Dog Friendly Restaurants in Louisville

While it’s up for debate on the proper pronunciation of ‘Louisville,’ one thing you can’t argue about is the pet-friendly food scene. Louisville is a hidden gem for foodies. Restaurants are one of the go-to venues in busy districts like the Fourth Street Live and the Bourbon District. However, it doesn’t take indulging in spirits to be able to appreciate rich culinary specialties crafted in the ‘Derby City.’

So saddle up and race your way into the best pet-friendly restaurants in Louisville.

Mask up and get in the ring with Taco Luchador Taqueria for a head-to-head round with its flavor-packed tacos. Eat bite packs a punch of top-quality ingredients, and spices have a surprising kick on contact with your taste buds. This pet-friendly restaurant is open daily, so every day is ‘Taco Tuesday’!

This contemporary Taqueria has no competition when it comes to Mexican cuisine in Louisville. The back porch feels like your private fighter’s lounge—a chill, modern outdoor space called the’ Taco patio.’ Your pet will be ringside with you and happy to help take down any food opponent that comes against you.

Ding! Round one against the Baja Fish as it goes down with a seasoned grilled taste. Round two pairs you with the Tinga tacos, a nutritious match thanks to its vegetarian ingredients. The dessert flan is a dish your pet will be begging to be tagged in on. If everything goes as planned, you’ll celebrate your win with margaritas.

Amenities and More:Latinx-owned, Offers Takeout, Vegan Options, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible

Address:938 Baxter Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

Old Louisville is a popular district to walk around with your pet to see historical Victorian buildings holding stories preserving the local history. With so much unique architecture, it’s easy to mistake MozzaPi as just another antique structure. However, step inside its old walls, and you’ll discover one of the hidden gem pet-friendly restaurants near Louisville.

MozzoPi doesn’t look like your typical pizza shop. It established itself in 2011 in an antique building. Scents of pizza baking in the oven fill the cozy rustic indoors. Picnic tables are set up on the backyard lawn, where you’ll be playing keep away with your pet once the food arrives.

The gourmet pizzas are made to order by cooks hand-selecting the best ingredients for your pie. The spicy Giardiniera pizza wakes up your mouth with hot peppers. The mung bean sprouts and carrots give the Thai pizza an authentic Asian-inspired taste. The sweet onion marmalade pizza has a unique flavor that will leave you speechless.

Amenities and More:Offers Takeout, Accepts Apple Pay, Gluten-Free Options, Vegan Options, Wheelchair Accessible, Covered Outdoor Seating

Address:12102 La Grange Rd., Louisville, KY 40223

Get ready to spread your wings and fly right into one of Louisville’s hotspots for pets. The tasty southern comfort food makes you shake a tailfeather with each bite. Your pet can swoop into the outdoor dining area with you.

Park in the rear and choose a seat on the covered outdoor patio next to the giant eagle mural decorating the wall. String lights illuminate the space on the late-night pet-outings when It’s open until midnight (Friday and Saturday only). The patio is only open during the summer, so take advantage while the weather is perfect.

The menu ratings soar high, with more than 1,000 reviews on Yelp alone! Wet your beak with a beer from its extensive list. The Eagle specializes in chicken with dishes like juicy fried chicken with a side of Mac and cheese and the crunchy chicken BLT with collard greens on the side. Vegans have options like Kale and Chopped Salad.

Amenities and More:Offers Takeout, Vegan Options, Waiter Service, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible

Address:1314 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40204

Your pet can finally get excited about being told to go outside to the back deck. Great tasting food has taken Back Deck BBQ from a busy kitchen operation to a thriving food truck and is now a mainstay in Louisville’s food scene with a brick & motor location near Louisville.

Back Deck BBQ is across from Iroquois park, a large park with pet-friendly hiking trails and scenic nature views. Add a tasty ending to your day in the park with a meal at the restaurant.

Straight off the grill, Back Deck serves hearty favorites like pulled pork, burnt ends, beef ribs, turkey, and chicken wings. The restaurant smokes each of its meats every day to achieve its unmistakable smoky taste. Try different side combinations for the perfect meal. Pair the Mac and cheese with green beans, or go with baked beans and a side of fries.

Now that Back Deck has a storefront, it hasn’t forgotten about its pet parent patrons who supported the food truck. Pets are welcome on the literal back deck, with plenty of picnic tables to sustain its popularity in the community.

Amenities and More:Offers Military Discount, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Android Pay

Address:801 W. Kenwood Dr., Louisville, KY 40214

Indiana is less than 10-minutes away from Louisville when you cross over the Ohio River via the Clark Memorial Bridge. Right over the bridge is the Pearl St. Taphouse, a pet-friendly taphouse and restaurant with classic American eats and lots of craft beer options.

Louisville is famous for its spirits, with attractions like the Bourbon Trail and distillery tours. However, you’ll have plenty of craft brew choices to sample here. Order a flight for a colorful set of beers ranging from Hoosier Red Ale to Pineapple Papaya and everything in between.

