The Ship Inn

The Ship Inn is a historic gastropub on the corner of Stanley and Sidon Streets at South Bank, trading since the early 1900s and sitting alongside the parklands next to Griffith University's campus. For dog owners the appeal is the sprawling, shaded beer garden, which takes dogs, with a public dog water fountain only a few metres from the tables.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden and the front footpath seating, not in the indoor dining rooms. The outdoor area is roomy and shaded, so there is space to tuck a leashed dog beside the table. Staff are dog-friendly and often bring water bowls out, and South Bank's public dog fountain is steps away. Under South Bank Parklands rules, dogs stay leashed and under control, and you clean up after them.

Worth knowing

This is proper pub food with some ambition: beef Wellington and steak and Guinness pie get the mentions, alongside rump steak, calamari and a solid wine list. The kitchen runs daily, opening from 10 or 11am depending on the day and closing evenings, with dinner until late on Friday and Saturday. There is also a tavern-style bar side for a quick drink.

Getting there and parking

The address is the corner of Stanley St and Sidon St, South Brisbane QLD 4101, minutes from the South Bank ferry terminal and busway station, so public transport is the simplest option. Street parking on Sidon and Stanley Streets is limited and paid, with a paid lot next to the venue.

Make a day of it

The South Bank Parklands are immediately alongside, with on-leash riverside paths, gardens and the boardwalk, and the Clem Jones Promenade walk runs straight past. The New Farm to South Bank Parklands walk makes a proper pre-lunch leg-stretcher if you are coming along the river. Nearby dog-friendly pub options include the Plough Inn on Stanley St Plaza, whose beer garden also welcomes dogs, and the Rose & Crown on Grey St with pet-friendly outdoor seating. For an off-lead run, the Orleigh Dog Park at West End is a short drive away.

Weekday lunches and mid-afternoons are the quietest with a dog; weekends and event days fill the garden. Best for a calm dog that will settle in a shady corner while you eat. More options are on the QLD restaurants page and in the South Brisbane destination guide.