Activities & Lifestyle, Socialization
Dog Friendly Restaurants in Arkansas: Staff Picks
April 25, 2024
If you live in The Natural State, you know our restaurant scene is impressive. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are many dog friendly restaurants in Arkansas! The Hounds Lounge staff has put our heads together to come up with our favorite dog friendly restaurants in Central Arkansas, as well as our favorite dog friendly restaurants in Northwest Arkansas.
As professionally trained dog experts who understand environments where woofs thrive, you can trust us to recommend pet friendly restaurants where your pooch will have a howl of a time – while staying safe! Check out our list of verified and vetted staff picks later in this blog.
But furrst, read a bit more about the benefits of bringing your pooch to dog friendly restaurants and the best practices for dining with your dog. After working on their social skills at Hounds Lounge, your woof will be restaurant-ready in no time.
Benefits of Dog Friendly Dining
Taking your pooch to a dog friendly restaurant is not only fun – it’s also beneficial to you and your woof! Below are just three of many benefits.
Photo Courtesy of Maria Moutos
Socialization
Going to unfamiliar environments full of various smells, sights, sounds, people and animals helps your dog become more comfurrtable in these scenarios. Understanding the world around them helps your dog live a happier, more relaxed life. By visiting a restaurant with your dog, you’re broadening their horizons while you broaden your palate.
Need to take puppy steps toward socialization? You can start with quick visits to the dog park, and then build up to doggy daycare at Hounds Lounge! We offer full and half day packages, giving your pooch plenty of time to make furriends, learn independence and build confidence.
Exercise
Any time you leash up and get moving, it’s a win for both you and your pooch! Just walking from the parking lot to the restaurant can be good exercise for a woof. However, if you have dog friendly restaurants in your neighborhood, you’ve really hit the jackpot. Walking your pooch from your home to a restaurant and back is truly the best kind of workout.
Bonding
Dining with your dog is a great way for the two of you to bond! From taking the trip there, to experiencing a new place together, to being surrounded by strangers, going to a restaurant with your dog is a pawfect way to build trust and make memories.
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Best Practices for Dog Friendly Dining
Before you head out to dinner, make sure your pooch is ready by following these best practices.
Check Restaurant Policies
Just because a restaurant has a patio does not mean they are dog friendly! It’s always a good idea to check restaurant policies online or give them a call, just to double check they welcome woofs. However, there’s no need to contact the restaurants we list below – our dog-loving staff has confirmed they are dog friendly.
Practice Doggie Etiquette
Before you bring your pooch to a public place – especially one with lots of people and FOOD around – they need to have aced their obedience training (or at least have made a B+). The last thing you want is for your pooch to interrupt someone else’s meal!
It’s a good idea to burn some of your woof’s energy before entering a restaurant. A day of play at Hounds Lounge doggy daycare should do the trick!
Photo Courtesy of Lesley Byram
Along with good manners, Fido also needs to have good leash etiquette. To avoid incidents and/or an escape, you should keep your pooch on a leash the entire time you’re dining.
Pack the Essentials
It’s always good to have a doggie “go-bag” in your car. We recommend packing it with a collapsible water bowl, food, treats and waste bags. Bring this go-bag with you when you visit a restaurant or any dog friendly place, such as a store, an event or a park. Many dog friendly restaurants offer fresh water and treats to furry patrons – AKA pawtrons – but it’s still best to be prepared with the essentials.
If you’re traveling a good distance from home and/or enjoying a more rigorous dog friendly activity like hiking, we recommend taking your go-bag a step further and packing a first aid kit.
Dog Friendly Restaurants in Central Arkansas
Below are our staff picks for pet friendly restaurants in Central Arkansas. You’ll notice that Little Rock is especially dog friendly!
The Fold: Botanas & Bar
Located just a short walk from our flagship Hounds Lounge location in Riverdale, The Fold is one of our go-to spots for tacos, margaritas and more! Housed in a former auto repair shop and filling station, this dog friendly restaurant offers doggie seating on the covered patio, as well as inside the garage section.
Fun fact: The Fold is not only dog friendly, but also cat friendly, as long as pets are leashed!
Von shows off the lay of the land at Hill Station. Photo Courtesy of Liana Hart
Hill Station | HAM Market
Located in the extremely walkable Hillcrest neighborhood, Hill Station offers one of the largest outdoor seating areas in town – and it’s all dog friendly territory!
U.S. Pizza Co.
