By Shelby Deering | Photo by Hillary Schave
With the number of great restaurants our city has, Madisonians have a wealth of delicious dining options. And sure, you could always bring home a doggie bag for your best furry friend, but wouldn’t it be more fun to eat dinner or have a drink with your pup? If your answer is an unequivocal “yes” — here are recommendations for some of the best pet-friendly patios and eateries in town.
There are plenty of places where you can kick back with a beer while you give your pup a scratch behind the ears. Think: downtown’s Tipsy Cow, where you can sip an artisanally produced beer on the patio while your dog laps up a bowl of water; Monona’s Off Broadway Drafthouse, with its dog-friendly patio and fish fry that is perfectly paired with an accompanying brew; or Willy Street’s Mickey’s Tavern that welcomes leashed pups on the patio and serves local craft beers.
Also, people particularly enjoy coming with their pups in tow to The Biergarten at Olbrich Park, dotted with picnic tables and offering unbeatable Lake Monona views. Oh, and the craft beers aren’t too bad either.
Maybe you’re in the mood for a spot that brews its beer in house. In that case, head to the patio at Waunakee’s Octopi Brewing, known for its tasty IPAs, or Karben4 Brewing on the East Side, where dogs are always allowed on the expansive patio — and where you’ll undoubtedly sip the famous Fantasy Factory IPA. Wisconsin Brewing Company in Verona offers treats, water bowls and even dog toys available for purchase.
While a patio is plenty of fun for a pup, they can have playtime of their own at The Boneyard on the East Side. Dogs can romp and meet friends at the on-site dog park while you look on, a Summer Shandy in your hand. There are also frequent dog-inclusive live music events, plus, you can even get your little floof groomed while you’re there.
For a dog-friendly distillery where you can savor a whiskey or bourbon, look no further than downtown’s Old Sugar Distillery, where dogs can visit the bar and patio, or State Line Distillery in the Marquette neighborhood, readied with treats behind the bar and tons of dog-centric events — they’ve even been known to serve “pup-tails” to canine customers, a blend of dog-safe oat milk, peanut butter and water.
For something on the sugary side, stop by Bassett Street Brunch Club with its outdoor Fido-friendly patio and the best French toast in town, or Michael’s Frozen Custard on Atwood Avenue, where you can eat something sweet and soak up sweet moments with your pupper.
