A Girl and Her Dog: A Guide to Dog Dates in the Philadelphia Area
If you’re anything like me, you fantasize about taking your dog everywhere you go. It can sometimes be hard to figure out which places are dog-friendly and which aren’t, so we’ve compiled as many places as we can think of in this blog for you. I must admit that this blog is inspired by my dog Bear – I always loved exploring new and different things with him. Bear is the reason I decided to start including pets in my photo sessions – because he taught me how important and valued our pets are in the family dynamic. So here are a bunch of things you guys can do together to make sure you guys spend as much time as you can together.
While these locations are dog-friendly, these are establishments, and we always want to be respectful of the owners and fellow patrons. You should keep your dog on a leash at all times and just gauge the environment and determine whether it is the best fit for you and your dog. Some places might be a bit overwhelming for your pup, too loud, or if your dog isn’t the most social, choosing one of the more low-key environments might be best for them.
Restaurants, Bars, & Dessert Shops
Uptown Beer Garden
1500 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Uptown Beer Garden has quickly become one of Center City’s staples, as they’re one of the most popular Center City Sips spots, but the reason I love them so much is because they are dog-friendly. Starting in the summer, you and your pet can stop at Uptown and enjoy their delicious food and drink menus and unique decor. Uptown is also known for going all-out on its Halloween and Christmas decorations, so while stopping by on a summer day is always a great experience, going during the holiday season makes for an unforgettable experience. Give your dog a holiday to remember!
Wissahickon Brewing Company
3705 W School House Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Wissahickon Brewing Company is a dog-friendly brewery in East Falls! You and your pup can stop by for a casual night, a game day, or even their weekly Thursday quizzo nights! Not a lot of people know this, but they also have coffee available until 2 or 3 pm- so if you’re not in the mood for drinks, you and your dog can meet up with some friends for a coffee date from Whirly Bird Coffee inside the brewery. Wissahickon Brewing Company has both indoor and outdoor seating available, so it makes for a great spot for you and your dog even in the Winter months.
Attic Brewing Co.
137 Berkley Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Attic Brewing Co. is another dog-friendly brewery, located in the Germantown area of Philadelphia. Attic Brewing can be a great new spot for you and your dog to hang out to enjoy some quizzo nights, game day watch parties, bingo nights, and even a monthly birthday party!
Dirty Franks
347 S 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Dirty Franks is a cash-only dive bar located in Center City, Philadelphia, that is dog-friendly! The bar is filled with beautiful artwork and knickknacks covering the walls head to toe and allows friendly, on-leash dogs inside the bar, so you and your pup can have a fun night out while still spending time together.
The Boozy Mutt
2639 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
The Boozy Mutt is an indoor-outdoor, off-leash dog bar that offers both memberships and day passes. You can enjoy playing with your dog, eating delicious food, and drinking tasty beer and cocktails! The Boozy Mutt has events throughout the week, like $1 Dog Entry, Breed Meetups, Dog Yoga, and so much more! The Boozy Mutt is a great way to get out of the house and spend some time with your furry friend, and you’ll almost always find an activity to do together there. They also have a self-serve dog wash and drying station in case your dog gets dirty during playtime, which is a great plus!
Benna’s Cafe
1236 S 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Benna’s Cafe is a cute, dog-friendly cafe located in Passyunk Square. Benna’s allows friendly, on-leash dogs inside the cafe for you to enjoy your morning coffee or breakfast! Their menu has a pretty large selection of drinks and food (including gluten-free options), and it is just the perfect spot for you and your dog to have a nice, relaxing morning!
O’Neals Pub
611 S 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
O’Neals is a dive bar/sports bar in Queen Village that allows on-leash dogs both at their outdoor seating and indoors on their main floor. O’Neals Pub is a great place to stop by to enjoy some casual bites and drinks with your dog – they sometimes even have a jar of dog treats by the front door, so make sure to keep an eye out! But I must warn you – EVERYONE, including staff, will be fawning over your cute pup – the staff loves seeing a dog enter the bar, and your dog will be like their celebrity appearance of the night.
Char & Stave
8441 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19118
Char & Stave is a great dog-friendly cafe located in Chestnut Hill. They offer a unique experience, as their menu is filled with not only great coffee options but also a full cocktail menu as well! Stop by Char & Stave with your dog for a day filled with delicious drinks, pastries, and even the special event of the evening, such as their weekly Tuesday quizzos, poetry open mics, bingos, and more!
Milk Jawn
1439 E Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Milk Jawn is a premium ice cream shop located in South Philadelphia that not only offers delicious dairy and vegan “Philly-style” ice cream (made without eggs), but they also offer dog-friendly ice cream cups! Milk Jawn allows you to bring your dog into the ice cream shop to enjoy their ice cream cup, which is a great way to spend a hot afternoon. Their dog ice cream cups are ready to go in their freezer, so you can always make a quick stop in. Milk Jawn’s Pup Cups are made with peanut butter, banana, and yogurt. If you’d like to see where else you can find the best dog ice cream shops in Philadelphia, check out my blog, Philadelphia Dog–Friendly Ice Cream Guide.
Activities
Book a Pet Session!
Booking a pet session is a great way to spend time with your beloved furry friend! Pet sessions are a great opportunity to not only get some cute photos of them but to get some of you together – creating lasting memories for you to cherish. Sure, you probably have a million photos of them and selfies with them on your phone, but when was the last time the two of you took a nice family photo? If you’d like to book your pet session to document you and your dog’s life together, feel free to contact me!
