5 best dog-friendly restaurants and bars in Houston

Every season is outdoor patio season in Houston. Whether you’re looking to cool off with a summer cocktail at a neighborhood bar or cozy up beneath a heat lamp with some local foods, these five restaurants and bars welcome both humans and pups to their patios.

Backstreet Cafe

Best for Chef-dDriven Cuisine

Address: 1103 S Shepherd Dr

Phone: (713) 521-2239

Website/Social: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Local, award-winning chef Hugo Ortega helms the kitchen at this River Oaks eatery. Grab an outdoor table on the pet-friendly, New Orleans-style back patio for seasonal American fare infused with Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic, and Asian flavors. Menu favorites include duck spring rolls with ginger-scallion soy sauce, warm chicken tortilla soup, and Hugo’s locally famous hot chicken sandwich.

Happy hour on the patio includes cocktails and local Texas craft beer at tables surrounding a bubbling fountain.

Truck Yard Houston

Best Outdoor Seating Areas

Address: 2118 Lamar St

Phone: (713) 855-9666

Website/Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram

This Dallas transplant brings its sprawling patio with abundant seating and occasional live music to Houston’s EaDo (short for East of Downtown). This self-described “come-as-you-are beer garden” has plenty of space for pet parents and their pups to relax over a bucket of cold beers or a craft cocktail. Between sips, take a spin on the bar’s working ferris wheel or fill up on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

You’ll find two to three local food trucks parked onsite most days of the week, plus live music on weekends.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Best Skyline Views

Address: 2000 Lyons Ave

Phone: (713) 686-9494

Website/Social: Website, Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the outdoor beer garden at the oldest craft brewery in the Lone Star State. Dogs and their humans are welcome in the outdoor area, outfitted with picnic tables, umbrellas, a big-screen projector for game day, and overhead heaters in the winter. The stellar views of the downtown skyline are matched by the equally tasty lineup of brews, including the signature Lawnmower or Art Car IPA.

The food menu features a lineup of sandwiches, burgers, fries, salads, shared plates, and pizzas hot from the oven.

The Pit Room

Best for Texas BBQ

Address: 1201 Richmond Ave

Phone: (281) 888-1929

Website/Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Named one of the top BBQ joints in Texas by Texas Monthly, The Pit Room slow-smokes an all-star menu of brisket, sausage, beef and pork ribs, pulled pork, turkey, and chicken in their custom barrel-style smokers. The enticing, meaty aromas permeate the air at The Patio, the neighboring bar and outdoor deck where pet parents can pull up a chair and tuck into some ‘cue with a cold drink in hand. Come on weekends for a traditional Texas crawfish boil on the patio.

Barnaby's Cafe

Best Comfort Food

Address: 604 Fairview St

Phone: (713) 522-0106

Website/Social: Website, Facebook

The original Barnaby’s Cafe on Fairview has been joined by over half a dozen other locations around Houston. You know a café is dog-friendly when it’s named after a fluffy sheep dog, the owner’s beloved childhood pet. Diners are welcome to bring well-behaved furry friends to any Barnaby’s patio. They even have their own "puppy menu" that far surpasses run-of-the-mill dog treats, featuring items like scrambled eggs, sliced chicken breast, or ground beef and garlic, all served over brown rice. Treat your pup to a bowl of doggie ice cream for dessert.