SEAGuide
The 13 Best Dog-Friendly Restaurants In Seattle
photo credit: Gabe Guarente
According to actual Census counts, there are more dogs than kids in Seattle, in case you're curious about the magnitude of our city’s pet obsession. And there’s no shame in admitting we’re more comfortable socializing with pups than humans. (Weird that they never answer when you ask their opinion on the psychological underpinnings of the Air Bud franchise). Those who like to spend quality time at a restaurant or bar with their furry friend have many roomy patio options and the occasional lenient indoor situation—we scouted out which ones will make everyone happy.
THE SPOTS
The comfortable patio at this Central District mainstay has plenty of room for leashed pups. Must-try dishes include the braised beef cheek noodles that have a nice kick and pastrami fried coconut rice with chili jam that's worth sharing with your two-legged companions. You may want to stash a few treats in your pocket in case all those wonderful smells have your other dinner guest panting in anticipation.
photo credit: Gabe Guarente
Seattle’s grungiest sushi bar (that also has a laissez faire indoor pooch policy) is a cool place to hang out whether you have a dog or not. You can sip one of their light vodka cocktails during Happy Hour and groove to great tunes while sampling their well-crafted rolls (we recommend the spicy tuna or the Emerald City topped with crispy garlic). Grab one of the big sofas, let your golden retriever sit on it, and shove your date aside.
photo credit: Gabe Guarente
Nestled on a quiet residential Phinney Ridge block, this neighborhood pub that doubles as a sports bar serves a surprisingly excellent brunch catered to families and those who don’t like to go anywhere without their dog. You can hang out on the long patio for a leisurely meal of satisfying options like salmon belly benedicts that have a touch of smoke. The prices are very un-Seattle-like, particularly the $8 Bloody Marys. Or you can take the party inside for a pint to catch some of the game at tables just tall enough to keep prying paws out of reach. Either way, expect lots of attention from the staff that genuinely gets a kick out of booping snoots.
photo credit: Gabe Guarente
Madison Valley’s floral wallpaper-festooned brunch favorite often gets packed on the weekends, but the covered outdoor patio can be a relaxing spot to hang with your little furball. A bubbling fountain in the center sets the serene mood as remote workers on laptops, friends catching up over coffee, and other folks gather to dig into stellar vegetarian breakfast food or a well-crafted caffeinated drink like the cardamom rose latte. You’ll feel like you’re eating in a greenhouse—and Patches will enjoy a little downtime.
We’ve all blown off chopping potatoes on Thanksgiving to drink and watch the National Dog Show instead. Going to a brewery is the same thing, only it’s not Thanksgiving and nobody’s asking you to cut up root vegetables. Urban Family’s Ballard location has a massive front patio where you can drink excellent sours, get something to eat from a rotating band of food trucks, and make those passing by wonder if this might be Kennel Club training grounds.
This White Center pub is good for a calm meal outside with groups that include Frenchies and Labs. You can order crunchy fish and chips with roasted jalapeño tartare while your pup gets all the pets. Their patio has a bunch of spaced-out tables, a firepit, string lights, and our favorite piece of patio decor in Seattle—walls made out of different types of doors.
photo credit: Gabe Guarente
Chances are, if you’re a dog lover in Seattle, you’ve given Norm’s a try. The longtime Fremont dive allows canines inside, making it a welcome break from the mainly patio-restricted pup-tolerant bars in the area. On weekends, the plush red booths fill with doting dog owners throwing back beers and strong cocktails like the Bark-A-Rita. Though there’s nothing memorable about the human food, the laid-back atmosphere should appeal to mutts of all temperaments—and if you ask nicely, you can get a chicken treat for Fido.
Fiddler’s Inn Pub has the best patio you probably didn’t know about. It’s really just a bunch of umbrella-covered picnic tables in a pleasant backyard, but your pup will love anywhere they can lick melted cheese off of concrete. Not like you’d notice, on account of being occupied with your own tasty plate of nachos.
This Rainier Valley coffee shop has a quaint patio that’s perfect for a leisurely pit stop on the drive back after you’ve taken Archibald P. Barkington III for a long walk at Seward Park. There’s a robust menu of well-crafted vegan breakfast and brunch items. And in the warmer months, it’s easy to while away your morning as you drink Cafe Red’s Oatnilla, a wonderful cold brew creation with touches of chocolate and coconut. The little pupper can stick to water—they’re wired enough already.
One of Ballard’s most fun places for dinner features taxidermy, huge baskets of buffalo wings, alcoholic slushies with rotating flavors (hope for mango lemonade), and two Skee-Ball machines. While you can stay inside with your dog and enjoy the divey-ness, their patio has enough room to pad around if you and Woof Blitzer need some fresh air.
Maybe you thought it would be fun to bring your dog to the beach, but you found out quickly that they like to howl at the ocean. That’s not great for overall sandcastle productivity. Eating at Bongos, however, is a fantastic consolation prize, because it’s a patio restaurant covered in sand. Your dog gets all of the fun of a beach without any open water or washed-up jellyfish blobs. And you get to eat delicious Caribbean food like spicy shrimp, tostones, and pulled pork sandwiches.
This incredible Italian restaurant patio’s perfect if you and your dog want to have a Lady and the Tramp moment with a bowl of spaghetti (we can’t guarantee you won’t get funny looks). A deck full of floral tablecloths, a waterfront view, and phenomenal spinach lasagna are all things that make The Pink Door one of the best outdoor spaces in town. But note that the patio is only open during lunchtime at the moment.
For German beer and a soft pretzel that may or may not be larger than your lhasa apso, Rhein Haus is the place. You can sit in their outdoor biergarten and soak up the sun, snack on schnitzel, and drink glass boots of lager while you try your hand at bocce. Just don't ask Rocky to fetch the balls—those suckers are heavy.
