They say, if you eat every meal at a different restaurant for a year, you still can’t cover all the restaurants in the city. Unfortunately, not all restaurants here are dog-friendly. NYC rats maybe, but not us doggos…just kidding.
On a sunny day, it’s much easier to find a spot at a restaurant with outdoor seating. Most restaurants, with outdoor seating, welcome dogs with a cool bowl of water. Some even go as far as offering treats! We covered a few in our previous post, but a little refresher won’t hurt. Be sure to check out those recommendations here!
Here are some of our favorite restaurants to grab a bite to eat with our boys:
Cookshop: Cookshop has covered, outdoor seating with 4 stars on Yelp. This place is a no-brainer! Cookshop tends to get packed on weekends, so we highly recommend making reservations in advance, unless of course you don’t mind waiting 30-60 minutes (brunch is a religion in our city).
Boat Basin Cafe: Boat Basin Cafe is in the midst of Riverside Park (by the Hudson River), and let me tell you, you can’t beat the location of this dog-friendly restaurant. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, this spot has the perfect, casual vibe. Not to mention, you can follow up your brunch with a walk by the river. It can get a little crazy busy during summertime, but then summertime is every doggy’s favorite time, no?
Soho Grand Hotel (lobby): If you’d rather dine indoors, in style and comfort, then the Soho Grand lobby it is. Pro tip: their burger and fries are some of the best ones in the city. The weekend scene is set with comfy couches and a DJ playing electric beats.
The Bean: A typical artsy cafe scene, with people sitting around reading or typing on their laptops, The Bean offers an extensive drinks and food menu (we recommend their french toast donut and three chocolate mousse). Baxter and Stella can chill out next to their paw-rents on comfy window seats.
Boris and Horton: When discussing dog-friendly restaurants and cafes in NYC, we can’t ignore our very first Dog Cafe! There is something for everyone at B&H. Although the cafe is separated by a glass partition, their seating area allows doggos to chill out with their parents. Even better, the seating section has a dog bakery, clothes, toys, and accessories to pamper Baxter and Stella! You and your furry friends can even snap photos at the photo booth. It’s seriously like some sort of Disneyland for pups.
The dog-friendly list doesn’t end here! Parks like Madison Square Park (who can say no to Shake Shack) and Central Park (backside of The Boathouse Restaurant) have their own food scene, too. And of course, your pups are welcome to a majority of them. Remember, when in doubt, Google more dog-friendly restaurants and cafes, but do call them and confirm their pet policies before heading over.
What are some of your favorite dog-friendly restaurants or cafes in NYC? Tell us in the comments!

Hi! I’m Gauri! I joke that I live two lives: one as a boring finance professional by day and a crazy dog mom/photographer/fashion blogger/avid traveler after hours. When we’re not slaving at work, my hubby and I travel with our boys – Dior & Obi-Wan. Yes, they go where we go!
One comment
I LOVE the vibrancy of NYC and I love how dog-friendly it is!! Now, I’m hungry after all these great suggestions. Thanks Gauri and pups! 🙂