Dog-Friendly Manhattan
Washington Square Park in the Spring
Alice and I have lived on the Upper West Side since 2012! We have discovered many dog-friendly patios, sights, and bars around our neighborhood and throughout Manhattan. Before sharing specific spots that we adore, there is some general information that might be useful to anyone traveling to The Big Apple with their furry friend!
The official city-wide policy is that dogs are not allowed inside establishments that serve food. I’ve found a few indoor places that re-interpret (or flat-out ignore) this rule, but they are scarce. You’re more likely to find a restaurant that allows dogs indoors if it is part of a dog-friendly hotel. So I highly recommend bringing your pup to NYC during our warmer months - roughly April through October. There is a plethora of patios and a vast selection of sidewalk seating to enjoy when the weather is nice. It is also much more pleasant to visit the parks in the sun than in the bitter cold!
Nearly all restaurants allow dogs at their outdoor tables. If you’re strolling through the Upper West Side (especially Amsterdam or Columbus), Chelsea (especially 8th and 9th avenues), the East Village, or the West Village, you’ll find plenty of sidewalk seating to enjoy with your doggo!
Traveling with a small dog is quite convenient in the city! The subways allow dogs if they are in a carrier - and the term “carrier” is very loosely interpreted. I carry Alice in a small, flexible tote that I can fold up and fit in my purse. She sits in my lap and stares down other passengers until they smile at her or come over to pet her :) I have seen much larger dogs in unique, bag-like situations on the subway, and I’ve also seen plenty of dogs walk onto the train without a bag at all. The majority of riders don’t seem to mind, as long as the dog is well-behaved and you aren’t traveling during rush hour! As far as I can tell, if your dog is not in a carrier, the worst that can happen is being asked to leave the subway or paying a $25 fine. This would only occur if you happened to see an NYPD officer during your journey who wanted to take the time to issue a fine.
NYC taxis are supposed to take all riders with pets - but on occasion they refuse. If this happens, just wait for the next cab you see and they will probably accept your dog without issue. Alice and I use Lyft too. After requesting a ride, I’ll text the driver and ask if it’s okay to have a small dog sit in my lap - they almost always say it’s fine.
(Photos below feature Alice’s best friend, Auggie. Follow him on instagram: @auggo_thedoggo )
Most shops allow dogs, as long as they do not serve food. Alice comes shopping with me all the time - particularly to Zara, Old Navy, and Home Goods. She has great taste :) So if you want to go shopping in SoHo or along 5th Ave, you’ll find plenty of shops that will welcome your dog too. Liquor stores are also dog-friendly (I’ve never encountered a liquor store in the city that did not let Alice come in) and they usually have puppy treats!
A lot of liquor stores and wine shops host tastings, which would be a great dog-friendly activity. I highly recommend Roma Liquors on Amsterdam & W 95th St or Columbus Avenue Wine & Spirits. They always have friendly staff and treats for Alice (she pulls me toward the door any time we walk by), and they do wine tastings frequently!
Starbucks locations and other coffee shops throughout the city are pretty chill about dogs coming in with their humans to order. I will often order through the app and pop in with Alice to grab my drink on our way to Central Park. If you’re on the Upper West Side, go to the Starbucks at 86th & Columbus and hope you’ll encounter the amazing barista who draws dog portraits on pup cups!
Some Duane Reade and CVS locations don’t care at all if you come in with a dog, while others will tell you dogs aren’t allowed or will make you carry your pup - it depends on the manager.
Restaurants & Bars
A lot of these places are on the Upper West Side, since we spend a lot of time in our ‘hood. But we do branch out to other parts of the city as well!
Bar Room at the Beekman - Beekman & Nassau, FiDi
One of the fanciest places we’ve found that allows dogs inside! This bar/hotel is gorgeous, and their cocktails and cheese plate are fab.
Vin Sur Vingt - 84th & Columbus, UWS
Our favorite wine bar! Vin Sur Vingt has a few locations in Manhattan, but the Upper West Side location is spectacular. The sidewalk seating and French wine will mentally transport you to Paris!
Grand Banks - Pier 25, TriBeCa
Grand Banks is a bar and restaurant on a boat floating next to a pier on the Hudson. You’ll have a great view of the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, and it’s a great spot to watch the sunset on the river. Make reservations well ahead of time!
Lucky - E 10th & Ave B, East Village
Love this Dive Bar which is completely dog-friendly, both inside and the small backyard. Whenever we go, there are always other dogs there too!
Ellington in the Park - Riverside Park, Riverside Drive & W 105th St, UWS
This is one of my absolute favorite sunset spots in the summer! I recommend entering Riverside Park at W. 98th & Riverside, and walking north along the promenade until you run into the outdoor bar with a bunch of picnic tables. A relatively simple, but delicious, menu and refreshing drinks! Very popular amongst doggos and their humans, so you may have to wait a bit for a table on weekends.
