50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Durham

“Great place but some dish not familiar“

“I love Ally 26, the atmosphere is wonderful. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. The drink selection creative with many great options to choose from.“

“The Velvet Hippo is exactly the kind of place that makes you feel like you accidentally stumbled into your new favorite hangout. We dropped in on a Sunday because (a) they’re proudly LGBTQ+ inclusive, and (b) they allow dogs—which, let’s be real, is a massive win for any spot in Florida heat.

First impression?
Packed. But in a good way. The energy was high, the patio was buzzing, and every table felt like the cool kids' table. It was one of those effortlessly fun environments where you can’t help but vibe along.

Food-wise:
I went with the tostadas, which were absolutely brimming with flavor—crispy, fresh, and loaded with toppings that weren’t just filler. My husband ordered the Cuban sliders, and full disclosure: I immediately regretted not doing the same. They were juicy, savory, and had us doing the polite “just one more bite?” dance until the plate was clean.

Drinks:
His old fashioned? A+—perfectly balanced and smooth. This isn’t one of those bars that half-asses the cocktail game. They know what they’re doing.

Would we go back?
Without hesitation. Great food, great drinks, a fun and inclusive crowd, and our dog was treated like royalty. If you’re in St. Pete and want something casual but full of personality, The Velvet Hippo is the move.

Pro tips:

* Get there early on Sundays—it gets crowded fast.
* Order the Cuban sliders. Trust me.
* Patio is dog-friendly, so bring your pup for bonus smiles.“

“The food is great. Very well managed. I’ll definitely go back!“

“They allow dogs 🐶 What’s not to like? 🫶🏻“

“Very friendly and they make great recommendations on drinks.“

“Great menu and flavorful food!“

“Disappointed despite the hype. This place came highly recommended, but we left feeling let down. It’s a seat-yourself, order-at-the-bar establishment, but the experience was far from smooth. The tables were dirty, and our seats were wet (was it beer, water, or something worse?). The line to order was chaotic, with people forming their own lines, and the food arrival was just as disorganized. Some of us finished our meals before others even received theirs. Thankfully, we ordered nachos as a starter, which helped hold us over.

Two of us ordered the Birria Dip, and both came out completely different. One barely had any beef, and at $14.50, it was far from worth it. On the positive side, the leftover Thanksgiving sandwich was plentiful and flavorful. The cheeseburger, however, was average, you can skip this one.

Unfortunately, we forgot to take photos of the food because we were too busy enjoying each other’s company.“

“One of the best smash burgers I’ve ever had. Wouldn’t change a thing on the Classic!“

“Tasty dishes, festive "beer garden" atmosphere. The made-on-site ginger beer is a winner!“

“Excellent vegan options. Will go back.“

“I love the food Go there for the best food ever“

“please lose the QR menus. I agree with the baby boomers this is a terrible way to have menus. I literally want to just give you money for food and yall are making it very difficult. its 100 degrees outside, open your dining room already.“

“Para ser mi primera vez en el de Durham 1000% recomendado“

“Amazing Vegan Buffet on occasional Thursdays. I'm not even a vegan but I LOOOOOVE all the selection of savory and sweet items to enjoy and they are all delicious. great service too !“

“Just WOW! Man oh man I’m a Pizza Lover through and through and this has to be the best pizza I’ve had in a decade! So great! This is the REAL DEAL!“

“Max with Offline - I recently went to The Wine Feed in Durham and had such a great time. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I love that they offer wine in multiple ways: there’s a retail section for bottles, a wine bar, and a full restaurant. It really gives guests a lot of variety, no matter what kind of experience you’re looking for.

For appetizers, we ordered the Wagyu Beef Sliders and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and both were absolutely amazing. Everything was packed with flavor. If I had planned to drink more wine, I definitely would’ve tried the Cheese and Charcuterie Board because I saw one at the table next to us and it looked incredible.

There were four of us at the table, and we each tried different entrées. One person ordered the Crab Risotto, which was full of flavor and had a nice kick of spice. Another ordered the Sweet Corn Carbonara—the sweet corn cream sauce was phenomenal and the fettuccine was cooked perfectly al dente. Someone else got the New York Shrimp with a seasonal arugula salad and balsamic demi-glaze. It was seasoned to perfection and didn’t need any sauce. I had the North Carolina Catch Special, which that night was shrimp and scallops served over a bed of vegetables. It was absolutely delicious.

