Are dogs allowed in restaurants in Sacramento, CA? Are all restaurant patios in California's capital dog-friendly? We'll answer all your questions and more!
Ready for a trip to this popular California city with your favorite pup? You may already live in Sacramento, or you're planning to move here with your dog. We'll help you find all the best dog-friendly restaurants and other dog-friendly activities, as well as the very best local pet care options for your little fur baby.
Sacramento is a beautiful place to visit on vacation or to make your new home. With plenty of farm-to-fork restaurants, lots of sunny days, and beautiful parks… What is there not to like about Sacramento? Even better, it's an incredibly dog-friendly city. You may not realize how many Sacramento restaurants have pet-friendly patios, but we'll help you find the best ones! Most restaurants with outdoor seating will let you bring your pup along. But it's always good to double-check ahead of time.
Our list below will give you some insider information about what each restaurant offers... both for you and your pup!
You and your pup can both get some much-needed outdoor time, fresh air, and sunshine. Whether you want to exercise together, or you want to chill out on a bench while they run around like crazy… If you're looking for more outdoorsy activities, click here to find the best dog parks, trails, and off-leash areas in Sacramento, CA; we'll help you find the best spots to visit.
And if you need some great local pet care in your area, click here to find the best dog walkers, cat sitters, pet groomers, and more—all in and around Sacramento, CA. Whatever your doggy needs may be, we've got you covered.
Now let's get on to this delicious list!
The Best Dog-Friendly Restaurants, Bars, and Breweries in Sacramento:
- Burgers and Brew
- Federalist Pizza
- LowBrau Bierhalle
- Capitol Garage
- Oak Park Brewing
- Selland's Market-Cafe
- The Waterboy
- The Porch Restaurant & Bar
- Der Biergarten
- Piatti
- Cafe Bernardo
Burgers and Brew — Richmond Grove
Burgers and Brew is one of the best burger joints in the greater Sacramento area. With three different locations, you'll find the same great burgers. All of their burgers are 1/2 pound all-natural Niman Ranch beef with no antibiotics or hormones added. If you or some of your pals are not meat eaters, they have multiple vegetarian options too.
In addition to their delicious burgers, they have a lot of other specialty sandwiches and french fries like Beast Mode, Baja, and Breakfast Fries. They truly have a unique menu. But let's remember that this place is called Burgers and Brew. The beer menu is fantastic, with plenty of local brews to choose from.
And the best part of all is you can bring your furry, four-legged friend with you to hang out on the patio with your crew after work.
Federalist Pizza — Midtown
Federalist Pizza is not your average restaurant; it's built from shipping containers, giving it a modern and eco-friendly edge. This establishment is renowned for its dog-friendly policy, allowing dogs to join their owners in the outdoor dining area. They serve up incredible wood-fired pizzas and have a variety of local beers on tap.The ambiance is lively yet relaxed, perfect for a night out with your four-legged friend. Federalist Pizza also hosts occasional "Yappy Hours," where dogs are the stars of the show. With a community-oriented spirit and a love for good food and company, this place is a gem in Sacramento.
LowBrau Bierhalle — Midtown
LowBrau is a contemporary beer hall that brings a new twist to the classic German pub experience. Dogs are warmly welcomed in their bustling outdoor seating area, where they can hang out while you sample artisan sausages and craft beers.The restaurant is known for its vibrant atmosphere and community events, such as trivia nights and DJ sets. LowBrau takes pride in sourcing high-quality, local ingredients for their dishes, ensuring every bite is delicious. The staff are attentive and always happy to accommodate your pup with a smile. If you're looking for a lively spot to dine with your dog, LowBrau is the place to be.
Capitol Garage — Midtown
Capitol Garage started its story in 1992 to blend an emerging punk scene with coffee and small bites. But today, Capitol Garage has moved locations and created a full menu while still paying homage to the punk movement.
The modern menu reflects the uniqueness of punk in food with an assortment of gourmet menu items, often combining foods you might not try otherwise. Along with the eclectic menu and punk rock vibe, they host several unique events throughout the year.
If you bring your fur baby to one of Capitol Garage's outdoor patio tables, they'll be treated like royalty. The weight staff here will greet your pup, offer water, and dote over them the entire time.
