse Scarborough for the full set.