Kobrick Coffee - W 13th & Hudson St, Meatpacking
I love going to this cute coffee shop on the weekends. It can get pretty crowded, but dogs are allowed inside.
Soho Grand Hotel - W Broadway & Grand St, SoHo
The Soho Grand has a dog-friendly restaurant indoors on the 2nd floor. It also has an outdoor bar in warmer months that allows dogs.
Bar Pisellino - 7th Ave & Grove St, West Village
A really cute Italian spot with many outdoor tables.
Fellini Coffee - 7th Ave & Perry St, West Village
A tiny coffe shop with outdoor seating.
Stafili Wine Cafe - W 12th & Greenwich Ave, West Village
Excellent Greek wine bar that allows dogs inside, but also has outdoor tables.
Pier i Cafe - Riverside Park, Riverside Drive & W 70th St, UWS
Another incredible sunset spot along the Hudson! Enter the park at Riverside & W 72nd and keep going west, through the tunnel, down the stairs, and turn left (south) when you get to the water. You’ll see Pier i Cafe just past the small baseball field. The pier across from the cafe hosts a lot of fun events throughout the summer!
Pier 17 Heineken Riverdeck - 89 South St, South Street Seaport
Incredible view of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge. There’s a kiosk where you can buy overpriced beer… or you can bring your own snacks and beverages (non-alcoholic of course …. ) and sunbathe with your pup and some friends. There are a couple of restaurants on Pier 17 as well, but I do not know if they allow dogs on their fancy-looking patios. South Street Seaport also has several restaurants with (limited) outdoor seating.
Pier A Harbor House - Battery Park, 22 Battery Pl, FiDi
Lots of outdoor seating with views of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty! Beer, snacks, cocktails, and a perfect sunset location. Make sure you walk around Battery Park too!
Stone Street - FiDi
A pedestrian-only road in the Financial District with tons of community tables for the restaurants/pubs along the street.
Clinton Hall - 90 Washington St, FiDi
A beer hall with a large dog-friendly patio and over-sized games. It has heaters in the winter and for colder nights!
PlantShed - W 95th & Amsterdam, UWS
Our favorite coffee neighborhood coffee & plant shop! Dogs are allowed inside to shop or to sit at a table with you, and they have treats!
Ferns - E 10th & 1st Ave, East Village
Ferns allows dogs inside at the bar, or at their outdoor tables. They frequently have live music inside next to the bar!
Luchadores NYC - 87 South St, South Street Seaport
These tacos and burritos are AMAZING. Get there early - the tables fill up fast and the line can get very long!
Malibu Farm - Pier 17, FiDi
Dogs are allowed inside this restaurant! As long as they stay off the furniture… It is pricy, but they have my favorite rosé and really healthy food options.
d.b.a. - 41 1st Ave, East Village
An East Village bar with a lovely, dog-friendly backyard!
City Vineyard - 233 West St, TriBeCa
A very dog-friendly spot with abundant outdoor seating and views of the Hudson and the World Trade Center! Get there early to beat the crowds.
The Copper Still - 206 7th Ave, Chelsea
This bar has good happy hour deals and a large whiskey selection. They have several tables outside, but dogs are also allowed in the bar area inside!! Alice loves to come here for happy hour.
Buceo 95 - 201 W 95th St, UWS
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city. This tapas bar is fantastic! Get there by 6:00 to make sure you get a table outside - it’s a popular neighborhood spot. The people who work there are very friendly and love dogs, so your pup will be well taken care of.
Cibo e Vino - 2418 Broadway, UWS
A beautiful restaurant and patio covered in flowers! Delicious food, wine, and cocktails.
The Consulate - 519 Columbus Ave, UWS
A new neighborhood favorite! The outdoor seating area is beautifully decorated with flowers on flowers on flowers, and the food & wine are wonderful. Very friendly staff who are very attentive to both humans and dogs.
Café du Soleil - W 104th & Broadway, UWS
A beautiful French restaurant with several cute, bistro-style tables outside and good food!
Marylou - E 9th St & 2nd Ave, East Village
Really good food in this cute place in the East Village! We ate on the covered patio, but I’ve heard dogs are allowed inside too (but we haven’t actually done this, so can’t say for sure).
Fred’s - W 83rd & Amsterdam Ave, UWS
This dog-themed restaurant has a bunch of tables outside and good, classic, American food.
Harlem Tavern - 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd, Harlem
A popular Harlem hangout, Harlem Tavern has a giant, covered patio space that allows dogs! Lots of TVs if you’re hoping to watch a game, and good bar food.