Make it a dog date and check out one of these pet-friendly restaurants or breweries in Austin.
Austin always ranks as one of the cities with the best quality of life in the country. It’s no coincidence that Austin is also one of the most dog-friendly, pet-friendly, and kid-friendly cities in the country. So that means there are a lot of happy people in Austin with a lot of happy pets. But what makes being a pet owner in Austin so great? For one thing, there are endless opportunities to get outside and enjoy Austin’s incredible green spaces, lakes, and parks. There is also a vibrant and ever-growing restaurant, bar, and craft brewery scene in Austin. The best part about living in a city of dog lovers, nature lovers, and foodies is when you combine them all together!
While there are way too many dog-friendly restaurants in Austin to list them all, we’ve managed to put together a shortlist. Included are some of the best places to grab some food and a beer with your best friend. All of these places have gone the extra mile to make taking your pup out on the town a carefree and enjoyable occasion—did you say special menu dog-friendly menu items? Here is our list of the top dog-friendly restaurants, bars, breweries, and food truck parks in Austin.
15 of the Best Dog-Friendly Bars, Restaurants, and Breweries in Austin
- Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden
- ABGB
- Radio Coffee & Beer
- Home Slice Pizza — South Congress and North Loop Locations
- Kinda Tropical
- Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
- Sour Duck Market
- St Elmo Brewing Co.
- Easy Tiger — The Linc
- Yard Bar
- The Watering Bowl
- Central Machine Works
- Jester King Brewery, Restaurant, and Farm
- Shangri La
- Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden — South Austin & East Austin
Set in a picturesque garden in South Austin (seriously the landscaping is amazing), Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden is absolutely the best place to spend an afternoon with friends and dogs. Cosmic is a coffee shop and bar, featuring craft cocktails and around twenty beers on tap. There are also usually at least three food trucks in the beer garden (BBQ and Tacos), so you will have plenty to snack on while you enjoy the landscape and drinks. It’s also likely that if you are a dog lover, you’ll be spending lots of time saying hello to all the pups enjoying a day out with their owners.
ABGB — South Austin
The Austin Beer Garden and Brewery is a pizza joint and brewery that is pretty much the definition of a dog-friendly restaurant. They have a super accessible outdoor seating area with water bowls and biscuits for your four-legged companions. They also partner with Austin Pets Alive. $1 of every American Pale Ale pint sold goes to helping Austin Pets Alive—APA for APA! Oh yeah, they also have great beer, pizza, and often have live music.
Radio Coffee & Beer — South Austin
Radio is a coffee shop and beer garden that provides the perfect atmosphere for meeting friends or getting some work done. They also have two food trucks, one being Veracruz Tacos, an Austin favorite—try the Migas. With lots of outdoor tables, there is always an excellent spot for you and your dog to spend some time having a coffee and a taco.
Home Slice Pizza — South Congress and North Loop Location
Home Slice is the go-to spot for pizza and dog-friendly outdoor seating. They have ample water bowls and misters, so it’s easy for everyone to stay hydrated and cool. If you visit the North Loop location, they have an astroturf outdoor playscape to keep your kids busy while you and your dog enjoy some pizza.
Kinda Tropical — East Austin
Kinda Tropical is a laidback bar and restaurant with a large outdoor seating area that is more than welcoming to dogs of all sizes. With a walk up and order system, Kinda Tropical is a great place to meet a large group and sit outside with your pups. They offer a healthy and inventive menu that is accommodating to all diets.
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden — Rainey Street
Banger’s Sausage House is in the heart of the party on Rainey Street. They offer an outrageous number of beers on tap—seriously, they have the most massive craft beer tap wall in Texas! With many long, communal outdoor picnic tables, there is always somewhere for you and your pups to sit. Also, make sure to check out their homemade sausages and specialty sausages made just for dogs!
Sour Duck Market — Central Austin
Sour Duck is a coffee shop, bakery, bar, and restaurant. It also has delicious locally sourced food, craft cocktails, craft beer, and lots of outdoor seating options. Sour Duck is a favorite for dogs, babies, kids, adults, and pretty much anyone else that likes a good time.
St Elmo Brewing Co. — South Austin
St Elmo is a brewery, beer garden, and all-around great place to spend some time. With a large outdoor gathering space and delicious Asian-fusion inspired food truck by Soursop, humans, and dogs can both find a reason to enjoy St Elmo Brewing Co.
Easy Tiger - Downtown & North Austin
Easy Tiger has two locations, one downtown and one in north Austin at The Linc. Both locations are dog friendly, but The Linc has ample outdoor space with lots of communal tables. They also have an extensive beer menu, homemade German pretzels, and delicious sandwiches.
Yard Bar — Burnet, North Austin
Part dog park, part bar, part coffee shop, part social club, Yard Bar is the perfect place to meet some friends for a delicious Austin craft beer while your dogs get to run wild! Yard Bar always has “Bark Rangers” on duty to keep the peace, so you don’t have to worry about popping out for a quick refill or a snack at the bar. It’s a place truly for the dogs—you’ll be lucky if they let you tag along!
The Watering Bowl — Manchaca
If the idea of a dog park/bar is up your alley but you live South of the river, be sure to check out the Watering Bowl! Located in the heart of Manchaca, the Watering Bowl has a great play area complete with a splash pad for those warm days. They even have a shy and small dog area. An added bonus? Free Wi-fi! That means you can finish out your work week here too!
Central Machine Works — East Austin
Central Machine Works is a restaurant and brewery inhabiting a building converted from an old machine shop on Austin’s Eastside. They took great care when converting the building, and it shows, definitely an architectural feat worth seeing. Central Machine Works also has a large outdoor seating area with lawn games that is perfect for kids and furry companions.
Jester King Brewery, Restaurant, and Farm — Dripping Springs
Jester King is a little bit of a drive outside of Austin into the Texas Hill Country, but it’s definitely worth it. The brewery and restaurant sit on a stunning 165-acre farm. The entire venue is pretty much outside and dog-friendly, so there is no question that it’s a great place to spend an afternoon with friends and wagging tails!
Shangri La — East Austin
Shangri La is a dive bar with a heart, offering a laid-back atmosphere that's as welcoming to dogs as it is to humans. This East Austin staple is known for its eclectic vibe and spacious patio where pups can join in the fun. They have a variety of drink specials that cater to any taste, from classic beers to inventive cocktails. It's the kind of place where you can strike up a conversation with a stranger or just enjoy a quiet evening with your four-legged friend by your side.
Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom — East Austin
Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom is a craft brewery that welcomes dogs inside and out. The industrial-chic taproom opens up to a street-side patio where dogs can hang out with their owners. They specialize in American-Belgo style beers, with the Marco IPA being a standout choice. Food trucks are regularly stationed outside, providing a rotating selection of eats to pair with your pint. It's a great spot to start or end a night out in East Austin.
Eat, Drink, and be Yappy!
The list above is just a small sampling of the dog-friendly restaurants and venues that Austin has to offer. With beautiful weather almost year-round, there is always somewhere new to go with your dogs to get a tasty bite to eat and a cold drink! Have fun exploring!
It’s undeniable that life is better with your pets around, but sometimes they have to stay behind while you go out to one of Austin’s great restaurants. Local Pet Care has a list of all the most qualified pet care professionals in your area, so finding a pet sitter is an easy and worry-free experience. Find a pet sitter now!