Check out my TikTok to see a beautiful pet session in Old City and to see behind the scenes from Noni’s puppy photoshoot!
Crossing Vineyards & Winery
1853 Wrightstown Road, Newton, PA, 18940
Crossing Vineyards & Winery is a great way for you, your dog, and all your friends to spend a girl’s day in Bucks County, Crossing Vineyards allows dogs on the outside grounds of the winery, so on a nice Spring day you, the girls, and your dog can spend an afternoon outdoors sipping on delectable wines.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
1 Susquehanna Street, Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229
If you feel like escaping the city, visit the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway with your dog to take a train from downtown Jim Thorpe into Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trains do allow well-behaved dogs on their 45-minute and 70-minute rides. Furry friends even receive their own tickets, free of charge.
Magic Gardens
1020 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
If you love enjoying art, but don’t want your dog to miss out on the fun, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is the perfect place! The nonprofit art exhibit is dog-friendly (you just of course have to keep them on a leash and clean up after them), Magic Gardens can make a perfect little afternoon excursion for you and your fur baby.
Mountain View Vineyard, Winery, Brewery & Distillery
2332 Walters Road, Stroudsburg, PA, 18360
Mountain View is a very dog-friendly vineyard and brewery in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. All dogs must be cleaned up after, vaccinated, on a leash, and dog-social – as your pup may run into the vineyard’s own dogs – Angel, a chocolate lab, and Faith, a German Shepherd. Your dog is allowed in any of the outdoor dining and picnic areas, and there are even pet waste stations available!
Sunset Social
129 S 30th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Visit Philadelphia’s iconic rooftop park – Cira Green – to spend the most relaxing spring and summer days with a beautiful view of the city skyline. The rooftop park has an area designated as a dog park so that you and your pup can enjoy a relaxing evening together. During the spring and summer seasons, Sunset Social hosts outdoor movie nights – where of course, your dog is allowed to join – so pick the perfect movie for the two of you and have a girl and dog date night.
Maple Acres Farm
2656 Narcissa Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462
Maple Acres Farm is one of my favorite dog-friendly farms! Maple Acres is filled with lots of fresh produce, flowers, hayrides, farm animals, and even a pumpkin patch during the fall season! It can be great to spend the day exploring the farm to meet all their animals and browse all of their produce and flower options with your pup.
Elmwood Park Zoo
1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, PA, 19401
The Elmwood Park Zoo, located in Norristown, has “Dog Days” – where they invite you to bring your furry friends to enjoy the zoo together. Dog Days take place Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in the Spring and Summer (excluding July & August) from 12 pm-4 pm. The Elmwood Park Zoo also hosts “Yappy Hours” (happy hours designed for pets and pet owners!) on select dates in the Spring and Summer, after regular zoo hours. To attend either event, you must complete an online application and submit any required documents before buying your tickets.
Rittenhouse Square
1800 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Rittenhouse Square is a relaxing, dog-friendly public park in Center City. It’s a great place to just spend the day relaxing, reading a book, letting kids run around, or even having a small picnic. Dogs are allowed on leash at the park, but I would recommend checking to see if there are any events like art fairs taking place, as it gets quite crowded on those days and it may overwhelm your dog quickly! But if you are in the area – Philadelphia’s first dog ice cream bar, Salty Paws, is only a few blocks away and will make for a great sweet treat for your pup!
Walking through Manayunk
Manayunk in general is a really dog-friendly area of Philadelphia. Whether you just want to stroll the towpath or the streets of the neighborhood with your dog or meet up with a friend for coffee – Manayunk has endless opportunities for you and your dog! Many shops along Main Street will even let you stop in to shop with your pup (just check for the dog-friendly signs on the doors and windows!). Nearby Main Street, Pretzel Park has a dog playing area where your dog can run around and play off-leash, or if you’re searching for an indoor play area – Pet Friendly Dog Bakery is one of Manayunk’s highlights! Pet Friendly Dog Bakery not only offers the best dog treats, cakes, accessories, and toys – but they also have an indoor play area downstairs.
Dilworth Park
1 S 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Dilworth Park is dog friendly, all dogs just must remain on a leash, and the leash cannot be longer than 6 feet. Dilworth is a great place to bring your pup, especially in the summer! You can let them run through the sprinklers, bring them to a casual happy hour (some are better for dogs than others, so just make sure to check their calendar!), or even bring them to one of their many art and small business market days!
If you don’t have a dog of your own
ACCT
111 W Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19140
Why don’t you have a dog of your own? Stop by ACCT Philly anytime between 10 am and 6 pm to look at all the available dogs for adoption. If you’re interested in a dog, you can fill out the waitlist form and adoption application either in person or online before you arrive. Make sure to check out ACCT’s website for any further information and instructions before you go!
Puppies & Yoga
12 N 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106
If you don’t have your own fur baby but still want all the serotonin they bring – check out Puppies & Yoga! Puppies & Yoga classes consist of 45-minute yoga sessions with puppies surrounding you, and then an additional half-hour of strictly puppy playtime. Classes feature different breeds, so make sure to keep up with their Instagram the week of to see what dog breed you will be snuggling with during your yoga class!
If you’re interested – I have a full guide to all of my favorite dog-friendly places in Philadelphia, so make sure to check out my Dog Photographer’s Guide to Philadelphia!
