Dogs are man’s best friend. There’s no disputing it and we don’t want to hear a word said against it.

But in all honesty, we doubt any of you locals out there are going to argue against this ethos — as it’s rather easy to see we utterly love our dogs here on the Gold Coast.

Did you know that on Tuesday the 23^rd of March it’s National Puppy Day? An occasion to remember how much these guys bring to our lives in way of their cuteness and unconditional love. Because let’s face it — where would we be without them.

If they aren’t running at breakneck speed down the beach, pottering about in a body of water somewhere, or just drooling themselves into a comatose under the couch, there’s a good chance they can be found with their loving owner sharing a coffee and living their best life in one of our many great cafes.

Knowing which cafes are more receptive to your four-legged friend is sometimes a bit tricky. To alleviate the puzzlement, we’ve put together the finest and most convenient cafes where taking your pooch is most certainly welcomed.

Double Barrel Kitchen
Two locations mean double the doggie good times. Double Barrel Kitchen not only serves up delicious eats and plenty of good vibes, they also allow pups to join in the fun.
Where: Shop 4/64 Karbunya Street, Mermaid Waters and 1 The Concourse, Benowa

Ground N Sound
House-made cakes are one of the greatest things cafes can do. Wash that down with a cuppa, (or some wine if you like) a bit of live music, and your dog by your side and that’s pretty much the best time we reckon you can have. Do it at Ground N Sound.
Where: 6/23 Musgrave Avenue, Chirn Park

Papercup Coffee
The prettiest of spots, found in two locations Papercup Coffee has some stellar coffee and of course some delicious treats you can share with your furry mate. Perfect. Puppacino, anyone?
Where: 16 Frank Street, Labrador and 201 Ferry Road, Southport

Cafe Catalina
Cafe Catalina is located along the picturesque shores of the Broadwater Parklands and is the absolute perfect way to end a walk of your furry friend around the parklands. Sit on the deck and watch as the world passes you by both on land and sea!
Where: Broadwater Parklands, 10/11 Gold Coast Highway, Southport

Roller Door Espresso
At the heart of it, this hole-in-the-wall nook is incredibly easy on the eyes. After you’ve managed to peel your gaze off all of the incredible interior goodness, it’s down to business with fine baked treats and welcome arms for you and your doggo.
Where: 2/85 Ashmore Road, Bundall

Palm Springs
What these guys don’t know about coffee isn’t worth knowing. With the freshest looking aesthetic around, this new Burleigh Heads hangout is a great place to bring your pooch grab a coffee and just watch the day drift by. Plus, with surroundings as good as this, how could you not want to do a quick photoshoot of your pup?
Where: 1878 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Wildflower Distillery
Seems every man and his dog is making craft spirits these days, and we couldn’t be more thankful for it if we tried. Wildflower is the place to round up your crew and go sample some great gins, and now fantastic vodka. Don’t forget to take your furry friend as well because they are made most welcome!
Where: 2/486 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes

No Name Lane Espresso
No Name Lane’s sibling cafe has putdoor seating for you and your puppy. Plus there’s a side lawn with dog bowl and space to tie up your dog if you’d prefer to keep them away from your table. As an added bonus, it’s only a 5 minute walk to the Hedges Avenue off leash dog area #winning.
Where: 33 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

BSKT Cafe
BSKT Cafe makes taking your dog out for a date easy, as you won’t need to remember to pack water as they have plenty of dog bowls placed in the outside area. So you can sip on your favourite juice while your furry companion keeps hydrated too!
Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach

The Henchman
The big Miami beauty boasts plenty of space for all of your daily dose of tail wagging. Who knows what can happen when there are opportunities for your pooch to make new friends? Grab yourself some tasty eats and kick back in a hammock at The Henchman while the dogs have a play date.
Where: 8 Henchman Avenue, Miami

