Dine with Your Doggy: The Best Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Cafes in Chicago
Celeste ZosimoPassing by the Windy City with your pup? Ditch the doggy daycare and bring them to these top dog-friendly restaurants and cafes in Chicago to relax and refuel alongside your best companion!
1. The SoFo Tap
As seen on their website, The SoFo Tap is your neighborhood, dog-friendly, LGBTQIA+ Bear bar. While many establishments only allow dogs in their outside areas, here, they are welcome indoors! They are open from 5 PM to 2 AM Mondays through Thursdays, but weekends are always special. They hold "doggy days" from noon to 3 PM every Saturday. This means you can get their beers at half price, and the dogs enjoy free treats.
2. Tortello
With a lovely plant-lined patio, Tortello welcomes you and your pup for some of the best Italian cuisine in the Windy City. Enjoy their Saffron Corzetti or Spaghetti Pomodoro for lunch or dinner. They also hold pasta-making classes if you want to try your hand at making your own. They also offer custom orders to make your pasta dreams come true.
3. Convito Cafe & Market
A market-restaurant combination, Convito Cafe & Market is another Italian eatery that welcomes you and your dog with open arms. Indulge in some Bruschetta Rossa on their patio or buy ingredients to make it at home. This unpretentious dog-friendly cafe also serves French dishes by their equally dog-loving staff.
4. The Bad Apple
A casual bar and eatery, The Bad Apple serves a variety of dishes, with their signature The Bad Apple burger a must-try. Their outdoor eating area is spacious and, of course, pet-friendly. You can enjoy a cold beer and burger with your furry friend in this cozy place located at Lincoln Ave.
5. Farm Bar
For a taste of the most delectable Midwestern dishes, head on over with your canine companion to Farm Bar. You can enjoy their Classic Farm Bar Burger while your dog gets the Farm Bar Puppy Bowl made with grass-fed beef patty, peas, and carrots. All the dishes are made with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients from their farm in Wisconsin called Brown Dog Farm.
6. Big Star
Offering an assortment of Mexican street food and other dishes, Big Star is a dog-friendly restaurant you must visit. Their house staples include tortillas, tacos, nachos, and salads, among many others. You can also check out their bourbon program, which boasts 20 House Barrel selections. They have three locations in Chicago where you and your pup can enjoy the sunshine on their patios.
7. Firehouse Grill
As its name suggests, Firehouse Grill is a decommissioned fire station turned burger and brews place. It has a spacious outdoor seating area where you and your dog can relax and enjoy their signature Firehouse Burger or the Big As Your Head Grilled Cheese. Other delish offerings include pretzels, salads, quesadillas, chicken wings, pizzas, and shakes, to name a few.
8. Robert’s Pizza and Dough Co.
Take your pup on a date and enjoy the views of the Ogden Slip with great food from Robert’s Pizza and Dough Co. It has an open kitchen, an 18-seat bar, and 142 seats in the main restaurant area with floor-to-ceiling windows. Your dog will enjoy the patio as boaters pull up the docks to grab a quick bite. Indulge in the restaurant's Beet and Kale salad, Chicken Parm sandwich, or Prosciutto & Arugula pizza.
9. The Moonlighter
Take your dog for a walk at the 606 Trail, then go straight to The Moonlighter's dog-friendly patio. Enjoy their burgers, chicken, salads, and an array of snacks and desserts. They also offer a wide variety of craft beers and a world-class cocktail program. Make sure to make a reservation first.
10. Juniper Spirits & Oysters
A true-blue dog-friendly restaurant, Juniper Spirits & Oysters has dog treats and cocktails included in their menu! Order from their list of seafood fare and cocktails while your pup gets to enjoy DogPerignon or a Hefewoofen. This doggy drink is made from organic chicken broth, carrots, and malted barley. And the fun doesn't stop there. You can get a portrait of you and your furbaby by a professional photographer!
11. Cody’s Public House
A dog-friendly bar inside and out, Cody’s Public House is a retro place with big-screen TVs, 18 beers on tap, and many other offerings you and your dog will surely enjoy. Its beer garden lets you play a game of darts, Golden Tee, Big Buck Hunter, and pool with your furry friend in tow.
12. Murphy’s Bleachers
A Wrigleyville staple, Murphy’s Bleachers is a well-loved casual place to get great beer and meet with family and friends, including your four-legged pals. You can bring your dog to the bar as long as they have their leash on. This dog-friendly restaurant specializes in American ballpark food, beer, and whiskey. Their Chicago Classic Pizza and Sweet Potato Fries are the bestsellers.
13. Ranalli’s
Lounge with your doggo in Ranalli’s, a cozy neighborhood pizzeria and bar. It has a large outdoor sidewalk cafe where you can enjoy its specialty pizzas, signature 4C appetizers, craft beers, fresh salads, and classic cocktails. They also celebrate the goodest dogs on their Dog Appreciation Day.
14. Mott St
Offering excellent Asian-American cuisine, Mott St is a dog-friendly restaurant with a lovely 64-seat patio. You and your pup can enjoy the surrounding greenery while partaking in their Crispy Tofu, Thai Style "Papaya" Salad, and a bowl of fresh water for the pup.
15. Sportsman's Club
One of the best places in Chicago to get classically inspired cocktails, Sportsman's Club has a menu that changes daily. Rest assured that each visit is a surprising and wonderful experience with your furbaby. It has a chill and cool vibe with unpretentious and friendly bartenders.
16. PB&J: Pizza, Beer & Jukebox
