Truth be told, this guide could have included over 100 different dog-friendly places in Tucson. Not just restaurants, but also dog-friendly cafes, bars, markets, and more.
So we whittled it down to the places we at Tucson Foodie love to take our dogs most often. Then we asked our dogs themselves for their top picks — you’ll find their Foodie Favorites throughout the article below!
“The wines here are paws-itively divine.”
Who says grape lovers aren’t as dog crazy as hops fans? Get acquainted with Arizona wines by ordering a tasting flight or savor a glass of your latest favorite at this St. Philips Plaza wine bar, just steps from the Rillito hike-and-bike trail. Plenty of folks skip the exertion and head straight for the cushioned patio seats, pups at their feet, and chill out with a local rosé, pinot gris, or merlot.
Bison Witches offers a range of sandwiches and bar-style food, along with a full menu of drinks to boot. The back patio is ideal for dogs and their people, providing shade, fans, and even food/water bowls.
“Bone appetit!”
Borderlands Brewing Company doesn’t just make great beer for people — they also offer a dog-friendly brew called “Woof!” made from ingredients like bone-in pork butt, carrots, and ginger. This non-alcoholic beverage, featuring local dogs on its can, is available for dogs to enjoy at the brewery or to take home.
If you’re bringing your canine companion, remember that Borderlands is BYOB (Bring Your Own Bowl).
The crowd that converges on this innovative Fourth Avenue venue is as colorful as the 10 shipping containers that host two full bars and four local food vendors. Grab a seat in the courtyard and choose from a thoughtfully curated selection of craft beers, several of them Arizona-based, and creative cocktails. After 6 p.m., you might be asked to show ID.
They’ll take your word about your dog, though– given the canine-to-human-year ratio, they’re legal at age three.
Opened at the end of August, Corbett’s isn’t just new…it’s big, too. Like, really big. The outdoor seating, outside bar, and pickle ball courts all offer plenty of room to bring your pup. They’ve even got dog bowls ready for water — especially important in the heat!
“The food here is grrrr-eat!”
With a cafe, bar, and restaurant, the Coronet is great for just about any occasion. And, thanks to the courtyard patio, you’re invited to bring your dog along. They’ll provide a water bowl, and perhaps even a tasty little treat or two (for you and your pet, both).
Located in the DoubleTree Hotel, El Mezquite Grill takes the idea of a dog-friendly restaurant to the next level. All week long, they offer a fine menu of local beers, handcrafted cocktails, and authentic Mexican Food. Those are for you.
BUT! On Sundays from 10am to 12pm and 6pm to 8pm, they offer freshly prepared food for your dog — a Chef’s Bowl full of chicken, rice, and veggies. Just ask for the “Yappy Hour Menu” (We KNOW! We love it too).
Even when it’s not happy hour, they’ve always got water available at their H20 bar. Just make sure your dog drinks it with paw-pinkies out!
Continuing the traditional association between dogs and firehouses – and extending it far beyond the signature Dalmatians – this firefighter-owned microbrewery gives a lot of love to their canine guests in all their locations. In midtown, flower boxes and vines keep you feeling a world apart from the busy Grant and Swan shopping center but afterwards, at next door’s PetSmart, you can stock up on supplies and reward your good boy or good girl with a treat.
“My favorite spot to relax after a ruff day!”
Beer dominates the drinks menu at the Gardens — everything from IPAs and stouts to fruit beers and red ales – but you can also sit back with a craft cocktail or glass of wine and gaze at the Santa Catalina vistas. Need caffeine? Hillhouse Coffee in the parking lot added cold brews to the beverage options. Yard games contribute to the fun atmosphere, but if your dog likes to fetch, maybe steer clear of the cornhole board and bocce court.
Ghini’s is a Tucson brunch and lunch staple that creates from-scratch meals. Long known for being pet friendly, they currently they are working on a “Pampered Pet” section of their new menu.
Le Buzz Caffe has been around since the ’90s, and they’ve got this whole breakfast and baked goods thing down to an art. With two spots in Tucson, you’re never too far from a killer quiche or a sandwich that hits the spot.
Not only is the patio pet-friendly, they regularly host “Woofdown Wednesdays” — a monthly event that donates its profits to the Southern Arizona Humane Society.
Part of the Omni Hotel & Resort, Legends is a sports bar that offers a wide selection of beer, wine, spirits, as well as an all-day food menu featuring everything from hot dogs to hoagies. Pup lovers’ alert: On Sunday, a “Yappy Hour” features food and drink specials for you and treat specials for your pet.
Milkshakes, Italian sodas, and cold-brew coffee drinks — oh my! Just 10 minutes from the entrance to Catalina State Park, this is the perfect spot to treat yourself after a hike with your dog or to fortify yourself beforehand. You’re not the only one who will be excited about the mouth-watering array of cool treats: A pup-sized cup or cone of house-made vanilla ice cream will have even the least-drooly dogs salivating.