Paddock Bakery
Arguably one of the hottest breakfast spots on the Coast, Paddock Bakery is a stylish weatherboard cottage with a leafy garden that welcomes you and your four-legged friend any day of the week. Dippy eggs + doggos = good idea.
Where: 18 Hibiscus Haven, Miami

Lakeview Cafe
Lakeview Cafe is a hidden Burleigh Waters gem and an absolute favourite amongst the locals (not only humankind either). You can buy doggie treats and have your dog join you in the spacious outside area.
Where: 100 Burleigh Street, Burleigh Waters

Commune
Your favourite Burleigh local has a huge outside area with plenty of shade for you and your pup to enjoy. Weekend brekkies just got that much better!
Where: 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Street Corner Espresso
The family-run lower Gold Coast Highway cafe has great food, great service and a spacious outside area that any dog will love to lie down and soak up the sun in. Sounds like paw-fection!
Where: 1/1840 Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

The Salt Mill
Merely steps off the beach, this popular hole-in-the-wall has seating and will often have a congregation of dogs mingling with each other as their owners sip coffee and enjoy one of the coast’s best acai bowls. Once you’re done, slip onto the sand and take your puppy for a paddle!
Where: 785 Pacific Parade, Currumbin

Le Vintage Boutique Cafe
This VERY popular little spot found in beautiful Worongary is serving up some of the best coffee around. And they’re all about the doggo’s too. It’s a unique little spot, once you’ve found it, and one you’ll want to lock in to visit again.
Where: 1 Kurilpa Street, Worongary

Barefoot Barista
This laid-back Palm Beach institution dishes up amazing food and consistent quality coffee, best of all – they’d love you to bring your dog along.
Where: 15 Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Awaken Cafe
This southern cafe is bringing great food and even better coffee to the beachy back streets of Coolangatta. Better yet, when you’ve come off the sand and have salty hair swing by here for the best dog-friendly vibes.
275 Boundary Street, Coolangatta

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Working from home is all well and fine until you begin to feel the walls closing in, and the only interaction you have with another living thing is when you water your plants.

It’s high time you escape the confines of home — giving your data allowance a break — and finding a break from the norm at one of the many great cafes around the Coast that happens to offer free Wi-Fi. And we know all too well that not all venues offer complimentary internet; and sure, they might have fantastic coffee and eats, but when megabytes matter, you need to know where to head, right?

Luck for you, and us, there are an abundance of hotspots on the Gold Coast offering free Wi-Fi with sides of delicious food and/or coffee. Because science has proven working without data restrictions whilst being highly caffeinated is a one-way ticket to success (and productivity)!

Griffith Street Larder
After a morning spent surfing world-class waves, what better way to get on top of things than with some amazing breakfast before diving into some free Wi-Fi courtesy of The Strand. Griffith Street Larder is a great spot to take advantage of this free-flowing data whilst sipping everyone’s favourite Gold Coast roast, Blackboard Coffee.
Where: 85 Griffith Street, Coolangatta

Caffeine Kings
Also fully licensed, Caffeine Kings in Miami is better known for its super silky, smooth coffee. After you’ve smashed that deadline, why not stay for lunch too? If you want our advice, the burgers are the business.
Where: 1920 Gold Coast Highway, Miami

BSKT Cafe
Sitting in front of a laptop for too long can take a toll on your health — and sanity — so it’s a good idea to devour one of BSKT’s healthy-as super-food smoothies or one of their many nourishing brunch dishes to keep you fueled to power through.
Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach

Barefoot Barista
Barefoot Barista Palm Beach is a sweet spot to eat an epic breaky, sip a tasty brew, and work the day away. We HIGHLY recommend the always-delicious Crispy Potato Hash: because you need crunchy potatoes paired with smokey pulled ham hock to get you through those mundane tasks.
Where: 15 Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Dust Temple
Art gallery, slash coffee spot, come architectural delight, pretty much sums up the space that is the Dust Temple in Currumbin. It’s an inspiring space that will ensure you pump out some of your very best work, all whilst soaking up the uber-cool industrial vibes.
Where: 54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin

Street Corner Espresso
A locally loved gem, Street Corner Espresso is, yep, on a street corner in Burleigh Heads and just tucked away enough for you to enjoy some quiet, laptop time and a beautifully brewed cuppa or two. It’s a family-owned business, so you’ll always feel welcome and receive a beaming smile or two.
Where: 1/1840 Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Little Mermaid
You could probably stay here all day, what with all the pretty greenery and laidback good vibes. Little Mermaid is your home away from home. After a post-beach swim or sunbake, be sure to bring your laptop and make yourself comfortable!
Where: 2557 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

The Ranchero
Newly opened, this cruisey courtyard space area is just screaming out for you and your laptop to settle in for a cosy session of answering emails and watching cat videos. With moreish coffee and acai bowls from Moreno Espresso and tasty eats from Beats N Feeds, you won’t want to move anywhere else.
Where: 6/36 Central Drive, Burleigh Heads

Blendlove
The healthy treats game is strong here — and so is the Wi-Fi at Blendlove in Southport. Head in there for a raw dessert or two, a strong coffee: sure to invigorate a get-it-done attitude. It’s an awesomely d̶i̶s̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶i̶n̶g̶  pretty space to spend some time in too.
Where: 253 Ferry Road, Southport

The Marine Village – Sanctuary Cove
Whether you’re there for boutique shopping or several excellent cafes and eateries, you’ll always have super-fast and free Wi-Fi at your fingertips. We say, buy yourself something exquisite and then make a beeline for somewhere to rest those legs with a coffee, cocktail or even gelato!
Where: The Marine Village, Masthead Way, Hope Island

The Backyard Cafe
The Yard is a little bit of a well-kept secret found between the golden sand of Nobby Beach and the general excitement of Nobby’s main precinct. It’s the perfect spot to get your coffee fix while surfing the web and hiding away from the world.
Where: 17 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Like a fine wine, some venues only improve with age. Such is the story of Madison’s Café, a Broadbeach institution boasting some of the most beautiful baked creations the Coast has ever seen.

Founded in 1984* (which was a year many great things were founded as it turns out), Madison’s has occupied a corner space in the Oasis Shopping Centre, overlooking the mall and drawing in huge crowds every day of the week. If you’ve ever sauntered past the display cabinet, you’ll understand why. Filled with a myriad of colourful cakes, slices and pastries that are more akin to art than food, it’s no wonder the place has been adored for so long.

First and foremost, lets discuss the cakes. Although cakes doesn’t seem like a fitting word, let’s say masterpieces. So the masterpieces come in many a delightful form and for any possible occasion you might need such a thing. Think multi-layered, with edible adornments, fresh flowers, topped with fruit, handmade shapes made entirely of sugar and even the most incredible of gingerbread houses. You name it, they can make it and you can be sure it’ll be the epitome of next-level.

Next up are the custard slash fruit tarts, which are made on a shortbread base with the creamiest of custard, glazed fruit and in the most vibrant of colours. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Madison’s also create everyone’s latest favourite, the cruffin plus an absolutely mouthwatering array of slices, muffins and cronuts. Everything is made on site and of course, the crew caters for both small and large events.

Besides all the sweet things though, you are also able to indulge in the yummiest of breaky, lunch and dinner menus.

Go for the Avo on Toast for breakfast, which is smashed avo mixed with feta and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a poached egg on top. SO MUCH AVO!

For lunch the Moroccan Chicken Salad is something else with olives, chickpeas, a magical dressing and made up of all the Insta-worthy colours.

The place is pretty much a one-stop shop for all things delicious and beautiful.

We highly recommend getting in there ASAP to sample one of everything.

LOCATION: The Oasis Shopping Centre, Surf Pde, Broadbeach
HOURS: 5am to 9pm daily.

Words and photos by Kirra Smith* (founded in 1984).