There are U.S. Pizza Co. locations all across Arkansas, each dishing out delicious pizza and spacious, clean, dog friendly patios. A few of our favorite U.S. Pizza restaurants are in The Heights, Hillcrest, West Little Rock, North Little Rock and Bryant. These spots offer close proximity to Hounds Lounge locations! On that note, check out our list of dog friendly activities in Bryant.
A pawtron places his order at Lucky Lou’s, next to their “Dogs Welcome, People Tolerated” sign. Photo Courtesy of Lucky Lou’s
Lucky Lou’s
Lucky Lou’s is a downtown Little Rock restaurant and bar designed with dogs in mind. Furry guests are welcomed on the patio and even inside Lucky Lou’s, and they just might receive a complimentary bandana!
Flyway Brewing
Flyway is a beloved brewery in the heart of North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District. The duck-themed beers make it the perfect pup stop for retrievers, but, of course, all dogs are welcome on their large patio!
Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom
With a micro-patio in the SoMa area of Little Rock, Raduno’s dog friendly seating is limited, but it’s worth securing! Call ahead to check availability and arrive early to beat the crowds, then you can relax with a tasty pizza or pasta, among many other Italian delights.
Yappy hour on the patio at The Rail Yard. Photo Courtesy of Amanda Waldorf-Mosley
The Rail Yard
With a wide selection of local brews and a rotating lineup of food trucks, The Rail Yard hosts a continual backyard party in Little Rock’s East Village. And what backyard party is complete without dogs? Pooches are always welcome at this foodie’s and Fido’s paradise.
Nexus Coffee and Creative
In the heart of The River Market, you’ll find Nexus, a favorite spot amongst coffee lovers and dog enthusiasts. There is no patio – pooches are welcome inside the actual cafe! Shoutout to Nexus for being a cozy spot for humans and dogs alike. We highly recommend you check out their pastry selection and rotating seasonal drinks.
Still hungry? Here are some more of our favorite dog friendly restaurants in Central Arkansas:
Dog Friendly Restaurants in Northwest Arkansas
What Little Rock is to dog friendly restaurants in Central Arkansas, Fayetteville is to Northwest Arkansas! Check out our staff picks for NWA.
Good Dog Cafe
This Fayetteville favorite offers delicious coffee, breakfast and lunch for hoomans and plenty of entertainment for doggos. Your pooch can hang out with you inside the cafe or go play leash-free in the enclosed backyard. It’s a great way for them to make new furriends – or meet up with buddies from Hounds Lounge Fayetteville or Rogers!
This sweet trio hangs out with the hog at City Park Fayetteville. Photo Courtesy of Matt Newton (@ozarkdogtrainer)
City Park Fayetteville
City Park is a gathering place for anyone and everyone, offering dishes ranging from smash burgers to tacos to rice bowls. With a large, covered outdoor seating area, it’s a crowd pleaser for people and dogs alike. City Park also often hosts community events, including pet adoptions! Rescue dogs are close to our hearts, and we applaud this top-notch dog friendly restaurant for their generosity.
Sassy’s Red House
If you’re looking to devour some BBQ and catch the game with your pup by your side, this is the patio for you. Sassy’s is such a pro-pooch establishment that they even have an Instagram account to showcase their furry guests! Our Fayetteville Hounds Lounge team are big fans of the famous Sassy Jones BBQ Sauce – you’ve got to try it.
Loafin’ Joes
Family owned and operated for over 30 years, Loafin’ Joes has a brick and mortar location in Fayetteville, as well as a food truck in Rogers that operates seasonally! Bring your pooch to the patio and order up a drool-worthy sandwich.
Big smiles and tasty drinks at Arsaga’s Mill District. Photo Courtesy of Erin Ternes
Arsaga’s Mill District
Arsaga’s boasts one of the best brunches in Fayetteville, plus a shady, dog friendly patio! We think you’ll dig the food, drinks and vibes.
Stomach still growling? Here are some more of our favorite dog friendly restaurants in Northwest Arkansas:
Treat Fido – And Yourself
As dog lovers, we feel lucky to live in a state that’s so pooch-positive. We hope you’ll take advantage of these dog friendly restaurants in Arkansas and the many more that are not listed! Local restaurants are a huge part of the community, and your business helps them thrive.
Photo Courtesy of Jay Stanley
Didn’t see your favorite restaurant on this list? No worries. If they have a patio, they just might be dog friendly. Give them a call to find out!
The next time you need a pick-me-up after a long day at work and doggy daycare, reward yourselves with dog friendly dining. Remember, it’s not just about the food, but also the time spent together!