The menu is on the smaller side, but everything we tried was bursting with flavor. The service was phenomenal—the staff was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. The only small downside was that they had run out of straws, which I personally like when I’m drinking, but it was hardly a dealbreaker.

Overall, The Wine Feed delivered on all fronts: atmosphere, food, wine, and service. I’ll definitely be back.“

“After an event at the hotel I had the opportunity to eat at the bluestone restaurant. Marla and Jerome were awesome! They were extremely busy but still found a way to be courteous and made sure the food came out in a decent time. The brussel sprouts were very good, definitely worth a try!“

“Had very relaxing time with family. The food was enjoyable.“

“I had a fantastic experience at Sushioki in Durham, NC! We tried the spicy tuna burrito and the HoeDeopBap burrito, and both were absolutely delicious. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the flavors were spot on. The service was excellent — the staff was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. I highly recommend Sushioki for anyone craving a fresh, tasty sushi burrito in Durham!“

“Absolutely delicious! Wish you had a location in Greensboro,NC !!“

“Loved the friendly atmosphere and dog friendly“

“Yummy pastries! 🥐 🥮 Definitely recommend this place! 🥰“

“Anissa’s is truly a hidden gem of the Triangle. They make some of the best food in the area, period, the end. Especially if you’re trying to stay healthy, they have the freshest Acai bowls that they customize to your liking and no added sugar like other places. On top of that they have a loyalty card and after 10 berries, you can get a free bowl. The service is bar none, after my 3rd time they had my order memorized, which is why I go in once/twice a week!!!“

“Visiting Weldon Mills Distillery was truly an unforgettable experience. The tour was nothing short of amazing — not only was it incredibly educational, but it was also engaging from start to finish. You can really feel the passion and craftsmanship behind every step of their process, and the guides do a fantastic job of bringing the history and science of distilling to life. Customer service was top notch. Everyone we met was warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable, making us feel right at home the moment we walked in. It’s clear that the staff genuinely care about the quality of their product and the experience of their guests. And the drinks? Absolutely incredible. Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon lover or just curious to try something new, their spirits are smooth, flavorful, and expertly crafted. Each pour tells a story, and it’s clear why Weldon Mills is earning a reputation as one of the best distilleries in the region. Highly recommend this stop to anyone traveling through North Carolina — you won’t be disappointed.“

“Everything! Such a lovely atmosphere and amazing food!“

“Great staff! Great service! Excellent food! Ambiance atmosphere superb. My family of 6 were all very happy! Owner is kind and friendly! Presentation of food well done!“

“We came in to visit some friends and they recommended this place for brunch. It was absolutely AMAZING! They were really quick to get our food out to us and our server was very kind and attentive. I got the brisket and grits brunch option and WOW! The brisket was perfect and I'm typically pretty picky about meat quality. I also order grits anytime I go out to breakfast/brunch, because they are my favorite, and these were hands-down some of the best I've ever had! The only ones that came close were what I've had in New Orleans. 10/10 would come back to Durham just for this restaurant! We also got the beignets and my partner got the eggs Benedict with fried green tomatoes + blue crab! Everything was delicious! I just truly cannot emphasize enough how I will be dreaming of their brisket and grits until I can come back again.“

“Have driven by so many times and finally experienced the outdoor dining last night on a beautiful evening. The food was delicious (even thought they had run out of the rice and beans we were excited to try - just a great reason to go back!) Loved the drinks we tried, and we even splurged with some ice cream at the end. Service was fast and friendly. Now we just wish we had gone sooner!!“

“The food was great and the service was excellent! I highly recommend it!“

“Great food, great atmosphere, great owners! Cubano was terrific!“

“Had a great night out with family, only made better by having Omii as our server! She made our night, kept us laughing and having a good time throughout our meal. Thank you Omii for being amazing!!!“

