Dog Friendly Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, and the dog population increases with each new resident. With so many paws trekking the charming historic streets, the North Carolina capital has developed several places where pets can feel at home.

Dog walking around Raleigh takes you through plant-filled neighborhoods, down Oak-shaded sidewalks, and attractions like the North Carolina Museum of Art that immerses pets in the local culture.

Dine pleasantly with your pet at some of the many dog friendly restaurants in Raleigh and the greater Triangle.

To say that Prime Barbecue knows barbecue is an understatement. Not only has the founder Christopher Prieto won championships for his postmaster expertise, but he also filled the role of barbecue judge in other events. So, he knows good barbecue and strives only to serve the best quality to his diners. When he’s not teaching barbecue classes around the country, he’ll be present to welcome you and your pet to a contemporary barbecue dining experience.

Prime Barbecue has a trendy decor. Pet parents can sit with their furry friends on the picnic tables set on the stylish patio covered with turf.

At Prime Barbecue, no part of the hog is wasted! Daily specials incentivize you to try different meats every time you come, like wing specials on Wednesday and beef ribs every Friday. Load up your tin tray with prime meats like juicy brisket, homemade sausages, stringy pulled pork, and bbq dishes covered in sauce. The restaurant also serves beer to wash it all down.

Amenities and More: Offers Takeout, Wheelchair accessible, Accepts Credit Cards

Address: 403 Knightdale Station Run, Knightdale, NC 27545

Opened in 2019, 13 Tacos & Taps expanded from its food truck into a dog-friendly brick-and-mortar location. The only thing that changed is the address because you can still enjoy its signature Asian fusion tacos. The menu looks like a collage of cultures that all share one thing in common—great taste!

The inside of 13 Tacos & Taps has an updated bar setting. There are also a few tables in front of the store when dining with your pet. Enjoy chips and guac brought to each table before your taco entree is ready.

The street-style tacos served at 13 Tacos & Taps fit in the palm of your hand. But all the ingredients piled on the tortillas have other plans as they burst out either side when you take a bite. So, catch the flavors of Korean bbq, porky Asia, grilled mahi mahi, red bird, and birria tacos before they escape.

You can also get other sweet treats from Mexico, like sugary churros and creamy tres leches.

Amenities and More: Latinx-Owned, Women-Owned, Offers Military Discount, Takes Reservations, Accepts Apple Pay, accepts Android Pay, Waiter Service, Happy Hour Specials

Address: 10511 Shadowlawn Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614

Your pet will be on top of the world when you eat at Everest Nepali Kitchen. It specializes in food from the Himalayan region, so you don’t have to go to extreme heights to taste it. The more spices, the better, and it even lets you personalize how hot you want your food.

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen, and the restaurant’s outdoor tables are perfect for catching a cool breeze. Sit beneath the awning to keep those paws out of the sun.

Customers rave about the food at Everest Nepali Kitchen. These cuisines are known for using lots of spices, and this kitchen hits it right on the nose. Taste authentic dishes from Nepal and India, such as gobs Manchurian, chicken saag, lamb vindaloo, and fried Momo. Climb the spices levels each time you visit, starting with the mildest level one to the hottest level 10.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Accepts Credit Cards, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service, Covered Outdoor Seating

Address: 212 Grande Heights Dr., Cary, NC 27513

Moore Square is one of the dog-friendly things to do in Raleigh. It hosts a pop-up dog park and has large lawns for walking or napping with your pet. And when you’re done playing with your pooch, get some grub at the nearby St. Rich fine Oysters + Bar. Just a block away, you can go from grass fields to oyster platters in just a few paw steps.

St. Roch Fine Oysters is a casual restaurant that feels like upscale dining. It features an outdoor atrium before entering the restaurant, arranged with dog-friendly seating and heat posts for chilly nights.

Friendly servers host you for the evening. It’s a seafood and creole restaurant that gives you excellent meal options regardless of which you crave. Seafood lovers will be full after a platter of raw oysters, the signature Crab St. Roch, and peel & eat shrimp that makes you work for your food. Creole cravings can be settled with thick gumbo and red beans and rice.

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

Address: 223 S Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601

Standing on its reputation as a top-rated pizza shop in Raleigh, Peri Brothers Pizza continues to serve its NY-style slices with the same passion as day one. The pizza shop has been under new ownership since 2015, but the Buffalo natives bring authenticity to the pizza.

Taste the same great pizza that the Peri Brothers grew to love back in their hometown—and folding it in half is the best way to enjoy these large slices. New York-style pizza slices rep the Big Apple with thematic names like Way NY pizza, Flat Iron pizza, and the Hell’s Kitchen pizza. In addition to Pizza, it also serves Italian subs, pasta, and buffalo wings.

Pets are treated like an honorary sibling at Peri Brothers. It has picnic-style tables in front of the restaurant with the NYC skyline plastered on the window at eye-level with your pet.

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

Address: 7321 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615

The stylish Cortez restaurant is the perfect backdrop for pet lunch date photos. This seafood restaurant and cocktail bar provide an exceptional culinary experience.

