Five Things to do with Your Dog in New York City

Great Places to Take Your Dog in New York City

I am biased, I know, but I think New York is the dog-friendliest city in the United States. It has to be, there are more dogs than children in the Big Apple! That means dog owners are always looking for things to do with their pooches in New York City. Here are just five fun places you can visit with your dog:

1. Central Park

Central Park is the ultimate dog run. It is open to dogs, get this — OFF LEASH! — from sun up to 9:00 AM and from 9:00 PM until it closes.

Coming soon: Urban Dog’s comprehensive guide to off leash areas in more than 70 city parks.

2. Boris & Horton

Boris & Horton is New York City’s first dog friendly cafe. It’s located in the East Village and recently underwent a huge expansion. It is definitely “Dog Central” on Manhattan’s lower east side.

Boris & Horton is located at the corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. Read about their expansion on Urban Dog.

3. Dog-Friendly Bars

Another East Village dog friendly hang out is the bar, d.b.a.  In 2015 New York City relaxed some of its prohibitions against taking dogs to restaurants. Now bars like d.b.a and Brooklyn Brewery and restaurants like (one of my very favorites) Cookshop actively seek out dog owners.

Here are some pics from d.b.a.’s Instagram.

d.b.a. is located at 41 First Avenue.

4. Brooklyn Bridge

Looking for the ultimate dog walk? Check out the Brooklyn Bridge. Its dog friendly, the view is amazing, and there’s plenty to do on either end of the expanse.

5. Get Out of Town

This last suggestion is a bit counterintuitive: get out of town!

Seriously.

There are a multitude of day trips and weekend getaways available to New Yorkers and their dogs. Our favorite was Fire Island. But you can explore the rest of Long Island, the Catskills, the Adirondacks, Connecticut, and New Jersey. You have countryside to explore and some of the world’s best beaches to enjoy.

Read more about our weekends on Fire Island here, and learn about different ways to travel out of town with your dog here.