It’s best to enjoy beer with a full stomach. Fill your belly with traditional American pub food. The appetizers are served first, so preview your meal with the combo plate of goat cheese stuffed dates and crab cake sliders. Experience an exotic twist to a household classic when you order the parmesan encrusted grilled cheese or keep it simple with a deli-style turkey club sandwich.

Enjoy the casual outdoor deck with your pet. It’s a brewery theme with tables atop bourbon barrels and couches seating to sit back when you’ve had enough to eat.

Amenities and More:Offers Takeout, Many Vegetarian Options, Full Bar, Heated Outdoor Seating, Waiter Service,

Address:407 Pearl St., Jeffersonville, IN

Asian food is as diverse as there are dog species. Chik’n & Mi showcases some of the best exports from Asia—everything from spiced fried chicken from Laos to Japanese sake! The first bite will have you barking in new languages.

The Chik’n & Mi outdoor dining patio is an amateur pet photographer’s dream. The charming space has courtyard tables shaded by umbrellas and bountiful greenery. Have an impromptu photoshoot while waiting for your waiter to serve your food.

There is always something new on the Chik’n & Mi menu. Its famous fried chicken sandwich is a local trending topic as one of the best in town. Popular Asian dishes include pork belly steam buns for your appetizer and miso pork ramen for your main course.

Chik’n & Mi has morning hours on the weekend for brunch. It has a lively atmosphere with Fried Chicken & Waffles flowing from the kitchen and diners guzzling down the refreshing mimosa sample.

Amenities and More:Women-owned, Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service, Soy-free Options

Address:1765 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

Take your pet on an adventure along the Audubon Wetlands Trail in the John James Audubon State Park before settling down for a post-hike lunch at Oskar’s Slider Bar. The iconic bear statue inside will add to your wildlife spotting count for the day—but this bear comes in peace.

The back patio is always buzzing when it’s nice out on the weekend. Reserve a seat beneath the tent if your pet likes shade, or sit in the open outdoors if you want to give your pet some sunshine.

Deciding on one burger in a restaurant you’ve never been to can be a gamble. Thankfully, the sliders let you mix-and-match burgers. The fried chicken slider, smoked pork belly slider, smoked halloumi slider, and banana pork are just a few of the myriad of slider choices on the menu. Health-conscious eaters can opt for the plant-based veggie burger.

Try one of the beers imported from Scandanavia or sample flavors of locally-produced bourbon.

Amenities and More:Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Waiter Service, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible

Address:3799 Poplar Level Rd., Louisville, KY 40213

Only the trendiest of local pet parents will be seen hanging around NuLu—the new Louisville area. Between the cafes and boutique shops, you’ll find pet-friendly restaurants like bar Vetti. This contemporary bar venue has seating areas catering to patrons with two and four legs.

Introduce your pet to chic dining in Louisville at bar Vetti. Dog sweaters are options since there is no dress code requirement to dine in the upscale setting. The bright neon ‘bar Vetti’ sign shines over the neatly paved patio open for pets.

Add a layer of freshly ground pepper and shredded parmesan cheese atop the Rigatoni Cacio E Pepe noodles. Twirl the Bucatini noodles on your fork to scoop with pieces of ground beef. Pick classic Italian dishes like pizza and focaccia bread. Or even find unique dishes like the smashed meatball burger.

Amenities and More:Takes Reservations, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service

Address:727 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40202

Lazy pets will have a hard time being able to experience one of the best pet-friendly restaurants in Louisville. But the thrill of eating with your pet at Big Bad Breakfast first thing in the morning is the best way to kick off any day of the week.

The crisp morning air cools the outdoor patio to make it comfortable for pets. Friendly servers treat you with cheerful southern hospitality to have a positive start to the day. Big Bad Breakfast lets the early birds get a treat as it opens its doors at 7 AM every morning.

Hearty American breakfast classics taste like home-cooked meals. The southern flavors of the creole omelet mixed shrimp, eggs, and tomato sauce. Huevos Rancheros Grits Bowl Breakfast has a large portion for hungry diners. Taste the fresh slices of strawberries on the French toast. And there’s always chicken and waffles for brunch right before it closes for the day.

Amenities and More:Offers Takeout, Vegan Options, Full Bar, Waiter Service, Wheelchair Accessible, Heated Outdoor Seating

Address:984 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

Grind Burger’s picked the perfect location in NuLu for its restaurant. The outdoor patio space is pet-friendly and still makes you feel like you’re dining on the side of the food truck. The picnic tables are set up on the gravel space your pet will love digging its paws into.

Experiment with specialty burgers from Grind Burger Kitchen. The B&B Burger, for example, uses brie and bacon. Go with the regional flavors of the Southern Burger. Or get creative by personalizing the old-fashioned burger with egg and sauces.

Grind Burger Kitchen has more than just beef burgers. It has healthy options like veggie burgers and a What the Kale Salad. Also, sandwiches like smoked chicken or adult grilled cheese sandwiches.

There are lots of sides to fit every mood. Go traditional with an order of fries, balance out your nutrition with Brussel sprouts, or taste the disco fries that will make you dance. It also has more than 60 bourbons available.

Amenities and More:Takes Reservations, Vegan Options, Waiter Service, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible

Address:829 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40206