Since bringing home our mini goldendoodle, Walter, we have officially become “those crazy dog parents” who want to bring their pooch everywhere! Lucky for me, Boston, especially our neighborhood in the South End, is incredibly dog-friendly (I mean, there’s even a dog bakery a few blocks away!).
During al fresco dining season, which New Englanders try to make last as long as possible, we love to include Walter in as many restaurant outings as possible. Over the summer, we explored our fair share of dog-friendly restaurant patios and certainly have found a few favorites. It’s really wonderful when the restaurant staff are dog lovers themselves and go out of their way to cater to your furry friend.
If you have a pup or will soon be bringing one home, I’ve rounded up my favorite dog-friendly restaurants in Boston for you and your dog to enjoy!
Woof, woof!
The A-Lyst for 5 Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Boston
Not only does Banyan Bar + Refuge boast one of the dreamiest patios in Boston, it is also one of the most dog-friendly spots! Walter always receives celebrity treatment upon arrival (in fact, even if he is just walking by Banyan on an evening stroll, the Banyan crew fawns over him!) and the staff goes out of their way to accommodate seating that will be conducive to both you and your pooch enjoying your time at the restaurant. They also are relaxed with where your dog sits during the meal — Walter usually sits right under our table (and sometimes next to us for photo shoots!) instead of outside of the patio gates. Don’t miss ordering Banyan’s signature dim sum dishes — I love the Oyster and KFC Baos — and one of their delicious cocktails.
Kava is one of my top five favorite restaurants in Boston (you can read all about my favorite dishes at Kava here), so the fact that its patio is dog-friendly is really only the icing on the cake! On a warm evening, arrive early as there is ALWAYS a wait and as much as I love Kava, they don’t do the best job of accurately calculating the wait time. We typically put our name in, take Walter for a walk around the neighborhood (nearby Union Park is one of the prettiest streets in Boston and a great place to take a stroll), or grab a drink outside at Boston Chops, which is another of our favorite dog-friendly South End spots. While Kava’s patio is small, your pup can sit right beside you and enjoy lots of great dog-watching and attention from passersby.
If you follow me on Instagram, you can probably tell that we frequent Coppa the most out of any restaurant in Boston. This intimate Italian enoteca is consistently delicious and the staff could not be any more friendly! Their corner patio, which is decorated with bright blue tables and chairs and set in the heart of the Eight Streets neighborhood of the South End, is one of my favorites in Boston. Walter loves enjoying a bowl of water and eyeing Polka Dog Bakery across the street as we indulge in pizza and pasta.
Order a plentiful charcuterie board and maybe even sneak a few pieces of meat down to your pup as you enjoy a meal outside on Salty Pig’s Back Bay patio. We love stopping here after taking Walter for a walk on the Southwest Corridor and can never pass up the restaurant’s house-made pastas. At night, the restaurant’s outdoor space is adorned with twinkling white lights and it’s magical.
Transport yourself to Paris and pretend you’re drinking red wine at an outdoor café in Saint-Germain-des-Prés by taking your dog for a meal on the patio of Petit Robert Bistro. I favor their brunch over dinner (the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon is my favorite), but Walter is happy soaking up the sunshine there any time of day. I try to request a spot on the exterior of the patio to give him more room to move around and the staff is very happy to oblige! One word of warning to fellow dog owners – since this restaurant is located on Columbus Avenue, it can be on the noisier side with traffic and people passing by, so if you have a pup that gets skittish, this may not be the best option.
Across the River in Cambridge…
Major plus is the grassy lawn next to the restaurant where pups can get some exercise before you sit down for a meal!
Home to my favorite frozen drinks (more about that here) and an oh-so-friendly staff that loves pups!
Take a seat on a picnic bench with your pup by your side and order farm-to-table favorites.
Also Worth a Visit…
Five Horses Tavern (South End)
Outfit Details
Sweater: Fuzzy Puff Sleeve Sweater from J.Crew
Jeans: Looker Skinny Jeans by Mother
Earrings: Gold Hoops from J.Crew
Sunglasses: Loft Tortoise Glasses (old; similar here)
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo “My Joy” Ballet Flats (old; similar here)
Photos by @KateSW
The A-Lyst is a Boston-based lifestyle blog curating the very best of style, beauty, food, and travel.