Guide to the best dog-friendly restaurants in London

The 1920s-themed Smith & Whistle cocktail bar at the Sheraton Grand in Mayfair ranks among the most dog-friendly establishments in the city. It even features a dedicated Dogtail Menu with special drinks for dogs, prepared in collaboration with a canine nutritionist. Meanwhile, owners can enjoy classic “human” cocktails, light a cigar on the terrace, or enjoy a bite to eat from the varied menu of international favourites.

Los Mochis is a stylish pan-Pacific restaurant that combines Japanese and Mexican flavours and specialities such as tacos and sushi. It also boasts one of the largest collections of rare tequilas and mezcal in Europe. More pertinently, it's named after the founder's dog and celebrates National Dog Day by offering a dog-friendly menu throughout August.

Where better to take your pooch than the spiritual home of contemporary offal dishes? St. John is credited with reviving the interest in such dishes, with a particular standout being its famed roast bone marrow. The Michelin-starred restaurant is dog-friendly in the bar area, and with the abundance of bones being thrown about here, don't be surprised if your doggo gets treated to one as well.

Serving locally brewed craft beer and food, Hackney Church Brew Co. aims to provide a welcoming space for the entire community. This includes dogs, whether in the taproom or the spacious beer garden. You can enjoy a changing line-up of beers here, as well as nibbles from the bar or a full meal. They're a very popular local choice on Sundays, as they also serve roasts.

The Gaucho steakhouses all over the capital are dog-friendly bar none – if you don’t mind triggering serious drooling from your paw pal as you bite into a prime cut of beef. Dogs are welcome in the main dining area of each Gaucho restaurant from noon to 6pm, with water provided. The Hampstead branch, however, is especially ready for dog walkers, as the first Sunday of each month is designated Doggy Sunday and includes different activities.

Not only does Max’s Sandwich shop churn out tasty sarnies in distinctive flavour combinations, for example the lasagne sandwich, it’s also extremely dog-friendly. They even run a separate Instagram profile featuring just the dogs that turn up at the shop, so your doggo just might walk out of there a social media star, while you waddle sedately out behind them after having filled up on one of Max’s unique sandwiches.

Over the span of nearly twenty years, the family-run 40 Dean Street has become nearly synonymous with Italian dining in Soho. The restaurant extends its hospitable atmosphere to furry friends as well, welcoming them in the tastefully furnished interior and helpfully providing water. Two-legged companions can look forward to authentic Italian food such as pasta and risotto, prepared using fresh ingredients.

A pint at the pub or tasty Chinese food at the restaurant, what comes first? The answer is … dogs come first, obviously. Jokes aside, this combo British pub and stylish Chinese eatery is extremely dog-friendly, welcoming your four-legged companion not just with all the treats they could want, but even dog-friendly beer. “Hair of the dog that bit you” is starting to get a whole new meaning …

Located next to Regent’s Canal and boasting a waterside bar and terrace as well as an upper wraparound terrace, this contemporary gastropub in Granary Square is an ideal stop for a drink or a snack while taking your pooch out for a sunny walk along the water. The Lighterman also offers a tasteful dog-friendly dining room, while the menu features spruced-up takes on classic British pub fare.

The informal Rotunda Bar and Restaurant boasts a large, comfy waterside terrace that’s perfect for scenic views as well as dogs. The latter are most welcome there and in the bar of this contemporary British eatery, and they’ll be greeted with a bowl of water. There are complimentary dog biscuits in the bar as well, so they’ll have something to munch on while you work your way through the British specialities with international influences.

The eco-conscious Apricity by low-waste advocate and chef Chantelle Nicholson applies the core tenets of sustainability, responsibility, regeneration and hospitality, not just to its dishes but its venue as a whole. The Mayfair restaurant utilises upcycled furnishings and champions a menu of low-waste, veggie-emphasising dishes. It’s also dog-friendly, apart from the chef’s table experience.

Decorated with a pair of colourful murals, Plaquemine Lock is a vibrant waterside establishment hidden behind a classic pub façade. The menu is unexpected as well, as it draws heavily on flavourful Cajun and Creole cuisine in its mission of promoting Louisianan culture in London. The pub has an outdoor area but is dog-friendly throughout, and there are primo walkies opportunities along Regent’s Canal as well.

This North London hotel-slash-pub is renowned for its unbeatable roasts, a hearty meal of roast lamb rump, ricotta-stuffed courgette and more. The cosy pub is also well-prepared for dog walkers who stumble through its doors after trekking around Hampstead Heath, letting them and their paw pals rest up in the downstairs area. Some of those roast leftovers might even make their way to a very good boy …

In 2016, Hackney’s beloved Marksman became the first pub in London to be named Michelin Pub of the Year, with the accompanying buzz still very much alive years later. Dogs are welcome in the ground-floor bar area, meaning you’ll have to forgo the muted charm and full menu of the upstairs dining room, but the “bar snacks” menu with the pub’s infamous filled buns definitely remains in play.