“Always great food and great service“

“It was my 1st time, I was in press with the place“

“This place is wow. Amazing beautiful deserts. Always fresh. Paninis! Unusual for NC as well, great selection. And the custom croissant sandwich I had today with egg, ham, tomatoe and lettuce was warm and heavenly. Also love the pictures on the walls.“

“Hands down this is the best bakery in Durham! All the items are well crafted and tasty. I'm often happily surprised by a new flavor combination, twist, or exceptional version of a baked good!“

“Great fun with the family“

“We felt so welcomed here — it truly felt like home! The staff were incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to make us comfortable. They even made me a Vietnamese coffee with dairy-free condensed milk, something I’ve never had before, and it was amazing. We also loved how they took the time to chat with us and recommend other spots nearby with dishes similar to what we enjoy in Vancouver. Such a thoughtful and authentic experience — we’ll definitely be back!“

“One day my daughter called me, (knowing that Skeeball is both of our favorite arcade games), and said Boxcar is having a Skeeball tournament on Wednesday, do you want to go… I said sure! That was two and a half years ago, and excluding vacations and surgeries, we’ve played every Wednesday since! We love the place!! I’m not only really fortunate to get to hang out with my daughter for a few hours having fun playing the game we love. But the employees there have become friends. They’re all great people! Friendly and professional! Especially Malik and Crews, but honestly all of them!
Just solid good folks! The food is surprisingly on a level I wasn’t expecting… excellent! And the bartenders bust their butts to get you served… I love this place!! And my favorite day and hi lights of the week is Wednesdays of course because of Skeeball at Boxcar!! Thanks so much for what you do!
We’ve even made friends with the regulars who come on Wednesdays to play Skeeball!
Is just a great and friendly atmosphere!!
And a second thanks to Malik for bringing the fun, and making it happen!
I would and do recommend Boxcar to everyone who wants to have a great time in downtown Durham! The best!! 😋❤️👍🏻“

“Fave ice cream and buttery fresh baked cones/shells since first visit in ATL 11 years ago! They taste like they smell! Tried opaque tonight and it was delightful! So happy to have closer to home in SC!“

“Fantastic place. I was on a long road trip with my dog and really needed to get some work done, which required wi-fi. I couldn't find a single place that was dog friendly (indoors on a 90+ degree day) and also had Wi-Fi to get my work done. But Foster Street coffee came to the rescue. They are dog friendly inside, have Wi-Fi, have comfortable tables to sit at, really friendly baristas who made me feel welcome, and one of the most delicious flavored iced teas I have ever had. Will definitely return if I come through the Durham area again. Thanks Foster Street!“

“the best sandwiches in the triangle, hands down. I love no. 11 (egg salad) and no. 22 (turkey and havarti - pictured).

they are absolute whoppers and always so fresh and so tasty. the staff are all very lovely and even during the lunch rush the sandwiches are quick to come out.“

“My husband and I go here pretty often and the food is consistently delicious! I'm actually surprised I dont see more people here. The service is great and at this point they know our regular order. The seating is very comfortable and I have no complaints about the music but it has more of a formal vibe than a casual one. I'd definitely recommend.“

“Friendly staff and great food. Was worth the wait.“

“ordered 2 pizzas one was gluten-free. we were pleased and tried 2 appetizers and both desserts. thank you our expectations were met.“

“I got the Greek omelette with light feta spinach and peppers ! It was amazing ! Great lil spot!“

“The absolute best place for authentic Latin food. We eat there weekly and the food and service has always been consistent. I highly recommend the tamales and pastor tacos.“

“We had an afternoon of Whiskey tasting. it was absolutely incredible the guy (Duke) was so knowledgeable about everything whiskey. We tried 6 completely different but all incredible whiskeys (well except the Ardberg).“

“Excellent gluten free options that are very tasty“

“CASH ONLY. They do have an ATM.

Hushpuppies were outstanding. I ordered the Spicy Buffalo Bone in Wings. Sauce was phenomenal, fall of the bone tender with a great fried crispy coating. Loaded baked totato and brisket sandwich also great. Chopped BBQ phenomenal. Not sure how I had never been before. Kenzie our waitress was top notch. Didn't miss a single thing. Be sure to give her a big tip“