Pelican's Nest Cafe

Pelican's Nest Cafe sits at 143 The Esplanade in Wynnum, directly across from the foreshore parklands, serving plated seafood, burgers and breakfast from footpath tables with water views. With the bay path at the door, it is built for the combine-a-walk-with-lunch routine that makes Wynnum an easy dog day out.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor footpath tables facing the Esplanade; the indoor space is for humans. Staff are relaxed about dogs and water bowls are usually on hand, though carrying your own is never wasted. Live music sessions pop up on the calendar too, so check ahead if your dog prefers calm. The footpath setting means lead manners matter, with prams, bikes and other walkers passing on the Esplanade.

Pepsi: Grab a table with my back to the foot traffic and I settle straight away. Do the foreshore walk first and I will sleep through the whole lunch.

Worth knowing

This is plated seafood rather than paper-wrapped fish and chips: snapper, calamari and seafood platters, with burgers and breakfast rounding out the menu, and potato scallops and crumbed fish for the classic basket crowd. The cafe runs 7am to 8pm daily, and fine weekends fill the Esplanade, so weekdays and early mornings are the calm window.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along The Esplanade but tightens on weekend mornings. Wynnum North station is within walking distance, and the foreshore path links the cafe to the rest of the bayside.

Close by with the dogs

The fenced off-leash area at Elanora Park is a short drive away if your dog needs a proper run, and Monty's Place is the other local tables-and-dogs breakfast stop.

The wider list is on the QLD restaurants index and the Wynnum destination page.