Bring Your Pup and Kick Back at These Dog-Friendly Hot Spots in San Diego
Grab your dogs and get out on the town—and we don’t mean your favorite group of friends. Though they’re welcome to come too, this one specifically goes out to our four-legged, furry pals. Warm weather calls for outdoor spaces to roam, and outdoor spaces call for all of the city’s most curious pups. The best of those spaces come with delicious food and drink options, obviously—and we’ve done the work to nail down 12 of the best dog-friendly patios in San Diego for a day of sunshine and good times.
The Duck Dive
You certainly won’t be spotting many ducks at Pacific Beach’s Duck Dive—but there will be plenty of pet-worthy dogs. Sitting central to the action on Mission Blvd, grab brunch, lunch or dinner at this open-air venue that features a central bar and a bumpin’ vibe. To get a real taste of what they’re about, bring Fido along to your weekend brunch with the main event: bottomless mimosas for the table and a decadent Benedict just for you. Keep it going with a round of Pacificos for the group, and we guarantee you’ll start the weekend off on the right foot—which in our book, is a proper waddle.
Location: Pacific Beach
Park 101
Don’t tell your dogs—but you’re about to take them to the city’s finest P-A-R-K. Though it may not be what they’re used to: the humans get most of the treats at this park. That’s not to say your pup isn’t in for a good time too. Prepare to lounge, sip and savor at this dog-friendly, Carlsbad neighborhood staple. Order a rack of homestyle BBQ ribs or a plate of pulled pork while your dog soaks in the afternoon of sunshine and grass on their 8,000-square-foot, multi-level patio. Another highlight: there’s more than 32 local beers to try on tap.
Location: Carlsbad
Mavericks Beach Club
Possibly the hottest spot Pacific Beach has to offer, Maverick’s Beach Club was designed with San Diego’s prime weather in mind: much of this 15,000-square-foot, multi-level bar is made up of an open-air patio. This makes it highly agreeable for humans and dogs alike—you get to chow down and mingle at your favorite hot spot while your furry friend can bask happily in the sunshine. Kick back, order a few Pacificos, and catch any of your favorite sports being played on one of their 40 high-definition TVs—your dog will be happy it isn’t your living room, for once.
Location: Pacific Beach
Petco Park
Want to bring your best bark to the ballpark? We don’t blame you—we’d take our dogs everywhere, if we could! Petco Park now offers “Barkyard” suites: a backyard-inspired, dog-friendly spot to take your furry friends! Located in left field, each ticket includes four human seats and space for two dogs. The semi-private suites include shade, in-seat service and pet-friendly turf to make a comfortable viewing experience for all. Once you’re in your seats, order a Pacifico and watch as your dog takes in the sight of their first San Diego Padres game. They’ll be keeping their eyes on the ball better than anyone, guaranteed.
Location: East Village
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Happy Does Bar
Happy is as happy does. Get your dose of good vibes and bring your pup along to Happy Does Bar, a smile-inducing bar and restaurant in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. They happily welcome you and your furry friend—because let’s be real, what animal is happier?! Catch a Padres game at Happy Does Bar, which is just outside of Petco Park, or attend one of their outdoor patio parties with sounds from local DJs. They also have karaoke Thursday through Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Pregame your performance by sipping on one of their many refreshing cocktails and order a Smash Diego burger for a flavorful, smashin’ good time.
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
The Waverly
It’s time to give your pup a taste of the finer things in life. The Waverly is a dog-friendly, Tulum-inspired restaurant serving specialty cocktails in an open-air setting. Beautifully decorated from entry to exit with soft pastels and botanical art surrounding each seat, this Cardiff restaurant is uber Insta-worthy. The menu sticks to progressive American dishes; you’ll find things like their grilled asparagus salad and double-double burgers to pair with your refreshing cocktails. It’s a place to make sure your pup is on their “good-boy” behavior!
Location: Cardiff
Tremont Collective
Oceanside’s hodge podge of lifestyle retail, coffee and cuisine, events and more are housed at the semi-new Tremont Collective. It’s a place for the wild to wander until they find something they like—and if that doesn’t sound like your four-legged friend, we don’t know what does. Grab a coffee at Communal Coffee and continue on to shop something sporty at Brixton before spending as much time as necessary sippin’ slow at Bottlecraft. The best part of it all? You can spend as much time walking around as your furry friend needs, and there are plenty of cute patio spaces to lounge.
Location: Oceanside
Sun Deck at Hotel del Coronado
If the island of Coronado brings picturesque SoCal vibes to mind, it’s only right they’re all-encompassed at the famous Hotel del Coronado. Experience the hotel in its prime during the summer season atop the Sun Deck Bar & Grill, mixing up gorgeous garden-to-glass craft cocktails and coastal plates cooked to perfection. The Sun Deck is not only pup-friendly, but it features panoramic view of Coronado Beach with fire pits and cushy lounge seats. Start with a refreshing Sun Deck Lemonade. Then for a palate pleaser, order a plate of local tuna crudo while your pup revels in the summer breeze. You’re on island time now.
Location: Coronado
Cocina De Barrio
Whenever life calls for a chilled margarita and a whole lot of fresh air, treat your pup to an afternoon on the patio at Cocina De Barrio. With locations in Hillcrest, Point Loma and a new location coming soon in Encinitas, find brunch, lunch and dinner options all week long at their various San Diego locations. Specializing in urban Mexican-style plates, start with the mango-habanero aguachile followed by their beloved tacos de birria. Accompany your meal with a high-quality tequila or mezcal margarita to make it one to remember!
Locations: Hillcrest, Point Loma, Encinitas
The Dog Society
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Your favorite sports bar just became a sports bark. Without context, you might be confused, but The Dog Society is out here making dreams come true. Their newly renovated, open-concept space in La Mesa includes activities for humans and dogs that are in need of a space to play—or simply a place to get some work done while your furry friend remains happily entertained. They have a cafe and a beer garden with an outdoor game area for some playtime and free Wi-Fi for you. There’s no cover charge, but they do offer monthly memberships for those who want to take advantage of their daycare services!
Location: La Mesa
Morning Glory
Finally, a brunch that beckons your furry friend—and a stellar one, at that. Wake up on the right side of bed with brunch at Morning Glory: a flamboyant yet chic ‘80s-inspired diner with a unique menu of items to match. Located atop the central piazza in Little Italy, it’s the perfect spot to fuel up for your weekend with creative cocktails and specialty items, such as the soufflé pancakes, before heading out and strolling through the quaint, dog-friendly neighborhood. Pro tip: there are no reservations. Get there early to put your name down—there’s almost always a lengthy wait time!
Location: Little Italy
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isn’t word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
