5 awesome dog-friendly restaurants and bars in Austin

December 13, 2021 - 3 min read

From craft cocktails and local drafts to delectable dishes and a fleet of food trucks, foodies flock to Austin for good reason. Add dog-friendly dining and drinking to the menu just seals the deal. Make a pitstop at a dog park before dinner and don’t forget to bring the essentials, including a travel water bowl, treats and toys, so you both enjoy the culinary experience.

Yard Bar

Address: 6700 Burnet Rd.

Phone: 512-900-3773

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

Come for the drinks, sit down with sliders and tots from Fat City Stacks and stay for another round in the 21 and older off-leash dog park. One visit is $9, five visits are $29 plus tax or buy a recurring annual or month-to-month pass. Yard Bar hosts breed-specific owner meetups and partners with local rescue groups, like the Austin Bulldog Rescue for Bulldogs and Pug Rescue of Austin for Pugs, to host adoption events and fundraisers.

Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden

Address: 79 Rainey St.

Phone: 512-386-1656

Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yelp

They may have attempted to pay the sausage king of Chicago in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” but it’s time to bestow this title to the encased meat makers at Banger’s Sausage House. The menu features the classics, like hot dogs, bratwurst, and spicy Italian, and creative combinations, including duck and fig and currywurst, the street food favorite made famous in Berlin, Germany. Don’t forget to order a woof wurst, a dog-friendly link that mixes pork, beef, and veggies.

Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden

Address: 121 Pickle Rd.

Phone: 512-481-0694

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

No matter your preferred potent potable, this South Austin temple of the tipple serves up interesting coffee configurations, handcrafted cocktails, and local beers and ciders. Food trucks LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Pueblo Viejo, and Tommy Want Wingy line the parking lot, offering diners the best of bar (or coffee) nosh. And the National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat is dog-friendly — dog-welcoming, inside and out.

Austin Terrier

Address: 3435 Greystone Dr.

Phone: 512-369-3751

Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yelp

Northwest Hills local diners love the rotating craft beers, specialty pizzas, inspired burger and sandwich toppings, and inventive salad options, all while dining “al doggo” on the dog-friendly patio. The longtime neighborhood favorite honors a Boston Terrier as its mascot, but all breeds revel in the free treats and personalized water service.

Picnic Food Truck Park

Address: ​1720 Barton Springs Rd.

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

Hitting the trails at the Zilker Botanical Garden is sure to work up an appetite, so head to the Picnic Food Truck Park to eat, drink, rest and recharge. Your dining options range the culinary spectrum, from Coat and Thai, The Burger Truck and Austin Habibi, and you and your dog can meet Lily, the TikTok-famous delivery dog from The Original Dog Treat Truck Company.