The Rhode Island capital should be on your New England bucket list, with stunning architecture rising above the historic streets, busy districts filled with college students, and pet-friendly amenities. Providence is the state’s political hub that wasted no time in making life easier for local pets.

Relaxed policies have made restaurants, hotels, and other venues start to allow pets. Notable pet-friendly places in Providence include Bell Street Dog Park, Books on the Square, also rides on the Rhode Island Fast Ferry for day trips to Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island. But before venturing outside of town, the pet-friendly dining scene in Providence has plenty to experience.

Pearl Street Café

Pearl Street Cafe is a small neighborhood cafe where the locals go for their morning brew and where dogs—familiar or newcomers—are treated like family. Since 2019, word of mouth has spread about the cafe. It surpasses expectations for service and food, so it will deserve two paws up from your pet.

Flags wave outside the entrance to the Pearl Street Cafe. The cafe provides a couple of tables in the storefront to accommodate those eating with their pets. The inside is tiny, so it’s the best spot for canines to get comfortable. But with its deli-style menu, you won’t be seated for too long before venturing into the Upper South Providence neighborhood.

Homemade eats make all of your deli favorites come to life. Its extensive list of sandwiches includes the corned beef steamer or a classic turkey sandwich. Keep warm outside with a bowl of chicken noodle soup, or cool off from the heat with scoops of homemade gelato.

Amenities and More: Offers Takeout, Covered Outdoor Seating, Full Bar

Address: 78 Pearl St., Providence, RI 02907

Chomp Kitchen

Whether it’s the food or the atmosphere that keeps you coming back to Chomp Kitchen, it will soon become your favorite dog-friendly restaurant in Providence. Get the beers flowing as you enjoy the outdoor patio ambiance with your pet.

Chomp Kitchen is a full-service restaurant and beer bar near the Seekonk River banks. So, you’ll see everyone from casual diners to people hanging out at the bar. A row of picnic tables lines the side of the restaurant, so there’s plenty of room to include your pet. They’re even heated to keep those paws cozy on the cool ground.

Order up! Friendly servers quickly serve your food once ready in the kitchen. Chomp specializes in traditional American dishes like burgers and sandwiches. Try signature items like the chomp chicken sandwich seasoned with hot sauce or the house burger served with melted gouda cheese. It also has Asian fusion dishes like the crab rangoon burger and crispy Korean wings.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Wheelchair Accessible, Heated Outdoor Seating, Waiter Service

Address: 117 Ives St, Providence, RI 02906

What Cheer Tavern

Till 2 AM, What Cheer Tavern is barking with excitement. Arrive well before the kitchen closes to enjoy tasteful renditions of popular bar food and has more craft beer options than one could ask for. The intimate bar and dining setting will make you and your pet feel like regulars, even if it’s your first time.

Stroll the shady pathways in the Roger Williams National Memorial before visiting What Cheer Tavern nearby. This pet-friendly tavern sends you and your pet into the backyard—a stylish patio area with tables beneath umbrellas. So naturally, this space is popular when the weather is nice. But the serene patio is even comfortable if it’s just you and your pet.

Buffalo chicken wings are always a hot menu item. But you don’t always have to go spicy. Keep your mouth cool with unique creations like the mojo fries and bacon wings. There’s also a steamy bowl of beef stew served with a side of grilled buns to warm you up for the dog walk back home.

Amenities and More: Many Vegetarian Options, Accepts Credit Cards, Waiter Service, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar

Address: 228 New York Ave, Providence, RI 02905

Garden Grille

It takes a lot of energy to keep up with active pets. Give yourself the health boost you need at the Garden Grille. It gives a menu full of reasons why you should eat healthy and still have great-tasting food you look forward to eating.

Garden Grill is a modern vegetarian and vegan restaurant. It specializes in wraps, sandwiches, and dishes that seem impossible to be vegan-friendly. Experience the healthy versions of popular dishes like Korean tacos, the tofu BLT sandwich, sriracha buffalo cauliflower, and sides like the vegan Mac and cheese.  

Meals are prepared with meat alternatives like tofu and mushrooms to create impossible meat that tastes identical to the actual food. Each of the ingredients is selected to maintain great taste. Even the dressings are vegan!

Show your pet that eating your veggies is good when you dine with them onsite. Garden Grill has a dog-friendly deck set with tables. It’s open daily for lunch and dinner but closes on major holidays.

Amenities and More: Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar, Waiter Service, Accepts Apple Pay, Accepts Android Pay

Address: 727 East Ave. Unit 7, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Tallulah’s Taqueria

Lines stretch from the walk-up window at Tallulah’s Taqueria. You’ll spot hungry diners with leashes in hand, ready to enjoy Tex-Mex food with their pets. It opens just before lunch to secure your outdoor seating. Hope you’re not in a rush because these tacos will have you returning in line for seconds.

You’ll need plenty of elbow room for handling those tacos, so the small indoor space isn’t ideal. The pet-friendly outdoor dining area is set in a fenced lot adjacent to the food truck. Put your stuff down at one of the picnic tables to claim your spot before running off to play a game of cornhole.

