Five Dog-Friendly Places to Grab Food + Drinks in Brooklyn
If you have a dog (or multiple dogs), and you’re a dog parent like me where you plan your daily life around them, finding spots to eat with your dog around NYC can sometimes be pretty tough. Luckily, summer time means a lot of places will start offering outdoor seating, and some will even let you bring your furry friends as well. Here are a few of our favorite hangouts (around South Brooklyn, sorry Williamsburg) that are especially fun to visit with dogs:
1. Pig Beach [Gowanus]
Hands down, one of my favorite places in Brooklyn. As soon as the weather begins to warm up, I’m constantly checking Pig Beach’s website to see when they’ll re-open their outdoor backyard area. They have a HUGE backyard with lots of long benches that can fit however big your group is, as well as smaller dining tables scattered around as well, so you can usually always find a spot that suits your preference. Their outdoor area is super dog-friendly, and you’ll always find at least a handful of pups hanging out with their owners (on-leash, of course), enjoying a nice summer day outside. Click here for a look at their outdoor BBQ menu.
2. Lavender Lake [Gowanus]
If Pig Beach is too crowded and you arrive to a line of people down the block (yes, this has happened to us before), Lavender Lake is another great option that’s literally down the street. The place itself primarily operates as a bar, and you have to enter through it to get to the backyard patio, but they do allow you to bring your dogs through in order to access the outdoor area. They serve a variety of appetizers and they have a really solid burger, as well as a decent rotation of beers, wines, and cocktails (both on the rocks and frozen). While the place itself is a bit smaller, and seating is more limited, they do take reservations for large parties and there’s also standing room outside where you can still set down your food and drinks. Check out their site for latest updates here! Update: Due to Covid-19, they are currently only open to adults ages 21+ and are not allowing reservations or dogs at this time.
Me living my best life surrounded by dogs at Lavender Lake in Gowanus, Brooklyn
3. Circa Brewing Co. [Downtown Brooklyn]
Okay, I’ll admit it - I’m biased towards this location because it’s super close to our apartment and I love a good neighborhood joint. Circa Brewing is both a brewery serving its own beers brewed on-site and a restaurant with a menu that changes seasonally, but always offers a selection of Neapolitan-style pizzas with innovative topping combinations. They have a small outdoor area right in front of their entrance which has a handful of tables, and will gladly serve you and your dogs here during all months of the year - we’ve eaten here in the winter before, and they kindly turned on the heating lamps above so we wouldn’t freeze. Also, their pizzas are actually really good (and they give you a bottle of chili oil to drizzle on which is amazing), and it’s usually not too hard to find a table. Best part is, they take reservations! Check out their site here.
4. Randolph Beer [DUMBO]
Randolph Beer has a few locations around NYC but their DUMBO location is my favorite due to its size and how easy it is to get a table outside during the summer. Another thing I like is that their menu has a large variety of healthy options, including bowls with different proteins, grains (or cauliflower rice), and vegetables. Though dogs are only allowed on their outdoor patio, they also have a HUGE rooftop and indoor space that looks like someone’s super nice basement gaming room, with large leather sofas and foosball/pinball tables. They also take reservations online and usually if you specify that you are bringing a dog, they’ll accommodate you with a table outside. If you’re looking for a spot to try a bunch of different beers and also bring your dog, this is it. Website here.
5. Habana Outpost [Fort Greene]
Regardless of whether or not you have a dog with you, Habana Outpost is always a super fun place to go when the weather is nice. They have a huge outdoor patio area, and you order at the counter first then find a table so it’s pretty convenient for each person to order and pay separately if you’re part of a large group (and not have to deal with Venmo/splitting the check afterwards). They primarily serve Mexican and Cuban food, and I have to say, their Mexican-style corn (Elote) is SO good. Also, margaritas. That is all. Check out their site for latest updates here!
These are just a few of our go-to spots that are always a good time, especially with a group of friends and/or fellow dog parents! Of course, there are many other restaurants in the area that allow dogs to sit outside with you while you eat. My suggestion if you’re unsure about a restaurant or bar’s pet policy is to first confirm that they have outdoor dining available, then call beforehand just to make sure they’re okay with you bringing a dog. Most places don’t outwardly advertise it, but if your dog is well-behaved, they’re more than happy to accommodate you both! Let me know in the comments if you have any other favorite Brooklyn spots to take your pup!