“Two paws up!”
Dogs love Italian restaurants. After all, where else are the chances for a runaway meatball treat so high?
Locale is a dog-friendly (and people-friendly) modern Italian restaurant that uses fresh and local products to craft delicious and homemade classics. And the outdoor seating is great for that nice fall breeze, string-light ambiance, and content canine by your side.
“Wandering around the Annex is such a treat!”
On weekends, pups and their people gather in the courtyard of the Spanish Village-style Mercado complex from morning ‘til evening. Kickstart your day with a cuppa from Presta Coffee Roasters; later, order a cocktail, beer, or wine from Agustin Kitchen’s outdoor-indoor bar. In the nearby MSA Annex, a sprawling open-form venue with plenty of picnic-table seating, it’s Decibel Coffee Works that purveys the caffeine while Westbound pours the hard stuff.
While plenty of places in Tucson go out of their way to accommodate the four-legged, only MotoSonora provides pups with an enclosed run where they can expend a little energy — supervised by their people, of course. Afterwards, chill with your best friend on the patio of this vehicle-themed venue, perhaps while downing a Fog Lights Hazy IPA, listening to live music, and fantasizing about taking a motorcycle trip with your dog in a custom-built sidecar.
Enjoy the views, the brews, and the next level pub food at this Oro Valley gastropub, where the Santa Catalina Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for you to sample a flight of artisan beer while your pup eyes potential canine companions.
This unassuming, beloved spot serves Mexican & American food with a New Mexico-style flair — particularly those dishes made with Hatch chiles (spicy, but not overpowering). Their passion is evident not only in their food, but in their deep connection to the community since 1999.
Grab your leash and your sunglasses and head to their pet-friendly patio for a breakfast bite, a lunch break, or a dinner date. The beer is cold, the margaritas are bold, the welcome is warm, and the weather is…well, probably also warm. But at least your dog is happy!
Students and older intellectual types bring their laptops and lap dogs — or Great Danes — to the orange tree-shaded patio of this Campbell Avenue oasis, drawn by the laid-back atmosphere and the appealing selection of organic teas and coffees. Crowd favorites include the Oaxacan Mocha with just a touch of chocolate and spice and everything nice. Dogs happily lap up water from one of the frequently refreshed bowls.
On the East side, just outside the Saguaro National Park, Saguaro Corners has been serving an array of Western-style comfort food since 1956. We’re talking things like Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, Nantucket Fish & Chips, and Cowboy Potstickers (which are a lot like regular potstickers, only you have to say “YEEHAW!” after each bite).
The mountain views will take your breath away — you and your dog can enjoy them from their covered and pet-friendly patio which offers misters in the summer and heaters in the winter.
Baristas serve the world in a cup at this local coffee roaster, where beans are direct-sourced from farms in prime coffee-growing regions and your beverage is tailored to your palate. Your dogs may not be aware that you’re enjoying international travel while sipping a macadamia milk latte or a Yama cold brew, but when you’re happy, they’re happy.
Savaya has five locations, but the patios in midtown and Oro Valley are the most serene.
Picture a garden setting with Saltillo tile, string lighting, live music, and a handful of different cuisine options. Now picture yourself lounging on said patio with your dog. See how happy you both look?
Among the eateries assembled are Arizona Wine Collective (see above), Proof Artisanal Pizza & Pasta, Reforma Modern Mexican, and Union Public House. They offer bountiful outdoor seating for pets and people alike.
Teas on tap, anyone? Not your traditional tearoom, the Scented Leaf features as many colorful cold tea concoctions as it does hot teas – and adds coffee, beer, and wine to the mix (sometimes literally). Knowledgeable “tea-ristas” are on hand to guide tea newbies and undecideds. Also not in the hushed tearoom mode: a location on the University of Arizona’s bustling main drag, making this best for dogs who aren’t shy or noise averse.
One of the top spots in town for you and your pup to chill together, the beer garden in the Tucson Hop Shop lets you enjoy a huge selection of craft beer on tap and from a cold case, as well as a smaller selection of wine. You can bring in eats from the adjacent Ciao Down Pizza or from one of the rotating food trucks – including one called You Sly Dog, with hot dogs and other meaty fare that your own sly dog will doubtless want to share with you.
As if exuberant burgers, characterful fries, and satisfying milkshakes weren’t enough, it turns out that Zinburger’s commitment to “Zinfully indulgent experiences” also extends to the furry friends of their human customers.
You dog will appreciate the covered patio seating. Maybe not quite as much as they’ll enjoy the mouthwatering food smells (BURGERS!), but close.