Groundhog Social

Groundhog Social is a beachfront café on the Manly Esplanade, in Brisbane’s bayside Wynnum area, serving coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch with views across the water. It is set up for both quick visits and slower meals, with a 6am takeaway coffee window for commuters and walkers, dine-in breakfast from 7am, outdoor seating and plenty of space for dogs. There is also free Wi-Fi and a comfortable workspace for anyone wanting to catch up on emails over coffee.

The menu centres on modern Australian café food made with locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast includes familiar favourites such as croissants, pancakes and poached eggs, along with the more substantial Groundhog Big Breakfast. Lunch options include burgers, fresh salads and open sandwiches, while the broader menu also features local seafood and all-day brunch dishes. Vegetarian choices and gluten-free bread are available, and the venue says many dishes can be adapted for dietary requirements. Coffee is a major part of the offering, with local roasts prepared by baristas who focus on consistency for regular morning orders.

The kitchen’s point of difference is its emphasis on in-house preparation. The team brines and smokes its own meats, bakes muffins and treats on site, and makes sauces and jams from scratch. The café also highlights produce from local suppliers, including Ruby Creek mushrooms. These details give the menu a more hands-on feel than a basic coffee stop, while the esplanade setting adds an easy coastal atmosphere suited to a relaxed breakfast or lunch by the bay.

Groundhog Social presents itself as a community café for Manly locals, families, visitors and early commuters. It works for a casual catch-up, a family meal, a dog-friendly outdoor stop or a solo coffee and breakfast, with table bookings available online and takeaway ordering through the Bopple app. Its 4.4 Google rating from more than 1,000 reviews also indicates that it has built a strong local following.