All games stop abruptly once you’re ready to dig into your tray of tacos. Three is the magic number to fill you up with Mexican street-style tacos topped with only the freshest ingredients. Keep your tray uniform with barbacoa, potato, pork, black bean, carne asada, and vegetarian tacos, or get one of each.

Amenities and More: Offers Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Vegan Options

Address: 146 Ives St., Providence, RI 02906

Y Noodle & Bar

Check in on time for your lunch reservations at Y Noodle & Bar because plenty of other pet parents would gladly take your spot. Everyone craves Asian fusion food midday, and this noodle spot has the best ramen bowls and rice dishes.

Located in Federal Hill, Y Noodle & Bar joins one of Providence’s popular restaurant hubs, including other cultural cuisines such as Italian (the area is nicknamed ‘Little Italy’) and Middle Eastern.

Y Noodle & Bar built a wooden deck to accommodate pets dining in. The large portions mean you’ll be sitting for a while, but the deck is heated to keep you cozy the entire meal. Start with appetizer favorites like pork soup dumplings and kimchi bao. It makes its ramen with fresh ingredients—spicy miso, pork, and shoyu for vegans. The Noodle Trio dish lets you sample three favorites to find a favorite when you and your pet return.

Amenities and More: Women-Owned, Asian-Owned, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service, Takes Reservations, Accepts Apple Pay, Accepts Android Pay

Address: 425 W. Fountain St. Ste 100, Providence, RI 02903

Figidini

Fingers (or paws) crossed for a beautiful day. The outdoor tables at Figidini come out with the sun. It’s the perfect climate to enjoy the signature wood-fired pizza. It puts the chalkboard sign on the sidewalk when open from Tuesday to Saturday. So, stop by the next time you’re out on a dog walk through the heart of Downtown Providence.

Figidini only opens for dinner, so you’ll have only a few hours to enjoy one of Providence’s best-rated restaurants. It’s a casual eatery that specializes in wood-fired foods. Scents from the large grill can be smelled from the outdoor seating in the front of the store.

You and your pet will drool over the perfectly-made pizzas. Each pie is made-to-order, starting with fresh dough, a thick layer of marinara sauce, and toppings before going into the wood-fired grill. Within minutes, your pie will emerge with a crisp crust. Meatball and Margherita are popular flavors. In addition to pizza, it has Mediterranean dishes and salads.

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

Address: 67 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903

Great Northern BBQ

Barbecue is typically a thing of the south. Great Northern BBQ shows that even New Englanders know how to put a bit of soul into their cooking. This small food truck comes with a big bite as it shows off its grillmaster skills. It’s open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays!

Great Northern BBQ is known for smoked barbecue, similar to the meats founds in Texas and Kansas City. Several types of meat are available, including wings, brisket, ribs, and sausages. Everything is cooked over a wood fire—even the veggies are tossed on the grill! Make it a complete meal with popular sides like cole slaw, mac and cheese, and cornbread, which always pairs with barbecue.

A plate full of barbecue from Great Northern is too heavy to carry far. There are tables next to the food cart, so you can dig in while your food is still piping hot. The rib meat slides right off the bone when your dog needs something to nibble on during dinner.

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

Address: 9 Parade St, Providence, RI 02909

Nick-A-Nees

Pets don’t need ID to get inside Nick-A-Nees, a hidden gem dive bar in the downtown jewelry district. While other outdoor patios close for the cold season, this venue opens its doors to pets to enjoy the warm inside dining room.

There are plenty of places to sit in Nick-A-Nees. Let your dog sniff out the best seat in the house, one near the walls for gawking at the vintage signs hanging up, or a center table with great views of the stage when it hosts live music nights. Rub your pet for good luck during a game on the pool table and record videos of your dog nodding its head to the bluegrass jams rocking until 2 AM.

The kitchen at Nick-A-Nees is open from Thursday to Sunday. It’s a great place to get fish and chips, one of the popular foods in New England. And you can easily pop the miniature wine donut in your mouth all at once.

Amenities and More: Full Bar, Live Music, Pool Table

Address: 75 South St, Providence, RI 02903

Ogie’s Trailer Park

Leave the camper vans behind because Ogie’s Trailer Park is a place for dining instead of camping. It is one of the unique dog-friendly restaurants in Providence, immersing you and your pet in the trailer park theme once your paws touch the back patio.

The retro trailer park theme recreates an era with vintage trailers decorating the back patio, a neon sign, and memorabilia from Route 66. Colorful lights dangle above the patio tables, and the grass turf makes it comfortable for your pet to nap while you eat.

Retro aesthetics can also be found when eating. It serves traditional American food like burgers, wings, and sandwiches. Meals come basket-style and are placed on vintage checkerboard paper. Add sides like the loaded ranch tater tots or Brussel sprouts for something healthy. Sniff out the tiki bar trailer to get a handcrafted cocktail.

Ogie’s Trail Park hosts events throughout the week, including trivia nights on Tuesdays, so expect larger crowds. Since the kitchen stays open until midnight, it will be worth the wait.

Amenities and More: Vegan Options, Heated Outdoor Seating, Accepts Credit Cards, Full Bar, Waiter Service, Wheelchair Accessible

Address: 1155 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02909