The BeltLine changed how Atlanta moves. As the trail network stitched together neighborhoods that never had much reason to walk between them, people got outside more, and their dogs came with them. The result is a city where the line between a dog walk and a night out has been thoroughly blurred, and the best patios have adapted accordingly. These 14 dog-friendly restaurants and bars strike the perfect balance.
Monday Night Brewing — The Grove
The newest Monday Night location opened on a new stretch of the BeltLine last summer, and the 17,000-square-foot amphitheater-style outdoor space with fire pits and communal tables is exactly the kind of place dogs (and their people) love: 30 taps of MNB favorites plus limited releases, twin Italian-built pizza ovens, and a 20-foot outdoor screen for game days. Dogs have room to roam around, which is rarer than it should be. 670 Trabert Ave. NW, Atlanta mondaynightbrewing.com
Dr. Scofflaw’s at The Works
Seventy-six taps is reason enough to come, but the real draw for dog owners is the access to the Camp greenspace on the property. You can take your beer with you while your dog stretches out in the afternoon sun, which puts this experimental brewery a step above the average patio situation. When everyone’s ready to eat, the Chattahoochee Food Works food hall is right there, with 30 stalls to choose from. 214 Chattahoochee Row NW, Atlanta, scofflawbeer.com
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
Atlanta’s first restaurant to open directly on the Eastside Trail—mile marker 9.25, if you’re keeping track—and the camp-inspired patio has been a natural dog walk endpoint ever since. The Grove fills up fast during weekend brunch, when the mix of Adirondack chairs, grilled and smoked American classics, and a rotating local beer list makes it easy to linger. Dogs are welcome throughout the outdoor space, which is most of the property. 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE, Unit J, Atlanta, ladybirdatl.com
New Realm Brewing
Old Fourth Ward’s multi-level BeltLine brewpub has a beer garden, a barrel room, and rooftop views, all of which are good reasons to spend an afternoon here with your dog in tow. The outdoor patio space is the main dog-friendly zone, and New Realm leans into it—they’ve hosted on-site dog adoptions alongside quirky events like the annual made-up holiday, Glizzy Day. The beer range runs from approachable pilsners to funky sours, and food follows suit. 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Ste. 101, Atlanta, newrealmbrewing.com
Parkgrounds Cafe
Open since 2010, this Reynoldstown cafe operates on a simple all-day logic: coffee and breakfast in the morning, sandwiches and cold beer throughout the afternoon, and boozy slushies and trivia after dark. Dogs are welcome on the patio, which wraps around a big oak tree and draws a steady crowd of neighborhood regulars who know each other by name and dog breed. Order the Stovall breakfast sandwich (think BLT on a bagel with a fried egg) and settle in. 142 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, parkgroundsatl.com
Park Tavern
Steps from the Piedmont Park Dog Park on the BeltLine, Park Tavern is the obvious post-walk stop: patio seating overlooking the park, brewpub beer list, half-price bottles of wine every Wednesday. There’s always something going on, whether it’s the casual Sunset Sessions concert series, a big-game watch party, or headliners like Oyster Crawfish Fest. The fast-casual ordering means you’re not stuck at a table while your dog gets restless. 500 10th St. NE, Atlanta; parktavern.com
Breaker Breaker Photo HERE (credit: Justin Dombroski)
The large BeltLine patio at this Reynoldstown seafood bar is the kind of place people-loving dogs enjoy, with enough space to spread out, foot traffic to stay entertained, and pets to keep even the neediest pooch satisfied. The menu leans Gulf Coast: fried fish platters, a blackened grouper sandwich, gumbo on Sundays, frozen cocktails, and $2 beers on weeknights. Wednesday night Music Bingo is a must for a mid-week slump buster. 921 Wylie St., Atlanta, breakerbreakeratl.com
Grindhouse Killer Burgers — Memorial Drive
Rather than slapping on a patio and calling it a day, Grindhouse’s Grant Park location built out a dedicated AstroTurf lawn to spoil your pooch. Picnic tables and water bowls set right next to the outdoor bar make it even easier to relax with your pup. Order at the front counter, settle in outside, and work through a burger made from freshly ground Angus chuck and brisket. The Dixie and the Hillbilly are both fan favorites. 701 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, grindhouseburgers.com
Das BBQ
String lights, a shipping container stage with live music, cornhole, and water bowls for dogs—Das BBQ’s Grant Park patio on Memorial Drive is basically one giant backyard party that welcomes four-legged friends and their human companions. The smoked wings are a hit, as are the fall-off-the-bone ribs and sweet collard greens. Get there early on weekends to snag a picnic table and to get first pick of the smoked meats. 350 Memorial Dr. SE, Atlanta, dasbbq.com
The Midway Pub
This is East Atlanta Village’s most reliably dog-welcoming dive, open seven days a week from noon onwards with a large (heated in winter) patio, a tiki bar, trivia nights, and soccer on TV almost year-round. The pub even hosted its inaugural dog show this past May, which tells you everything you need to know about the regulars here. Free parking on Glenwood Avenue is a huge draw, as is the classic pub menu: wings, a smash burger, and a housemade crunchwrap are all solid orders. 552 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, themidwaypub.com
Staplehouse
The vine-covered back courtyard at this Edgewood neighborhood market is one of the more pleasant places to spend a weekday lunch hour in Atlanta, with or without a dog. The water bowls and treats on hand confirm that the staff thinks about four-legged guests, too. Counter-service keeps things easy: order a brisket sandwich with hot pepper jam, or whatever’s on the specials board, and find a seat outside. 541 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, staplehouse.com
Star Provisions Market & Cafe
The multiple covered patios at this Upper Westside gourmet market make it one of the most upscale dog-friendly stops in the city. Grab morning coffee and a biscuit, a sandwich at lunch, or cheese and charcuterie with wine in the late afternoon, all with your pup alongside. The market also stocks La Barkeria dog treats, rawhide bones, and collars, so your dog can feel like a foodie, too. Closed Mondays. 1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. NW, Atlanta, starprovisions.com
Lucky’s Burger and Brew
Lucky is the owners’ actual golden retriever, which tells you something about how seriously they take the dog-friendly vibe at this OTP spot. The Roswell original has a dedicated Backyard with a covered pavilion, live music stage, outdoor screen, cornhole, bocce ball, and open green space that makes it the stronger of the two locations for a dog-day outing. Order the Georgia Dawg Pounder—a burger topped with a fried pimento cheese ball and spicy pepper jelly–and try not to share it with your pooch. Multiple locations, luckysburgerandbrew.com
Whiskey Bird
Both patios at this Virginia-Highland/Morningside spot are dog-friendly—the covered one out front faces North Highland for prime people (and dog)-watching, while the enclosed heated back patio overlooks the treetops and stays comfortable year-round. Servers bring water bowls with ice and pup cups for dessert, which puts this spot a step above. The Pacific Rim-inspired menu is the highlight for humans: ahi tuna gyoza tacos, okonomiyaki-style crispy Brussels, brunch bao Benedict, and a spicy miso-herb Caesar. 1409 N Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, eatwhiskeybird.com
