Dog Days

10 dog-friendly Austin bars and patios where you can bring the whole pack

In a city like Austin, you shouldn't have to leave man's best friend at home, no matter the occasion.

Photo courtesy of Mutts Cantina

Dogs have great lives here in Austin, with swimming, hiking, and lots of green spaces just about everywhere in the city. Human meal time, though, can be a sad affair when man's best friend has to stay home. Thankfully, lots of Austin restaurants are more than dog-friendly — some of them can't get enough.

You can't swing a stick (go fetch!) around the perimeter of Austin without hitting a brewery that allows dogs, so we figure you've got that covered. The focus of this list is narrowed to restaurants, work spaces, and places to unwind, all in busier neighborhoods. No long drives this time — unless someone really wants their head out the passenger window.

MUTTS Canine Cantina
Okay, so this one is pretty obvious — but it will be a must-see dog haven when it opens in July. It was supposed to be mid-June, but every dog has its day. Canine companions aren't just allowed, but strongly encouraged. There will even be people on-staff to clean up after them and make sure everyone is getting along. Humans can enjoy burgers, "Barkaritas", and other common grill staples while the dogs run around.

Opa!
One of two options basically right next to each other, coffee shop and wine bar Opa! is the more intimate option for a date or just a different sensibility — it's still casual and very eclectic, but slightly elevated compared to the neighboring businesses. No one will look twice at a dog coming out from the bar (unless he's very handsome, of course). The patio is one of the most beautiful in Austin, pet-friendly or otherwise.

Bouldin Acres
Right across the street from Opa!, cocktail, beer, and wine "drinkery" Bouldin Acres is the much sportier option, known for its outdoor space with pickleball courts, lawn games, and a food truck. Living up to the cookout feel, the business actively invites families and their pets to stop by on the website. There's lots of shelter from the sun thanks to shade structures, picnic tables, and dense greenery around the perimeter.

Radio Coffee & Beer
It's hard not to see dogs at Radio Coffee + Beer. The clientele sure loves to bring them to the shaded patio and yard, which stretches underneath two roofs and lots of statuesque trees. The coffee bar inside has some pastries, and the food trucks outside serve breakfast, tacos, fried chicken, and more. Most people at Radio go to work or chat with friends, so their dogs tend to hang around for a few hours at a time.

June's All Day
The busy part of South Congress sees a daily parade of pedestrians with dogs, and June's All Day is one of the more upscale offerings that's happy to host them. The Parisian bistro situates its patio tables behind a row of plants, under a long awning and umbrellas, so dogs will be protected from the sun and passersby. As the name implies, June's is open all day, but it's especially good for a leisurely brunch.

The Little Darlin
The Little Darlin knows its target audience: outdoorsy South Austinites with pets who feel the exact same way. This large outdoor space has lots of picnic tables that pets can lounge under to escape the sun, plus some trees overhead. For such a rustic setting, the long menu may surprise some visitors, who can order a few different salads, comfort foods, a cheesecake of the week, and vegan options like jerk "chicken."

Bakery Lorraine
Bakery Lorraine is a great place to stop while running errands at The Domain, and Fido can come, too — inside or out. The growing San Antonio-based bakery sells some of Austin's most lavish treats, as well as breakfast dishes like, of course, Quiche Lorraine. With sandwiches and drinks, it's great for takeout or to stick around. When the bakery has whipped cream on hand, visitors can order a "pup cup" free of charge.

Sour Duck Market
Not only is Sour Duck Market a fabulous place to get a sandwich no matter who you're with, you might want to slip a piece of steak to your friend under the table. The locale is easily accessible from downtown without being fully in the thick of it, and the outdoor area makes smart use of that extra space. One patio is enclosed in screen to keep the bugs away; The other is fully open, lined with water misters.

Hank's Austin
Hank's, with its modern and semi-industrial architecture, offers a deep, completely covered patio that's great for visitors of all kinds on a hot day. Canine friends are celebrated with frequent reposts on the restaurant's Instagram account. The Southern restaurant has a light and casual menu, but the food is still upscale and refreshing for another patio visit. Even better, burgers are half-off every Monday.

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
This patio is chic, classy, and just a little weird — perfect for Austin. It's also completely covered, and the side yard is shady, too. The best part is the events and special menus; Honey Moon Spirit is good with a theme. It's a fun place for a special occasion, like a holiday prix fixe or the recurring outdoor burlesque brunch, without having to leave any furry family members behind. It's also a great cocktail destination if a full meal isn't on the table.

dogs brunch lunch dinner families

Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.