Luckily for Londoners, the capital is a dog-friendly city. There’s the abundance of green spaces for off-leash walks, the pubs that are happy to welcome pets, and the restaurants that accept doggie guests as well as human ones. So for foodies who can’t bear to leave their canine companion at home, here’s our breakdown of ten of the best dog-friendly dining spots in London.
M BAR AND GRILL, TWICKENHAM
Check into one of the elegant blue banquettes at Twickenham’s M Bar and Grill, and enjoy a menu of modern British classics – including, for the more daring, pig’s head nuggets. Water bowls and treats are on hand for dogs – all sizes are welcome here – and Crane Park is just around the corner for some pre- or postprandial walks. Visit www.luxepetguide.com.
RANDY’S WING BAR, HACKNEY WICK
Dog owners looking for a more casual spot for dinner will enjoy this riverside bar in Hackney, which serves some of the best chicken wings in London. There’s five types of wings to choose from, including classic buffalo, as well as burgers and loaded fries. It’s not far from the green spaces of Hackney and Walthamstow marshes, and pooches are welcome to join their humans, as long as they’re well-behaved. Visit randyswingbar.co.uk.
LONDON HOUSE BY GORDON RAMSAY, BATTERSEA
He’s a well-known dog-lover, so it’s no surprise that several of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants welcome pooches. At Battersea’s London House, guests can sup on bottomless prosecco brunches, and lounge atop comfy leather sofas. Dogs of all sizes can join humans for dinner, with the menu including wild bream and wild duck, as well as beetroot risotto or wild pumpkin for the veggies. Visit www.luxepetguide.com.
THE DUCK & RICE, SOHO
Indulge in some Chinese comfort food at this Soho joint, which serves up dim sum, bao buns, roast duck, and chop suey. There’s a set of carefully selected draught beers on offer too, and an unusually extensive beer cocktail list. Dogs of all sizes are welcome to join their humans, as long as it’s on the ground floor, and might even earn a treat or two for good behaviour. Visit www.theduckandrice.com.
BEN’S CANTEEN, CLAPHAM JUNCTION
South Londoners returning from dog walks on Clapham or Wandsworth Common can stop off at Ben’s Canteen, which welcomes well-behaved pups all day long. Expect gourmet burgers, pulled pork and duck nuggets, with a healthy serving of craft beer or wine. For those that have had a heavy weekend, there’s plenty of room for mutts to curl up on the wooden floorboards, while their humans recover with breakfast burritos or banana pancakes. Visit www.luxepetguide.com.
LISA’S BAR & KITCHEN, NOTTING HILL
West London has a reputation for offering the finer things, and this is certainly true when it comes to Lisa’s Bar & Kitchen. Resident dog Sherlock is ready to greet fellow pooches, who can expect blankets, bowls, and even the odd treat for good behaviour. Lisa’s Bar & Kitchen has a Scandi menu to match its all-white interiors, and serves up reindeer stew and salmon gravlax for lunch, and baked cod and meatballs for dinner – all with a side of aquavit cocktails. Visit www.luxepetguide.com.
COLBERT, CHELSEA
Enjoy the atmosphere of a typical French bistro at Chelsea’s Colbert, which serves a classic Parisian all-day cafe menu – that means everything from escargots to croque monsieurs. Dogs receive their own special treatment, and can expect to be served bones and bowls of water. Be careful on busy days though, as dogs are only allowed in the outside area and at the bar booths. Visit www.colbertchelsea.com.
DAPHNE’S, CHELSEA
There’s both design and dog credentials at this Chelsea establishment, which welcomes pooches into its conservatory while humans enjoy a seasonal Italian lunch menu. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio oversaw the lavish interiors, which are all marble tops, murano glass and cane chairs. There’s a strict code of conduct that governs the behaviour of all canine guests, which includes no excessive excitement and no eating off the table. We hear a rumour that especially well-behaved pups might earn themselves a doggie biscotti from the general manager however. Visit www.daphnes-restaurant.co.uk.
BELLANGER, ISLINGTON
Choose from Toulouse sausages, confit of duck or sea trout at this Islington restaurant, which lets dogs of all sizes through its doors and into its grand wood-panelled dining room. Bellanger was included in the Evening Standard’s list of London’s best dog-friendly restaurants, and the paper notes that pooches can expect to receive not just water, but “a generous supply of biscuits and much attention from the waiters”. Visit www.bellanger.co.uk.
WELL STREET PIZZA, HACKNEY
Well Street Pizza serves up a classic Neapolitan slice, made from fermented dough and cooked in a wood-fire oven. There’s all the classic options on the menu, as well as a few specials including the nduja-topped Calabrese and Collina – and don’t forget the accompanying negroni or Aperol spritz. Four-legged friends can join their humans here, and have even been known to perch on the leather banquettes. Visit www.wellstreetpizza.com.
Do you know of some other great dog friendly restaurants in London? Tell us in the comments below!