Gorgeous spring weather, pollen or not, has Atlantans ready to dine outdoors. Brunch anyone?
But what about pet parents who want their furry friends to be part of the fun? Where can they go for a meal and know their canine family member will be welcome?
As it turns out, dog-friendly is the updated business model for many restaurants. More and more restaurants are taking advantage of Georgia's Department of Public Health new rules that allow dogs in outdoor dining areas.
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
For Nate Hybl of Gusto!, with one Brookwood location and now building out a second on Ponce de Leon Avenue just east of Ponce City Market, being dog-friendly was a natural. “I take Buckley, my Bernese Mountain Dog, everywhere I can. He’s part of the Gusto’s team. All my employees love him and when he’s not there, our customers ask with sincere curiosity, ‘Where is Buckley?’ He’s part of my marketing team and his being at the restaurants is his way of paying me back for all these years of room and board.”
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Jonathan McIntyre, one of the owners of East Atlanta Village’s Midway Pub, says up until the state law changed, they could only allow dogs around the outside of the patio. But now dogs can join their people at a table and weekends in particular find the patio filling up with people and their pets. Dogs are so well thought of at Midway Pub that they host occasional fundraisers for organizations that care for stranded and lost dogs.
Some chefs take the route of Nick Leahy of Buckhead’s Saltyard who also provides special treats for the dogs who come to enjoy the restaurant’s Peachtree Street patio. Locally made Big Daddy Biscuits are offered during patio-friendly weather.
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Those who want to take a break when they’re strolling the Eastside Trail on the Atlanta Beltline have a host of places to stop. We have it on good authority that Beltline Belle, the official “spokespet” of the Atlanta Beltline, can often be found on the patios of Krog Bar and Kevin Rathbun Steak. Belle was rescued by the Atlanta Humane Society and now she helps share tips on keeping your pet healthy along the Beltline. Belle’s motto is, “The path is better traveled with a canine companion.”
Read more places to dine with your dog and pup-friendly patios , and check out 7 dog-friendly restaurants in Cobb County .
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
About the Author
