Where the Dogs Go

10 favorite dog-friendly hangouts in Austin and beyond

Doghouse Drinkery & Dog Park Leander bar dog puppy Austin

Check out our favorite spots for you and your four-legged friend.

Everywhere you go around Austin, you are sure to see someone out with their dog. Whether on a trail, in a coffee shop, or having happy hour, dogs are keeping Austin furry.

In honor of National Dog Day, August 26, we put together a list of some of the top places to take your four-legged best friend in and around the city.

Cenote
Located in a renovated historic home on East Cesar Chavez, Cenote serves coffee, wine, beer, and a menu filled with local purveyors. The patio is dog-friendly and water bowls are provided.

Doghouse Drinkery and Dog Park
Located in Leander, this dog park is as much fun for humans as it is for dogs. Come for a casual gathering or join them on September 11 for the Who Adopted Who event benefiting the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

Hotel San Jose
This 40-room urban bungalow style hotel is located on South Congress and welcomes dogs on the lounge patio, as well as in the guest rooms. Dogs are very much loved here and always treated with a water bowl and plenty of dog treats.

Jester King Brewery
Get slightly out of town and head west on Highway 71 to Jester King Brewery, a farmhouse brewery specializing in wild ales and spontaneously fermented beers. Leashed dog are allowed to hang out with you while you sip beers crafted from the brewery's own well water and locally grown malted grains.

Jo’s Coffee
Home to the iconic “I love you so much” wall on South Congress, Jo’s coffee shop loves dogs. Grab a coffee and pastry for you as well as some dog treats for your best friend. And don't miss the Lyndon Lambert Memorial & Pet Parade Contest held every year in March, where dogs parade down South Congress in full costume — a sight to behold.

Moontower Saloon
Located in “Way South Awesome, Texas,” Moontower Saloon welcomes dogs inside the bar and outside on the enormous wooded patio area. Dogs must be on leash, but there is plenty of room for them to stretch out and walk around.

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters & Bakery
Providing a European atmosphere on the lake, this coffee shop offers an assortment of hot and cold beverages, pastries, and cheesecakes. Wi-Fi is complimentary and dogs are welcome on the beautiful patio with water bowls provided.

Perla’s
Nestled under the shade of beautiful oak trees, Perla’s patio is perfect for dogs and people watching. Serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, the menu offers an array of fresh seafood, and water bowls are provided for dogs.

Taverna
Recreate the famous scene in Lady and the Tramp on the patio at Taverna, where you can order plain noodles for your dog. Water bowls are provided for your dog at this little piece of Italy on Second Street.

Yard Bar
A dog park and bar in one spot. Dogs can enjoy room to play and gourmet eats off the doggie menu, including sliders and ice cream. No need to be jealous — there is plenty of fun and a wide assortment of food and drinks for humans as well. Daily admission is $5 per dog with annual and monthly memberships available.

There's more where this came from. Check out other dog-friendly bars and patios that we have highlighted. But first, work up an appetite! Here are some favorite trails and parks to explore with your dog:

Red Bud Isle: This popular leash-free park for dogs offers trails and swimming. But get there early as parking is limited.
Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park: Enjoy the Turkey Creek nature trail at Emma Long located in northwest Austin. Having so much fun you want to stay all night? Camping is available.
Zilker Park: The City of Austin operates 12 off-leash dog areas in the city. One of the most popular areas is Zilker Park, with its unfenced grass oasis and amazing views of the city.

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Games on the Go

This outdoorsy mountain trolley is now a vintage arcade in Austin

Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley still bears most of the markings from its past life in Tennessee.

Some classic arcade games are now on the go in Austin with the launch of the Austin Arcade Trolley. Housed in a renovated trolley car, this new mobile arcade shows off eight vintage 80s and 90s games, while keeping some of the transportation nostalgia intact, too.

Austin Arcade Trolley owner and ex-corporate salesman Trey Tschoepe said in a press release that the idea came about after attending birthday parties with his 6-year-old daughter. The parties inspired a desire to "keep Austinites young at heart." It wasn't intended as a business, but Austinites can now book it for their own events.

The vintage games include:

NBA Jam
Golden Tee
Ms. Pacman
Atari
The Simpsons
NFL Blitz
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter II

Austin Arcade Trolley interior Even though the aesthetics are different, both halves of this bus are very retro.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

It's not just limited to those classics, though; a 55-inch screen will let guests play more than 30,000 other games. Minecraft, Roblox, and Tetris are a few of those offerings.

“Not only are we delivering nostalgic fun that accessible to all ages, but we’re also doing it in style with a vintage trolley car converted into a mobile arcade," said Tschoepe. "There’s truly nothing else like this in Texas or anywhere else.”

There certainly are other mobile arcades, but the trolley is unique not just for its vintage selection but a delightfully outdoorsy look. The back of the vehicle looks like an arcade, but the front and exterior sidestep the expected design elements — neon colors, envisionings of cyberspace — by keeping everything as-is.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley basically looks like any other mobile arcade.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The wooden interior still has some passenger benches, and the outside even displays its original affiliation: the Tennessee town of Pigeon Forge, where it was designated a "Fun Time Trolley."

Tschoepe did put some work in, even though he kept the aesthetic intact. He purchased the decommissioned car in May 2024 and spent six months implementing custom woodwork and other design updates.

Now it can fit 15 guests in the arcade section, with space for 7 more in the seating section. There's also wifi and air-conditioning, and guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks onboard.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley brings light to an airier side of gaming.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley is available for hourly booking every day. The case price is $375 including delivery, setup, and unlimited play within the booking time, which happens in two-hour increments. It can travel around Austin as well as to Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Buda, Kyle, and Lakeway.

Tschoepe welcomes kids and adults for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, weddings, corporate and team-building events, and anywhere else it's needed.

“We’re excited to spread the fun throughout Central Texas," he said.

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