The verdant decor at The Cortez blurs the line between inside and outside. The dog-friendly outdoor space is an enclosed area set beneath natural tree shade and lights—inside mimics a similar setting with lots of plants and natural light. Dine on the modern patio with your pet and enjoy the charming atmosphere through the nighttime—there are even heaters to keep it cozy when the sun sets.

Start with drinks at the cocktail bar. It makes handcrafted tropical cocktails, or order a glass from the wine list curated to pair perfectly with the menu.

The house chef Oscar Diaz, a James Beard nominated chef, prepares eclectic cuisine for the Cortez’s menu. The food is top-quality thanks to hand-selecting ingredients in local farmers’ markets and fish caught nearby by local fishermen. Oysters are a house specialty, coming in varieties such as raw oysters, seared NC oysters, and chargrilled oysters.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Latinx-Owned, Heated Outdoor Seating, Waiter Service, Happy Hour Specials

Address: 413 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603

Downtown is a busy district to explore with your pet when walking past the many historical buildings, modern landmarks, and dog-friendly green spaces. Anise Pho is located in the heart of downtown in a residential section of Glenwood Ave, where it’s known as a go-to restaurant for local pet owners. It’s hard to resist taking a breather at the outdoor tables, so supplement your dog walk break with delicious pho and refreshing bubble tea.

Did you know that Asian food is healthy for you? Anise Pho serves Vietnamese cuisine full of nutrients and health benefits. Its fresh pho bowls are made with rare steak, brisket, chicken, and others. The meat and veggies are tossed in a bowl of flavorful broth to sip once you finish everything inside it.

Sit streetwise on the outdoor patio to watch the traffic cruising by while you eat. Outdoor diners aren’t too isolated whenever it opens the wall-to-wall windows on nice days.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Accepts Apple Pay, Full Bar, Waiter Service, Happy Hour Specials, Wheelchair Accessible, Heated Outdoor Seating

Address: 222 Glenwood Ave Ste, Raleigh, NC 27603

Asian food isn’t the only local cuisine striving to introduce healthier options to the Raleigh dining scene. Aladdin’s Eatery takes your taste buds on a magic carpet ride to discover a whole new world of Lebanese cuisine.

Aladdin’s Eatery has provided Lebanese hospitality and food to locals for nearly three decades. It’s a hidden gem in the North Hills waiting to be uncovered. So, rub your pet and a magic lamp and wish for a table on the dog-friendly back patio. The Mediterranean-style dining space puts you in the mood to taste authentic cuisines from the Middle East.

Vegan pet parents now have a place to eat well with their pets. More than 40 Vegan-friendly dishes are on the menu, like spicy cauliflower, tabouli, and dawali. The Vegetarian combo pairs all the best healthy dishes together, while the Aladdin Favorite Combo creates a rice platter with meat and salad. Rejuvenate your body with freshly-squeezed raw juices and smoothies.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Waiter Service, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards

Address: 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd. Ste 136, Raleigh, NC 27609

Enjoy farm-fresh dining at the Farmside Kitchen. One of Raleigh’s newest farm-to-table restaurants opened in 2021 and quickly jumped on the radar for local pet foodies thanks to the go-friendly patio. Stick a fork into the signature farm bowls that give a fresh taste of the local harvest.

It’s never too early or too late to eat healthily. Farmside Kitchen is open daily 11 AM-10 PM, so it’s great to visit any time of day with your pet. It features a covered front patio that allows dogs to join at the table. And the friendly staff means your dog will get a warm welcome when your server comes to take your order.

Farmside Kitchen partners with regional farms to source ingredients within a paw’s reach of Raleigh. Popular dishes include the Farmside Bowl, filled with grilled chicken and shredded kale; the Rancher bowl, topped with blue tortilla chips; and the Pitchfork bowl, flavored with chili lime tofu and grilled corn. Make your bowl truly yours by mentioning whether you want light or heavy dressing.

Amenities and More: Covered Outdoor Seating, Accepts Credit Cards, Wheelchair Accessible, Offers Takeout

Address: 5431 Page Rd, Durham, NC 27703

Nod your head and tap your paws because Scooters Grill & Bar will have you dancing in your seat all night. Whether it’s the live music or tasty bar food that gets you moving, you won’t stop until either finish. It’s a recipe for a good time that the restaurant has practiced since opening in 1998.

Scooters Grill & Bar is a lively setting to eat with your dog. It hosts live performances from local musicians on the covered patio, complete with professional lighting and sound system. On other days, you and your dog may walk right into one of the onsite concerts hosted on a large outdoor stage. However, your food being served at the table is the only thing that will take you and your pet’s eyes off the performers.

The smell of hot traditional American cuisine greets your nostrils before taking your first bite. The half rack of ribs will leave you with plenty of bones to give your pet. The juicy heritage burger places a hefty beef patty on grilled buns. Or try more crafty meals like the bacon-wrapped meatloaf.

Scooters Grill is one bar where drinking isn’t necessary because the lemonade is just as popular!

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Live Music, Full Bar, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service

Address: 1911 Sego Ct, Raleigh, NC 27616