The best dog-friendly places to eat out in Dublin

Housed within the stunning Morgan Hotel in Dublin City Centre, 10 Fleet Street Restaurant and Bar is a great place to dine with your four-legged friend. The restaurant is open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and pups are welcome to join in the heated Courtyard Terrace. The menu is simple yet sophisticated with everything from an indulgent Full Irish Breakfast to start your day off right to a classic Irish Seafood Chowder, which makes for the ultimate comfort lunch or dinner. If you want to stay over, this place even offers dog-friendly hotel rooms that come equipped with a comfy doggy bed, welcome treats, pet food and water bowls, so your pooch will be well and truly pampered. Believe it or not, there’s even a special doggy room service menu complete with meaty feasts and tasty treats, such as sliced pork sausages, chicken breast, beef bones and even a canine sundae!

A beloved Dublin pub and restaurant, The Merrion Inn is a third generation family-run business with one simple goal: to ensure all customers leave happy. Offering an extensive a la carte menu of delicious dishes, including daily fresh fish specials, you can expect exquisite local flavours here. The team is inspired by in-season ingredients sourced from all across the Emerald Isle, so you can expect an ever-changing seasonal menu that highlights the very freshest produce in every restaurant-quality dish. These guys are also mindful of ensuring that all dietary requirements are catered for, so you can rest assured there’s a wide range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options to choose from. Serving generations of hungry Dublin locals since the 1940s, this spot is a firm part of the city’s fabric and continues to enjoy huge success under the leadership of Head Chef John Rogen. A pet-friendly establishment welcoming four-legged friends of all sizes, dog parents can relax and enjoy some delicious food and drinks while keeping an eye on their pooch. What more could you want, really?

Southbank describes itself as a ‘neighbourhood café’, specialising in all things coffee and brunch. The interiors are picture-perfect (industrial looking chairs and tables are offset by pretty hanging plants), as too are the plates of food. Beautifully presented, each dish is prepared with great consideration and flare. Take for instance the ‘breakfast sandwich’: stuffed with crispy bacon, sausage, house relish, and cheesy egg, encased in two homemade sourdough slices. On the pastry counter you’ll find an array of equally pleasing delights: white chocolate and miso cookies; espresso and dulce de leche brownies. There’s plenty of space for dogs too and the staff are always delighted when one comes to visit, meaning they’ll be the centre of everyone’s attention!

Fancy heading to the pub but not sure if you can bring your pooch? Bar 51 has your back! A great sports bar, where you can watch both small and large sporting events, here you’ll be greeted with one of the largest whiskey collections in Dublin. The food offerings are equally extensive. A carvery is available each lunchtime (Monday to Friday), and in the evening you’ll find a great selection of hearty plates. With classics like beef burgers and fish and chips, to more adventurous options like buttermilk chicken goujons infused with ginger and served with kohl rabi slaw, there’s something for everyone. That includes dogs too, of course. If they’re on their best behaviour, furry friends might even be offered a treat!

A favourite among Ballsbridge locals, The Chophouse first opened its doors all the way back in 2009 and has since enjoyed huge success among both locals and those visiting the area. Keeping its focus firmly on creating flavoursome dishes that make the most of fresh, local ingredients, particularly high-quality Irish meat sourced from farms in County Louth and County Roscommon, expect fantastic cuts of ribeye, fillet, striploin and côte de boeuf, alongside tasty lamb, pork and fish choices. Offering a pet-friendly policy, this spot welcomes furry friends of all shapes and sizes. Plus, if they’re lucky enough, they might even get a chance to nibble on some of your leftovers. Bright, open and offering a friendly casual dining experience, this is the perfect place to chill out on a sunny day. This place has even won numerous awards, highlighting the quality and attentive service that you’re sure to be greeted with each and every time you dine here.

For a charming gastropub experience that welcomes both two-legged and four-legged patrons, The Old Spot is a top choice. Nestled in the vibrant neighbourhood of Sandymount, this establishment exudes a cosy atmosphere with its traditional pub setting and friendly staff. The menu boasts an impressive selection of elevated pub grub, from mouthwatering burgers to succulent roast dinners. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available, ensuring there’s something for everyone. With a dog-friendly policy, The Old Spot is an ideal spot to enjoy a hearty meal with your furry companion by your side.

Set on the picturesque Grand Canal Dock, herbstreet is a friendly neigbourhood eatery serving a delightful array of breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, alongside some creative cocktails and other popular drinks. Offering a fantastic view of the canal and a la carte dining, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind, just slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city on a sunny day. Specialising in sustainable produce and decor that’s designed to have a minimal impact on the environment, this place offers a menu of fresh and healthy food that tastes as good as it is for your body. The perfect place to relax after enjoying a walk by the canal with your pooch, this family-owned restaurant first opened all the way back in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength over the past (almost) two decades. For brunch, we highly recommend the French Toast made from thick cut Firehouse Bakery brioche and topped with either rum-buttered bananas, pecan nuts and Glenilen farm clotted cream or grilled bacon and organic maple syrup. In the evening, you can’t go wrong with tasty coconut prawns with sriracha mayo and cucumber mint salad or the epic Mexican bean and sweetcorn burger served with fries and all the trimmings. 

Located in the picturesque coastal suburb of Howth, The Pier House is a friendly modern restaurant that first opened its doors in 2020. Offering a flavourful and contemporary menu of creative dishes that focus on fresh local ingredients and freshly caught seafood, you can expect nothing short of excellent quality here. Menus are focused on the seasons and the team has fostered close relations with some of Ireland’s best quality suppliers, so you can always expect something new depending on when you choose to visit with fresh Irish flavours reflected in each and every dish. Open daily for lunch and dinner sittings, The Pier House is ideally located on Howth’s West Pier, making it the ideal place to relax for a leisurely lunch after enjoying a coastal stroll with your pooch on a sunny day. Dogs are welcome in the bar area and outdoor decking area, so pet parents can take their time, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying delicious food and drinks without having to worry about whether their four-legged friend is okay.

Located in the iconic Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Pygmalion is a bar, club and restaurant all in one. This stylish, dog-friendly venue boasts an eclectic menu featuring a variety of flavours from around the world. Whether you’re craving gourmet burgers, tasty tapas, or fresh seafood, Pygmalion has something to satisfy your taste buds. The venue also hosts live music events and DJ sets, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. With its dog-friendly policy, Pygmalion invites you to enjoy a memorable dining experience with your canine companion.

A beloved Dublin pub located on Lower Baggot Street that was first established in 1734, Toners is one of the oldest and most traditional pubs in the city, making it the ideal location to soak up the atmosphere of the city. Laidback and unpretentious, this is a great place to relax while exploring the city when you’re in the mood for a few pints and a tasty bite to eat. Dogs are welcome in the beer garden and the heated outdoor seating area, and the staff will always be happy to quench your puppy’s thirst by bringing over a bowl of water. Dubbed by iconic guitarist Rory Gallagher as “the best pint of Guinness” in Dublin, there’s nowhere better to treat yourself to a creamy pint of the black stuff. Plus, when the sun shines in the city, the atmosphere in Toners’ beer garden is almost unrivalled, so grab your pals, your pup, and book ahead for a pint or two. You can even grab a pizza from the neighbouring Cirillo’s Pizzeria, which has been ranked among the best pizza in Ireland, and head into Toners’ Yard and enjoy it here!