NYCGuide

Where To Eat & Drink With Your Dog

The best bars and restaurants in NYC where you can hang out with your real best friend.
Where To Eat & Drink With Your Dog image

It’s shocking to think that anyone wouldn’t want your dog around—but the hard truth is that only some restaurants and bars in NYC are pet-friendly. The next time you want to eat or drink somewhere with your real best friend, use this list. It has 20 spots with patios where four legs are just as good as two.

THE SPOTS


American

Chelsea

$$$$Perfect For:BrunchDate NightDinner with the ParentsFirst/Early in the Game DatesKeeping It Kind Of Healthy
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Cookshop is a nice-looking place where you can impress a crowd and get an entree for less than $25. That might not sound too remarkable, but this is Manhattan we're talking about. This Chelsea restaurant also has plenty of outdoor seating, so it's perfect for when you need to eat with your friend who you keep on a leash (for both legal and practical reasons). Stop by for some burrata and a pizza at dinner, or come during brunch and have a perfectly-proportioned burger.


photo credit: Ollie's Ice Cream + Stuff

$$$$Perfect For:Quick Eats

If you’re a human, Ollie’s should be your go-to ice cream spot in Bushwick. If you’re a dog, Ollie’s will be the second most amazing thing in your life (after your newest squeaky toy). And if you’re a human with a pet dog, your enthusiasm should lie somewhere in between. Your dog will be a fan of the “pup cup” with peanut butter and crushed dog treats, and you’ll probably like the Oreo milkshake. Whatever you order, enjoy it on a bench in Maria Hernandez Park two blocks away.


We can’t in good conscience recommend feeding your dog a burger topped with pulled pork, coleslaw, and an onion ring. However, we do feel good about telling you to eat this Bronx Alehouse specialty, which you can pair with a hard-to-find microbrew on tap. One of the top sports bars in New York City, this place has an extensive pub menu and some outdoor tables where you can sit with your dog.


You could always go to Central Park, but before long, you’d be drinking lukewarm spiked seltzer while letting your dog drink from the one bottle of water you remembered to bring. Or you could go to Barking Dog two blocks from the park on the UES. They serve brunch every day from 8am-4pm, with a Happy Hour from 3-6pm. When your dog gets thirsty, steer them toward the tiled, in-ground watering hole.


The taproom at this Sunset Park brewery is open Thursday through Sunday, meaning you can drink hazy IPAs, pumpkin ales, and cereal-infused stouts a few feet from where they’re made. Whether you know all four “noble” varieties of hops or you just like trying local beers that haven’t gone mainstream yet, sit around an upright cask that doubles as your outdoor table, and ask the extremely knowledgeable staff which six-packs you should take to-go.


Kids have a tendency to root against their parents’ favorite sports team. Dogs show no such insubordination, which makes them ideal companions when you’re looking to watch a game—and the ideal place to watch that game is Blondies. Not only does this Upper West Side sports bar show everything from tennis to hockey on their outdoor TVs, but they also serve some of the best buffalo wings in NYC.


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The sidewalk outside of Bar Primi is some of the sceniest pavement in the East Village, and there are usually plenty of dogs hanging out under the outdoor tables. Our favorite time to come here is during brunch, when you can get ricotta pancakes or a breakfast pasta with an egg on top. The food isn't going to change your world, but reservations are easy to come by, prices are reasonable by downtown standards, and you'll probably be able to convince a friend that this place is hard to get into.


The buttery French food at Cafe Du Soleil is exactly the kind of stuff you’ll want to eat outside with sunglasses on while you and your beagle judge everyone who walks by. This UWS bistro is classic and unfussy, and it’s perfect for a casual weeknight date or a hang with your family. At dinner, they serve things like coq au vin and various burgers, and there's a three-course menu on Sundays that costs $35.


If you're looking for somewhere to eat with several of your Great Danes, try the huge backyard at Union Pizza Works. We really like the Neapolitan pies here, specifically the one that’s built like a sandwich with melted mozzarella, arugula, and prosciutto. This Bushwick pizza spot also works well for an outdoor birthday party, whether its for your or your canine.


In terms of people-watching opportunities, Lafayette is in the top tier of NYC restaurants. At this massive French place in Noho, there's plenty of sidewalk seating where you can sit beneath a big blue umbrella and keep an eye on everyone walking down Lafayette Street. Your dog will like this just as much as you do. Order some escargot and steak tartare, and use your dog to make friends with someone who has a washing machine or access to a swimming pool.


photo credit: Noah Devereaux

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Harlem Tavern is like most neighborhood bars, with a few key differences. First off, it has a massive menu with everything from ceviche and gumbo to a bunch of different burgers and salads. And, for such an ambitious menu, the food is actually pretty good. There’s also a huge patio out front that’s about the size of your average playground. Bring your dog, grab a table outside, and snack on some french fries while you have a frozen drink.

The plaza at this Long Island City brewery is filled with picnic tables, and you can bring your own food. So think of this place as a paved public park that just happens to serve IPAs and coconut pale ales that are brewed on site. During the winter, some of the outdoor seating is heated.


This spot is Permanently Closed.

Pig Beach is a huge BBQ spot next to the canal in Gowanus. It's a classic warm-weather hang, and most of its square footage is devoted to an outdoor courtyard. Sit at a picnic table, and eat some pulled pork and brisket as you mingle with other strangers who also brought their dogs.


Lucky Dog is the best place to drink with a dog in Williamsburg. Maybe that’s because of the name, or maybe it’s because this semi-divey bar is on a busy stretch of Bedford Avenue and has a nice backyard. Whether you want to drink a beer with your animal or just pet someone else’s Golden Retriever while they aren’t looking, you'll like it here.


Places on the water usually serve $20 glasses of sparkling rosé to people wearing white linen pants. But Anable Basin in Long Island City is mostly just a normal outdoor spot that happens to have great views of Manhattan. There are a bunch of picnic tables right on the East River where you can have some drinks and bar food while your canine roommate barks like crazy at the ferries passing by.


If you’re looking for space, Nowadays has it. This giant bar in Ridgewood has a park-sized backyard full of trees, picnic tables, and games like ping pong. Your dog technically needs to be on a leash, but at least they'll be outside where there are birds to stare at.


This SoCal-themed bar in Williamsburg has a big patio out front, and that patio is surrounded by walls, so your dog has very little chance of escaping. We really like the frozen drinks here (and we also appreciate the late-night dance floor), but our favorite thing about The Breakers is their pop-up kitchen, which is currently run by Tito Papas. Even if you don't want a drink, stop by for a hefty burger topped with chunks of Spam.


Habana Outpost has a huge fenced-in patio. This Fort Greene spot also serves perfectly serviceable sandwiches, tacos, and quesadillas, and nothing on the menu costs more than $16. If you're looking for reasonably-priced food and outdoor seating, and you don't want people to get mad at you when your kids or dogs start acting up, you're going to appreciate this place.

As you may have noticed by now, breweries are great spots to bring dogs. The Bronx Brewery is no exception. In addition to an indoor taproom, you'll find a large backyard here where you can drink an imperial stout and eat a chopped cheese empanada (from Empanology). Just be aware that there's occasionally live music, which your dog may or may not enjoy.


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