Dog-Friendly Guide to Philadelphia

Dreaming of a weekend getaway brimming with history, culture, and unforgettable dining experiences? Philadelphia is calling your name! The city of brotherly love has something for everyone: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall for history buffs; Old City and South Street for folks who love to stroll new cities; Pat’s and Geno’s for foodies looking to experience iconic rival Philly cheesesteaks; and plenty of places where pups can join in on the adventure. Thinking of planning a trip? Ahead, unpack our expansive dog-friendly guide to Philadelphia.

Cafes and eateries

From coffee and pastries to Philly cheesesteaks and full entrees, the dog-friendly restaurants below cater to just about every craving.

Geno’s Steaks
1219 South 9th Street
@genossteaks

Geno’s Steaks is one of the most iconic cheesesteak restaurants not only in Philly, but the world. The restaurant has been in a heated rivalry with Pat’s King of Steaks for some 60 years. What sets Geno’s apart is its thinly sliced ribeye steak — Pat’s uses chopped steak. Preparation aside, Geno’s Steaks is open 24/7 and, as a walk-up dining destination without an interior seating area, pups are welcome to join their parents as they set out to debunk one of the biggest debates in culinary history. 

Pat’s King of Steaks
237 E. Passyunk Avenue
@pats_king_of_steaks

After grabbing a cheesesteak at Geno’s, head over to Pat’s (the same day, the next — you choose), which is directly across the street, to compare the flavors. Like Geno’s, Pat’s is a walk-up cheesesteak shop with dog-friendly seating and round-the-clock hours.

Pizzeria Vetri
1939 Callowhill Street
@pizzeriavetri 

Once you’ve gotten your cheesesteak fix, or if you’re not a fan of the local staple, make your way to Pizzeria Vetri, a popular spot for wood-fired, Napoletano pizza. Pups are welcome on the patio.

Bridget Foy’s
200 South Street
@bridgetfoys

Bridget Foy’s is another cornerstone of the Philly food scene, with a reputation that dates back 50 years. The modern American eatery serves brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour, with dishes that run the gamut from comfort classics to Italian, Mexican, and Asian inspiration. Grab a pup-friendly patio table and take your pick from mouth-watering items like Wisconsin cheese curds, steak tacos, a chicken parmesan sandwich, margherita flatbread, and Asian chopped salad. Read: There’s something for everyone!

Sunday Girl
263 N. 3rd Street, Old City
@sundaygirl_philly

For caffeine and community vibes, grab your pooch and pop into Sunday Girl, a cafe and co-working space serving up basic brews and inventive beverages like Tiramisu Cookie Butter lattes and Strawberry Shortcake lattes. As delish as their drinks are, Sunday Girl stands out with its packed event calendar, which often includes pet-adjacent experiences, like pet portraits and pet embroidery workshops.

White Dog Philly 
3420 Sansom Street
@whitedogphilly

For a restaurant that’s not only dog-friendly but dog-themed, stop by the White Dog Philly. The popular farm-to-table restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, with appetizers, salads, soup, sandwiches, and entrees on the menu. There are even rumors that a dog menu exists, though it’s not listed on the website.

Breweries, wineries, and bars

If craft beers, unique cocktails, and mouth-watering wines with a side of trivia, live music, and watch parties sound like your idea of a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon or any evening, the dog-friendly Philadelphia breweries, pubs, and wine bars below are worth checking out.

Chestnut Hill Brewing Company
8221 Germantown Avenue
@chestnuthillbrewingcompany

Looking for a laidback way to spend a Saturday or Sunday? Chestnut Hill Brewing Company has a beautiful, shaded beer garden where pups are welcome to join. In addition to roughly a dozen beers on tap, Chestnut Hill Brewing Company serves a mostly vegan menu of small bites, soups, salads, handhelds, pizza, and pasta. They also have homemade dog treats and pup cups on the menu!

Dock Street South 
2118 Washington Avenue
@dockstreetbeer

Dock Street South is so much more than a brewery. In addition to highly-rated craft beer, the popular dog-friendly destination serves cocktails, mocktails, wine, cider, soda, juice, coffee, and smoothies, plus a menu of appetizers, salads, pizza, sandwiches, entrees, and sides. And if you go on the weekend, you can even order brunch!

Tria Philly
123 S 18th Street
@triaphilly

Prefer wine to beer? Tria Philly touts a seasonally curated wine list, plus plenty of cheese pairings to choose from. Uniquely, this establishment has no TVs or other “distractions,” as they hope to encourage patrons to sink into the present moment and truly engage. Love!

The Dandelion Pub
124 South 18th Street
@thedandelionpub

For posh British gastropub vibes, be sure to add The Dandelion Pub to your itinerary. The dog-friendly establishment has a stunning, must-see interior, though pups are only permitted at the outdoor patio tables. Nevertheless, the top-tier beverages, from beer and wine to craft cocktails, and food make it well worth the stop. Not one to drink? Pop in for picture-perfect afternoon tea service!

Hilltown Tavern
326 Roxborough Avenue
@hilltowntavern

Sticking to international inspiration, we have the Irish-American Hilltown Tavern, where pooches are permitted on the patio. The popular gastropub serves Guinness (obviously), seasonal rotating draft beers, and craft cocktails, plus a massive menu of small bites, shareables, wings, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and Irish classics like shepherd’s pie, corned beef, and fiddlehead fish and chips. Beyond the fare, Hilltown Tavern prides itself on showing all the best games and matches, both inside and out.

Shops

Whether you need to stock up on pet food and gear or want to bring your pup along for an afternoon of shopping, the dog-friendly Philadelphia markets and shops below are worth working into the itinerary. 

