Dog-Friendly Oakland
Oakland has beer gardens and taprooms with room for dogs, a lake to walk around, fenced dog play areas in the flatlands and miles of off-leash trails in the hills. We list 62 dog-friendly restaurants, bars and breweries, 15 dog-friendly cafés and ice cream shops and 14 dog parks and off-leash trails in Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville and San Leandro, from Jack London Square and Temescal to Lake Merritt and the Oakland Hills.
Categories in Oakland
Eating out with a dog in Oakland
California law lets a restaurant welcome dogs in its outdoor dining area if the owner chooses to. Your dog must be on a leash or in a carrier, stay off the seats and benches, and reach the patio without walking through the restaurant (AB 1965). So most places on this list are about patios and beer gardens. A few bars and taprooms let dogs come inside, like Two Pitchers Brewing Oakland, Heart & Dagger Saloon, Temescal Brewing, Wolfhound Bar and more.
Beer gardens and taprooms
Our list has 29 breweries, taprooms, bars, wineries and beer gardens where a source says dogs are welcome, among them Two Pitchers Brewing Oakland, Heart & Dagger Saloon, Temescal Brewing, Wolfhound Bar, Arthur Mac's Little Snack, Cato's Ale House and more. Jack London Square, Uptown and Temescal have the most, and Alameda has several breweries and a distillery.
Coffee and ice cream
Our list of dog-friendly cafés in Oakland has 15 coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream parlors with outdoor seating, from Piedmont Avenue and Rockridge to Park Street in Alameda.
Dog parks and off-leash trails
The City of Oakland runs fenced dog play areas such as Hardy Dog Park in Rockridge, Mosswood Park and Joaquin Miller in the hills. Everywhere else in Oakland's parks, dogs must be on a leash (City of Oakland).
In the East Bay regional parks above the city, Redwood, Sibley and Anthony Chabot, dogs may be off leash on many trails if they stay in sight and come when called. Use the leash in parking lots, picnic areas and within 200 feet of trailheads (East Bay Regional Park District). See all dog parks in Oakland.
Oakland by area
We sort the list by neighborhood and group the neighborhoods into areas: Downtown and Lake Merritt (Downtown, Uptown, Jack London Square, Grand Lake), North Oakland (Temescal, Rockridge, Piedmont Avenue, West Oakland), East Oakland and the hills (Dimond, Laurel, Fruitvale, Montclair), plus Alameda, Emeryville and San Leandro. Berkeley has its own page.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed on restaurant patios in Oakland?
Often, yes. California law lets restaurants welcome dogs in outdoor dining areas if the owner chooses to, as long as the dog stays on a leash and off the furniture. This list has 62 restaurants, bars and breweries in the Oakland area where a source says dogs are welcome.
Can dogs go inside bars in Oakland?
At some. On our list a source says dogs can come inside at Two Pitchers Brewing Oakland, Heart & Dagger Saloon, Temescal Brewing, Wolfhound Bar, and Drake's Barrel House.
Where can my dog run off leash in Oakland?
Inside the city's fenced dog play areas, such as Hardy Dog Park, Mosswood Park and Joaquin Miller, and on many trails in Redwood, Sibley and Anthony Chabot regional parks, where dogs must stay under voice control.
Which areas does Woofstops cover around Oakland?
The city of Oakland plus Alameda, Emeryville and San Leandro. Berkeley, Albany and El Cerrito are on the Berkeley page.