6 Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Austin

Austin, Texas, is one of the hippest southern cities in America, and it’s quickly becoming the ideal destination for any dog lover and their four-legged friends. Just like humans, dogs are falling in love with the southern charm, lake life, and good eats in Austin.

The good news is that Austin, Texas, is home to many dog-friendly restaurants, bars, and saloons where dog owners and their best friends can kick back and enjoy life. So, if you are looking for a place to hang out with your dog in tow, here are six dog-friendly restaurants in Austin to check out, including:

1. Jester King Brewery
2. Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
3. Yard Bar
4. Abel’s on the Lake
5. Doghouse Drinkery Dog Park
6. Ski Shores Cafe

Let’s get started!

1. Jester King Brewery

An unwritten rule in Austin is that if it’s beer-friendly, it’s most likely dog-friendly. Jester King Brewery is no exception. This brewery sits on 165 acres of land in Texas Hill Country and also has a kitchen, a dog park, and a working farm (complete with goats!). 

Jester King is an authentic farmhouse brewery experience that you just can’t miss. The company has been brewing since 2010, and outside of loving animals, their business model includes land conservation, 100% solar-powered, and farm-to-table whenever possible. The kitchen currently specializes in gourmet pizzas, but the farm is also working on producing more food crops that can be used to expand their dishes and beer production. 

Before heading out to Jester King with friends, be sure to bone up on some good goat jokes. The brewery and restaurant are open Thursday through Sunday, so get your human friends and furry friends together and book a reservation today. 

Tips From a Landing Member

2. Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden

Did somebody say sausage? Banger’s Sausage House & Garden is a dog-friendly restaurant that is committed to serving the highest-quality homemade Texas sausage that both you and your pooch can enjoy. Banger’s offers 20 different types of sausage that will delight all of your taste buds and make all Austin pets drool. If you’re not looking to share your human sausages, Banger’s makes a “WoofWurst” (pork, beef, and veggies) that is made specifically for your four-legged friend.

Outside of having the finest sausages in Austin, Banger’s also has expanded and opened its own smokehouse to attract the Texas BBQ community. Instead of focusing on traditional Texas BBQ styles, they specialize in “whole-hog-cooking.” 

The restaurant also prides itself on having over 200 beers on tap, having one of the largest patios in Austin, and having a live music stage that is an extension on a 107-year-old historic house. If you like Americano, sausage, BBQ, craft beer, and country music, then Bangers is the place for you. 

3. Yard Bar

When starting a new bar, it’s best to keep things simple, and that’s exactly what the owners of Yard Bar did. They knew Austin residents loved spending time with their dogs and drinking adult beverages, so they combined the two pastimes into one great and simple experience. 

Although Yard Bar is one of the pet-friendly restaurants in town, dog owners must be 21 years old or older and dogs must be fixed, of age (four months or older), and have all of their shots. If you check off all of these boxes, then you can bring your pooch down to the Yard for a bit of fun. Park fees are $9 per day, or you can choose to do monthly or annual memberships. The dog park is an off-leash facility, but if you bring your dog onto the patio, they will need to be leashed at all times. 

4, Abel’s on the Lake

Dogs love great views and cool breezes, and Abel’s on the Lake offers both of these. Abel’s is one of the pet-friendly restaurants that sits directly on Lake Austin and is the ideal destination after a long day on the lake. The restaurant has two stories of outdoor decks that provide diners and dogs with an amazing sunset over the water. Some call it the best sunset in Austin!

The restaurant started as a neighborhood bar called Cain & Abel’s near the University of Texas campus and then expanded to the lake just a few years later. The bar has over 60 beers on tap, and 17 of them are local brews. Diners have the option to access Abel’s via land or water, and wet dogs are welcome.

5. Doghouse Drinkery Dog Park

What’s better than taking your best friend to an off-leash dog park? The Doghouse Drinkery Dog Park is an expansive outdoor space in immaculate condition, sits on 2.5 acres, and even has sprinklers and plastic pools for your pooch to cool off in. The park is the perfect place for you to hang out with your pup. It has lots of private seating, shade, and the bar even has flat-screen TVs so you can watch your favorite game.

There are multiple fenced-in areas for your dog to romp around in while you toss back some cold ones, and there is even a separate area for dogs that are less than 30 pounds. Day passes cost $7 per dog, and humans and dogs must abide by all the rules and dispose of their dogs’ business in waste stations.

6. Ski Shores Cafe

We’ve saved the best for last. Ski Shores Cafe is a Lake Austin legend that was established in 1954, and they now have two great locations, one on Lake Austin and one at Barton Springs. This laid-back atmosphere is an adult playground that grew from a humble hot dog stand, and now the restaurant is the perfect place for those looking for a delicious weekend brunch. 

This dog-friendly restaurant is a local favorite, and vacationers can’t wait to come back. There is a boat dock, beach access, a child playground, and fire pits to complete the relaxing environment. Diners and drinkers have the luxury of enjoying great food and the many drink options while they watch boaters pass, and dogs have the luxury of table scraps, dog treats, cool breezes, and splashing around at the nearby beach. What’s more, their fresh salads are delicious!

The place briefly closed in 2009 but was reopened in 2010 with a new kitchen, improved menu, bigger deck, and a stage overlooking the lake. Great food, great atmosphere, and great music make this place a must-visit while you and your pooch are putzing around Austin Lake. 

Live in Austin with Landing

If you and your pup are just stopping to experience Austin, be sure to check out one of the popular options above. Considering making Austin your home? Here at Landing, we understand that your four-legged friends mean the world to you, and we’re here to help you find the best spots for both of you to enjoy. 

Whether you’re looking for a short-term solution or a more extended stay, Landing has a robust network of furnished apartments in Austin for you to choose from. If you’re not sure where to look, discover some of the best neighborhoods in Austin. Landing takes away the stress of moving to a new city and will make the transition easy, for you are your pup.