Oak Park Brewing — Oak Park
Oak Park Brewing Company stands out in Sacramento for its combination of handcrafted beers and a dog-friendly attitude. The brewery features a spacious outdoor patio where dogs are more than welcome to join in the fun. They offer an array of beers brewed on-site, catering to all tastes, from hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts.The kitchen serves up hearty, comforting fare that pairs perfectly with their brews. Oak Park Brewing Company is deeply rooted in the community, often participating in local events and supporting charitable causes. The relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for enjoying a leisurely meal with your dog by your side
Selland's Market-Cafe — Land Park
Selland's Market-Cafe is a part of a family of restaurants. This dog-friendly restaurant has a large outdoor patio section for you and your pup to take in a superb ambiance from another one of Sacramento's farm-to-fork establishments.
The Selland Market Cafe offers high-quality, handcrafted foods, a full bakery, a wine shop, and more. The menu includes excellent entrees, sides, sandwiches, salads, soups, and wood-fired pizzas.
The regular neighborhood crowd raves about their sandwiches because of the bread baked in-house and the high-quality ingredients. But the sides are also outstanding and unique, with things like roasted beets, quinoa & kale, curried cauliflower couscous, and many more. But don't worry; they still have fries too!
The Waterboy — Midtown
The Waterboy is a midtown Sacramento neighborhood restaurant. It has been around since 1996 and offers food prepared and presented at the peak of its freshness in a chilled-out and relaxing environment. Their seasonal menu is inspired by northern Italy and southern France cuisines. That means they have wine too.
The patio at The Waterboy is rather large, and the relaxing ambiance from inside spills out the doors to the patio. It is shaded and has greenery around that adds to the vibe. And well-behaved pups are always welcome on the patio.
Like many great restaurants with patios in the Sacramento area, you should call ahead. The outdoor patios are popular, and you'd hate to tell your pup that you're taking them on a "doggy lunch date," and not be able to deliver.
The Porch Restaurant & Bar — East Sacramento
The Porch Restaurant and Bar brings Southern hospitality to Sacramento with its dog-friendly dining experience. This restaurant is unique for its Southern-inspired menu, featuring dishes like shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes. The wrap-around porch provides a charming spot for you and your dog to dine al fresco.The Porch is dedicated to using locally-sourced ingredients, supporting nearby farms and producers. On weekends, their brunch is a must-try, with a variety of sweet and savory options. The staff are known for treating canine guests with the same warmth and kindness as human patrons.
Der Biergarten — Midtown
Another Midtown restaurant makes the list, but this time it has more of a "hang out with your crew" vibe. The Der Biergarten has a huge outdoor patio with that classic German Biergarten party atmosphere.
Der Biergarten was designed for people to come together and socialize. They offer a large selection of German beers and a few classic German foods. With 32 beers on tap, sausages from Sacramento's best German butcher, and giant soft pretzels with mustard, you can't go wrong at this Midtown favorite.
The customer experience is 100% outdoor, so your furry family member can join you for the entire experience! There are cornhole boards, foosball, and ping pong on the property, which makes this your spot to get together with friends without the distractions of a TV.
Piatti — Arden-Arcade
Piatti was established in 1987 to offer the Sacramento area a fresh, handcrafted Italian cuisine experience. The pasta is rolled, cut, and cooked by hand every day in-house. And if you like the pasta you just had, you can take some to go from their immersive market.
The authentic Italian experience doesn't just come from their pasta either. They've created a gathering place for family, friends, and neighbors to gather over fine foods in an unhurried environment. Clearly, they desire to be a part of the community.
And the large, open-air patio is spacious enough for larger dogs to join their family outdoors. The wait staff is very attentive to pets and might even give them more attention than you.
Cafe Bernardo — Midtown
Cafe Bernardo offers a unique, casual food atmosphere. This cafe pulls a lot of its inspiration from the European Cafe dining experience and focuses on fresh foods. The menu is unique and offers a seasonal farm-to-fork dining experience, and this keeps people coming back to see what they have most recently created.
If you check out the Cafe Bernardo establishments—four in Sacramento and one in Davis—you'll definitely feel right at home on their patios with your pup. The staff here are very attentive in ensuring your pup doesn't go without water.
Dogs Are Allowed at Restaurants in Sacramento, California
By now, I'm sure you can tell just how dog-friendly the city of Sacramento really is. This town loves dogs just as much as you do. And they do their best to make all four-legged friends feel welcome on the outdoor patios of each restaurant. So now it's time to pick your favorites and give them a try! You never know which one might become your new spot to hang out with your pup.
For more articles about dog-friendly activities and pet parenting advice, check out the blog at LocalPetCare.com.