Vault + Vine
3507 Midvale Avenue
@vaultandvine.co

Vault + Vine is a small business that celebrates local artisans. The thoughtfully curated shop sells prints, candles, candy, chocolates, cards, stationery, kitschy drinkware, honey, jewelry, plants, flowers, tea leaves, and even homemade pet goods. Best of all, you can grab a drink from the on-site cafe to sip while you browse with your pup.

Anima
304 Arch Street
@anima_pet_supplies

If you’re specifically in the market for goodies for your pup, you can never go wrong with Anima, a local Philly pet supply store that stocks brands like Kong, Goldpaw, Earth Animal, and Bocce’s Bakery. 

Fairmount Pet Shoppe
2024 Fairmount Avenue
@fairmountpetshoppe

Fairmount Pet Shoppe is an independent Philly pet store selling some of the most popular brands in the game. From Woof and Chuckit! to Orijen and Buddy Biscuits, Farmount Pet Shoppe is a great place to stock up on toys, treats, food, and gear for your good boy or girl. 

Civil Stock General Store
1912 E Passyunk Avenue
@civilstockphl

This popular community mercantile stocks everything from groceries, home goods, and apothecary items to apparel, accessories, and pet goods. It’s precious and pup-friendly, making it a must-visit during your Philly excursions.

The MARKET
8221 Germantown Avenue
@marketatthefareway

The MARKET at the Fareway in Chestnut Hill is a food market showcasing artisan food vendors, both in the form of dry goods and prepared foods. It’s a great place to shop for a delicious meal or for ingredients to whip one up yourself. Either way, the MARKET has pup hooks for safekeeping while you shop, as well as a patio to enjoy your purchases with them by your side.

Parks and trails

Philadelphia has one of the largest park systems in the world, many of which are dog-friendly. Below, peruse a handful of the city’s top-rated parks and trails where pups can stroll on leash and, in some cases, run free.

Orianna Hill Park
901 North Orianna Street
@oriannahill

Orianna Hill Park is referred to simply as “The Dog Park” by locals. The fenced neighborhood park allows for off-leash play, though pups must be registered to partake. See here for rules and instructions.

Seger Dog Park
1001 Rodman Street
@segerdogpark

Seger Dog Park is a spacious, well-maintained turf dog park in Center City. Open 24/7, this park is a great place to take energetic pups in need of a good romp and run. If you choose to swing by, consider donating to the nonprofit that makes the popular park possible. See more here.

Schuylkill River Dog Park
300 South 25th Street
@fsrpdogpark

Schuylkill River Dog Park is one of the largest dog runs in all of Philly. The turf and brick-paved park has areas for large and small dogs, as well as benches for pet parents to comfortably sit and take in the happy sights and sounds of pups during play.

The Wissahickon Valley Park
7301 Henry Avenue
@fowissahickon

The Wissahickon Valley Park trail system stretches 8.5 miles and features dirt, stone, and paved walkways, where people are welcome to explore with their leashed pups. Expert Tip: This forested area makes for especially stunning spring, summer, and fall jaunts.

Penn’s Landing Dog Park
1 N Delaware Avenue

For waterfront views and space for your pup to get their zoomies out, consider Penn’s Landing Dog Park, where fenced dog runs for large and small dogs await, along with benches and fountains for resting and rehydration.

Hotels

Point blank: Philly is a great place to spend not only a day, but a weekend or longer. The dog-friendly hotels below make that possible.

Kimpton Palomar
117 South 17th Street
@palomarphilly

Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia is a beautiful, Art Deco boutique hotel with a knack for mixing colors and prints. The vibrant property welcomes pups with food and water bowls, waste bags, and concierge pet-setting recommendations. And since it’s centrally located near Rittenhouse Square, it offers convenient access to some of the best restaurants and shops in the city.

Know before you go:

• Pet fee: $0 — pets stay free

• Number/size restrictions: Two dogs of any size

• In room: Pets shouldn’t be left unattended

The Windsor Suites
1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
@thewindsorsuites

The Windsor is an all-suite property in Philly that welcomes pups and has bowls and leashes available upon request. Uniquely, this property has options available with fully equipped kitchens, which could be especially great for anyone looking to shop at the MARKET and cook what they bought. 

Know before you go:

• Pet fee: $0 — pets stay free

• Number/size restrictions: Two dogs of any size

• In room: Pets shouldn’t be left unattended

Kimpton Monaco
433 Chestnut Street
@kimptoninphl

If bright, bold design inspires you, you’ll love staying at Kimpton Monaco Philadelphia in City Center. The maximalist, dog-friendly property is drenched in vibrant colors, eye-catching patterns, and sumptuous textures, all of which will make you stop and stare — and want to snap more than a few pics of your pup against the beautiful backdrop.

Know before you go:

• Pet fee: $0 — pets stay free

• Number/size restrictions: Two dogs of any size

• In room: Pets shouldn’t be left unattended

Club Quarters Philadelphia
1628 Chestnut Street
@clubquartershotels

For a more minimalist-mod stay, consider Club Quarters Philadelphia. The well-lit, thoughtfully designed hotel is conveniently situated in Rittenhouse Square, within walking distance of Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, and various art museums. 

Know before you go:

• Pet fee: $0 — pets stay free

• Number/size restrictions: One dog up to 25 pounds

• In room: Pets shouldn’t be left unattended

Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia 
1100 Market Street
@hyattcentricphiladelphia

Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia is another beautifully decorated property prioritizing a bright, colorful palette, albeit with a more streamlined design overall. Beyond its looks and convenient location, the hotel welcomes pups with wide open arms, and even a cushy bed, bowls, and treats.

Know before you go:

• Pet fee: $100 per stay for one to six nights; $200 per stay for seven to 30 nights

• Number/size restrictions: Two dogs up to 75 pounds combined

• In room: Pets shouldn’t be left unattended