The timeless L’Escargot has been offering classic French cuisine in a sophisticated setting since the 18th century. Doris the bulldog hasn’t been around quite that long, but she’s an essential part of the present-day L’Escargot experience nonetheless. She can often be found at the restaurant in her unofficial capacity as receptionist, making sure only well-behaved pooches make their way into this lavishly decorated establishment.

The Happenstance in Central London boasts great views of St Paul’s Cathedral and provides a trendy setting for brunching, cocktails, quick meals and all sorts of other occasions. The modern bar and restaurant offers seasonal all-day dining, highlighted by aesthetically pleasing favourites from around the world. The dog-friendly restaurant often collaborates with outside partners to throw special pet-themed events, including drag brunch pawties.

The grandiose five-star Egerton House Hotel in Knightsbridge is a great choice for out-of-towners who want to treat themselves and their pets to a luxurious stay. The convenient location makes exploring the area's main sights or venturing further afield simple, but you might have a hard time persuading your pooch to join you once they've had a taste of the hotel's afternoon tea. The Doggy Afternoon Tea menu is designed especially for dogs and even includes a chicken consommé martini. During the experience, an artist will paint a bespoke portrait of your dog.

Some of the top spots in London for wine enthusiasts, the Vinotecas around the city aim to redefine wine bars by providing a more informal setting. You are welcome to enjoy the various vintages on offer regardless of your prior wine-related knowledge level. The global wine list is complemented by classic British and European fare, and your pooches are welcome as well.

The Red Lion and Sun, voted one of the best pubs in the UK, is a favourite of Highgate’s residents, thanks to its rustic, tasty British fare that centres around oysters, mussels, beef, chicken and lamb. With two beer gardens, there’s ample outside seating for you your dog, though pooches are welcome inside as well. The pub only asks that you notify them in advance, so that they can seat you away from other dogs and avoid any feistiness.

Aiming to provide something for everyone, the casual Ollie's Houses feature the likes of biltong steak, biscuits and wine on its menu. Its dog menu, that is – the human one features an array of Asian-influenced specialities, with brunch dishes served every day until the evening. Dogs are also entitled to free water and a puppuccino on the house.

Chelsea’s stylish Bluebird serves quality European classics throughout the day in its various area. The establishment welcomes pooches in its café, courtyard, bar and lounge, so you can always head here if you want to grab a drink with your best friend. The sustainability-minded venue also often hosts various dog-themed offers, events or even menus, so they won’t feel left out.

The family-run Kudu Collective serves sophisticated South African flavours with European influences at its two restaurants and bar in Peckham, with mouth-watering dishes such as grilled potato flatbread with lardo and wild garlic, peri peri duck hearts or biltong. All of the tastefully furnished locations are dog-friendly, with the owners’ own doggo Isla is often around as well, looking to make new friends.

The award-winning Brutto ostensibly specialises in Florentine cuisine, but with the restaurant’s mascot Bailey even having her own Instagram profile, it’s safe to say they know their way around four-legged guests as well. The relaxed, homey venue welcomes people and dogs alike with warm service, providing authentic Italian fare for the former, and bowls of water and even scrap bones for the latter.

Like its sibling 40 Dean Street, 64 Old Compton Street is an authentic, family-operated Italian eatery in Soho that strives to offer reasonably priced Italian fare crafted from fresh seasonal ingredients. Drawing inspiration from New York's famed Studio 54, the restaurant boasts a dark-blue interior adorned with timeless antiques. Delight in a variety of Italian classics, including pasta dishes, stone-baked pizzas, risottos, and an array of classic Italian cocktails and signature concoctions.

Shake Shack is a household name, with the global fast-casual chain operating hundreds of restaurants across the world. Not many people know that the chain is very dog-friendly as well, however. It's not only that you're welcome to bring your dog along to the Shack Shack branches either. Each of the company's locations has a specially-created dog menu with treats such as red velvet dog biscuits or pup-friendly vanilla custard.

Renowned for its timeless Italian gastronomy for more than a decade, Trullo is a perennial North London favourite. You can savour freshly-made artisanal pasta served on crisp white tablecloths whilst your four-legged friend gives you the full-on puppy eyes in the hopes that some of that nice beef shin ragu might make its way to the floor.

One of the buzziest openings of 2023 is also one of its hippest and hoppest. Leyton's Homies on Donkeys is a vibrant taqueria inspired by hip hop culture, with a chill vibe, colourful murals, and a banging soundtrack of classic 90s hip hop tunes. The joint serves up authentic tacos that regularly rank among the best in town, and both you and your dog will feel welcome here.