Tampa Bay’s dog-friendly guide

Round of a-paws, please. From doggy-friendly watering holes like The Dog Bar to spoiling your pup with royal treatments at Spoil Me Dog Spa, it makes sense that Tampa and St. Pete rank No. 2 and 3 respectively in WalletHub’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities list.

Whether you’re in need of a drinking paw-tner at a local brewery, hitting the night market, or just dining out, well bone appétit. Get ready to dig into this guide for dog-friendly spots around the 813 + 727. Pro tip: You can use BringFido to find more pup-permitted restaurants, pet-friendly hotels, and events, too.

🐾 Bars + breweries

• World of Beer, 5311 Avion Park Dr., Tampa | Serving up brews + bites, this WOB location features an outdoor patio that allows Fido, Buddy, or Scout to join you for a pint.
• Two Shepherds Taproom, 4813 N. Grady Ave., Tampa | For the free-spirited pup, consider this 21+ indoor-outdoor dog park + taproom where your off-leash lads and ladies can freely roam and mingle.
• Tampa Bay Brewing Company, multiple locations | The perfect precursor to a post-meal walk with your pooch, TBBC caters to your four-legged friends with its dog-friendly patio featuring water bowls and a doggy dining menu.
• Pups Pub, 2202 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | This full-liquor dog bar lets vaxxed pups roam free while their age 21+ human watches a Lightning or Bucs game.
• Coppertail Brewing Co., 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa | Pop into Coppertail’s patio with your pup for a glass of Tampa-brewed beer and a bite (we recommend the loaded waffle fries or fried pimento cheese).
• The Dog Bar, 2300 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | The outdoor sports bar is always hoppin’ with doggos racing on the turf or splashing in kiddie pools, and owners sipping brews + grabbing snacks at the food truck du jour.
• Ferg’s Sports Bar, 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Hole up in stadium seat booths to watch a Rays game and keep a watchful eye on your pup as they enjoy the dog park.
• Green Bench Brewing Company, 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg | Looking for a Sunday hangout? The centrally-located watering hole has a range of locally named beers and a large outdoor turf patio with Adirondack chairs for lounging with your furry friend.
• 3 Daughters Brewing, 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg | Soak in funky live music sets, beer + sour flights, and overall sense of community — and pups are welcome too.
• Mutts & Martinis, 2900 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Catch a game inside before heading out to give Fido some playtime in the pool. Pro tip: Play sessions are divided between big and small dogs, so the little ones can enjoy themselves too.

🐾 Restaurants

• On Swann, 1501 W Swann Ave., Tampa | Like most spots in Hyde Park Village, On Swann welcomes canine companions on its patio, so you can indulge in that iconic kale salad — you know the one — and drop a few nibbles of bacon to your furry bestie.
• Sparkman Wharf, 615 Channelside Dr., Tampa | If you’re craving something savory, sweet, or spiked, you can camp out by the water with a bite from one of many offerings with your furry friend.
• Bulla Gastrobar, 930 S. Howard Ave., Tampa | Pass the paella on this SOHO patio, perfect for a date night with your favorite person... also known as your dog.
• Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa | Soul food Sunday brunch, anyone? We recommend the fried chicken and waffles on the patio, with your resident couch dweller.
• Ulele, 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa | Whether you’re stopping by the outdoor bar for a drink, or sit by the lawn with your favorite plate, Ulele welcomes your dog(s) outdoors.
• bartaco, 1601 W. Snow Ave., Tampa | Remember how we said Hyde Park Village was dog-friendly? The popular taco spot is no exception with its outdoor patio.
• Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | Your dogs can join you for a night of waterfront eats from one of the renovated storage facility’s vendors, but only service dogs are allowed inside the market.
• Forbici Modern Italian, 1633 W. Snow Ave., Tampa | Another Hyde Park Village favorite, Forbici boasts a shaded patio to ensure your pasta-lovin’ pup stays cool.
• Goody Goody Burgers, 1601 W. Swann Ave., Tampa | Might we recommend a plain burger for the good boy? This spot’s patio wraps half the establishment, ensuring a place for everyone (and every pup) at the table.
• Red Mesa Mercado, 1100 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg | Nothing hits quite like a laid-back Taco Tuesday. Hit up Red Mesa’s walk-up window with your pet and chill out at a courtyard picnic table with an icy soda.
• The Avenue DTSP, 330 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | The Avenue has excellent happy hours and specials, and pups are welcome to join you at sidewalk tables.
• The Library, 600 5th St. S., St. Petersburg | Finally, a library that allows pets. The buzzy St. Pete restaurant allows dogs at its outdoor cafe tables, so you can enjoy a prosciutto flatbread or rice noodle salad together.
• Trip’s Diner, locations + patios vary | Pups are always welcome at these self-proclaimed “not-too-fancy” diners. We like the breakfast burritos and sandwiches.
• El Cap, 3500 4th St. N., St. Petersburg | You’ve probably driven by the iconic neon sign before, but you should stop in for a burger. Visiting the longtime joint is like taking a journey back in time, and your favorite furry friend can come along, too (as long as they stay on the patio).
• URBAN Brew and BBQ, 2601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | The expansive patio is perfect for relaxing with your dog and partaking in some mac and cheese, pulled pork, and other homestyle staples.

