San Diego is routinely ranked as one of the top three best cities for dogs and their owners. Not only because of the beautiful weather which encourages outdoor living, but also because San Diego loves dogs and shows it through its abundance of off leash dog parks, four dedicated dog beaches and yearly dog festivals and events. SD also boasts a high number of dog sitters, walkers and hotels and is one of the best cities to drink and dine out with your four-legged friend. San Diego’s balmy climate paves the way for restaurants to offer patio dining which then allows you to feast and drink with Fido. Without further ado, here are our picks for the best places in San Diego to bring your dog for a pint and a bite…
Carnitas’ Snack Shack (North Park)
Pic by Yelper Tony D.
Not only is Carnitas’ Snack Shack pork-heaven for people, but it’s a swell place for dogs too. Named after their beloved pot-bellied pig, Carnitas, owners, Hanis Cavin and Sarah Stroud have been serving up the best pork-centric food in San Diego since 2011. Must-try dishes include their famous Pork Belly appetizer and the Triple Threat, a delectable sandwich filled with pork loin schnitzel, pulled pork and their house smoked bacon. They also have a solid line-up of rotating craft beers and wines on tap and with a recently upgraded patio allowing plenty of room for you and your pooch (or pig), this spot is a guaranteed good time.
The Patio on Goldfinch and Lamont (Mission Hills/Pacific Beach)
www.facebook.com/thepatioongoldfinch
If you are looking for somewhere a little more upscale to take your four-legged friend, look no further than the Patio restaurants. The Patio on Goldfinch and The Patio on Lamont are well known for their welcoming nature to dogs of all shapes and sizes. When you walk in, the staff will immediately offer your dog a fresh bowl of water and a house-baked dog treat. Both locations have stellar craft beer programs and often hold special beer events like their Torrey Pints series, which focuses on craft beer education and local breweries. There is plenty of space on their gorgeous patios, lined with living walls and plant installations, and if you go to the Patio on Lamont, you can get ½ off drinks on their Dog-Tails drink menu when you bring in your pup! Keep an eye out for the opening of their new restaurant concept, Fireside at the Patio, which will offer even more outdoor seating than they have done before, adding to their growing list of dog-friendly spots.
Home & Away (Old Town)
@allagash_thefrenchie
Not just-another-patio in San Diego, Home & Away is all about the fun of hanging with your friends, watching the game and enjoying great food and craft beer. Their spacious, stained-wood patio boasts a ping pong table, corn hole, giant Jenga, beer pong and more. This also happens to be the best place to watch the game with your pup because they have two giant TVs out on their patio along with a full NFL ticket and pretty much every sports channel you could think of. They offer 22 rotating beers on tap and are famous for their decadent 22 Burger with three artisan cheeses, their sweet and spicy wings (recently named top 5 in San Diego) and house-smoked BBQ which is available every weekend.
Hamilton’s Tavern (South Park)
Pic by Yelper Amy Y.
Most dog-friendly restaurants can only allow dogs on their patios, but these last two spots have a little something extra…like here at Hamilton’s Tavern, where you can bring your dog inside while enjoying food and drink. How is that allowed? Well, the delicious hand crafted sausages, crispy wings and insane grilled sandwiches that they serve actually come from Hamilton’s Café right next door to the bar. Therefore, it’s perfectly legal and acceptable to eat your food alongside your pooch while enjoying a craft beer, making this a great spot for rainy days or colder nights out and about with your dog. Insider’s tip: This is the best spot in San Diego to get a pint of Pliny the Younger, so keep a look out for when they are tapping this Russian River, highly-limited release (ok, it’s Feb 17th at 3 pm, but you have to get there on time because the kegs go fast!).
Thorn Street Brewery (North Park)
Last but certainly not least is Thorn Street Brewery. Sure, we might be biased, but TSB has been the go-to place for locals to enjoy a beer with their dogs since opening in 2012. This is another spot where you can bring your dog inside while also enjoying a bite to eat because while Thorn doesn’t serve its own food, it does have nightly rotating food trucks out front. You can also grab take-out T-32 neighbors, Grand Ole BBQ Y Asado or De Luca’s Pizza. Dogs are not only allowed, but celebrated at TSB with Cutest Dog contests and fundraisers like Pints for Pups which raises money and dog supplies for local shelter, Baja Dog Rescue. Fun fact, while family friendly, kids are only allowed in the brewery until 8 pm while your dog-baby is allowed to party at TSB all night long.
There you have our picks for the best spots for a date night with your dog or if you just don’t want to leave your mutt home when meeting friends out for beers. What dog-friendly spots do you think should be on this list?