Photo by Ranger the Golden Retriever

🐾 Hotels

• Aloft Tampa Downtown, 100 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | Stay in the heart of downtown — with Fido, of course. Aloft allows you to bring two furry friends up to 40 lbs and doesn’t charge a pet fee.
• Hollander Hotel, 421 4th Ave. N., St. Petersburg | This historic downtown hotel has pet-friendly rooms available. Rates range from $30-$50 per night and the hotel allows up to two pets per room under 35 lbs.
• Crystal Bay Hotel, 7401 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Grab a pet-friendly room under 10 minutes from the beach, so you can spend your days on the sand and nights snuggling your best bud. Heads up: Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach isn’t too far.
• Hotel Alba Tampa, 5303 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa |The Tapestry Collection by Hilton Hotel offers a pool bar, lots of outdoor spaces, and is pet-friendly. The hotel allows guests to bring up to two pets (cats and dogs are allowed) up to 100 lbs for an additional fee of $75 per pet, per stay.
• Camelot Beach Suites, 603 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach | This boutique spot claims to be the only award-winning pet-friendly hotel on Clearwater Beach, and it’s clear to see why. You can hang out by the heated pool with your doggo before strolling over to get white-sand-covered toes.

🐾 Shopping centers

• Saturday Morning Market, 230 1st St. SE, St. Petersburg | Held every Saturday from October-May, this massive outdoor market is one of Tampa Bay’s finest. Leashed pups are welcome, and many vendors bring water bowls for patrons to sip from.
• Hyde Park Village, 1602 W. Snow Ave., Tampa | The South Tampa hub has outdoor spaces galore + boasts tons of luxe stores (think Sunni Spencer, Sephora, and West Elm), restaurants with outdoor seating, and plenty of benches and tables to relax with your pup — there’s a monthly fresh market too.
• Central Avenue, St. Petersburg | Take your furry friend on an afternoon walk down the long stretch of downtown. While Central Avenue isn’t a mall, it’s stacked with tons of local boutiques, antique stores, and even pet shops.

🐾 Trails

• Hillsborough River State Park, 15402 US 301 N., Thonotosassa | Hike, raft, and camp with your doggos — just make sure to bring poop bags + keep them on a leash.
• Tampa Riverwalk, 200 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa | Tow man’s best friend along for a scenic Riverwalk bike ride or walk, and stop in at the Curtis Hixon Dog Park to finish off the experience.
• Upper Tampa Bay Trail, 9201 W. Waters Ave., Tampa | This 7.25-mile long paved trail takes you from Citrus Park and down the west bank of the Channel A waterway — entrance is $2 per vehicle.
• Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum, 605 11th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | Pull on your best walking shoes and head to this downtown park for a two-acre walk featuring 500+ palm trees.
• Lettuce Lake Park, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa | It’s $2 per vehicle to get your four-legged friend some exercise. Heads up: They’re not allowed on the boardwalks, but the trails are gorgeous.

Photo by TBAYtoday

🐾 Coffee shops

• Buddy Brew Coffee, locations + patios vary | Depending on the Buddy Brew of your choosing, furry patrons are welcome on the patio, like the Hyde Park Village location.
• The Blind Tiger, locations + patios vary | With a bunch of locations around Tampa, there’s almost always a Blind Tiger outpost close to you and your pup.
• Black Crow Coffee Co., locations + patios vary | This local fave crafts stellar iced matchas and specialty coffees, and there’s outdoor seating so you can bring your companion along.
• Kahwa Coffee, locations + patios vary | Located on both sides of the Bay, Kahwa serves a wicked strong brew and welcomes pups on its patios (make sure to ask for a treat).
• Spaddy’s Coffee Co., 5206 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. | The beloved Seminole Heights spot is renowned for its tasty joe + friendly community feel in the presence of furry friends.

🐾 Parks

• Curtis Hixon Dog Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa | Fido can pop in and out of tubes, mingle with other friends, and pop up on platforms at this Riverfront park — poop bags and water stations provided.
• North Shore Dog Park, 901 North Shore Dr. NE. St. Petersburg | This mulch-covered waterfront park is always bustling with big and small pups alike. Plus, there’s ample picnic tables, a hose-down station, and other recreation activities close by.
• Chase Park, 5313 27th Ave. S., Gulfport | Located just a quick walk from Gulfport’s main drag, this park offers large and small dog zones, a wash station, and plenty of tree-canopy shade.
• 4th and Angel Dog Park, 1802 E. 4th Ave., Ybor City | This dog park opened in 2023, and has lots of spots to sit and talk with (human) friends + lies next to bagel-heaven Pete’s Ybor.
• Honeymoon Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin | Craving a little nature? This massive state park feels isolated + has tons of beach for your furry friend to run.
• Henry and Ola Dog Park, 502 W. Henry Ave., Tampa | Fresh for 2024, this Seminole Heights spot has 10,600 sqft for fetches + big stretches. We checked this one out.

Photo by TBAYtoday

🐾 Dog beaches

It’s important to note that city beaches, in particular, are not dog-friendly unless otherwise noted. The following are dog-friendly beaches + parks. Read more from the Barks & Recreation department; yes, that’s real.

• Davis Island Dog Beach, 864 Severn Ave., Tampa | This dog beach is conveniently located right next to a boat ramp + offers a long stretch of off-leash sand. Heads up: It’s fully fenced.
• Fort De Soto Dog Beach, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde | Bring the whole fam (pups included) to camp out on the beach for the day. This spot boasts a beautiful stretch of white sand, wash-off stations, and dog parks.
• Sunset Dog Beach, 7545 Bayshore Dr., Treasure Island | This Treasure Island beach is a local fave, and is conveniently located down the street from Caddy’s on the Beach in case you need some refreshments.
• Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach, 1-199 Pass a Grille Way, St. Pete Beach | This time, bring Fido along for your beach day. The quaint slice of St. Pete Beach offers a dog-friendly section on the bay side.
• Picnic Island Beach Dog Park, 7409 Picnic Island Blvd., Tampa | Let your pups race along the beach while you take in the sunset over the Gandy Bridge.

City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.