Great music, good food, and your best friend by your side—there’s nothing like eating out in Nashville! Enjoy your standard southern cuisine taken up a notch, or partake in a dinner inspired by meals across the globe.
Is your best friend of the furry and four-legged variety? Not to worry: there are tons of dog-friendly restaurants in Nashville. You can grab brunch, pub fare, and even a more formal dinner with your pet in tow. Whatever you’ve got a taste for, it’s easy to find the right pet-friendly dining spot.
Check out our favorite spots below, organized by neighborhood. You’ll find a variety of price points, and we assigned $ is for the most affordable spots—like coffee shops with light eats—while $$$ indicates a more expensive experience with upscale entrees and high-end wines.
Fido (Hillsboro Village)
1812 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
Reservations needed: No
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $
Good for: Quick breakfasts
Fido is a casual eatery—with an outdoor patio perfect for dogs—that began as a coffee-roasting cafe and expanded to the popular hotspot it is now. The restaurant focuses heavily on cuisine sourced locally, including local produce, meat, dairy, and brews. It boasts an all-day breakfast menu and a coffee bar that features organic beans from its sister company, Bongo Java.
There’s no table service outdoors, so pet parents who don’t want to leave their dog unattended may want to place their order online so you can hop in and out quickly.
Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Website
Double Dogs (Hillsboro Village)
1807 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212
Reservations needed: Not available
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Watching a game with friends
Double Dogs is a go-to sports bar for Nashville locals, with nine, dog-friendly locations throughout Tennessee and Kentucky. This busy Hillsboro Village location serves an array of both typical and unique bar food—from wings and club sandwiches to the restaurant’s famous double hotdog. Former patrons reported a very dog-friendly atmosphere on the outdoor patio, which included dog treats and water bowls!
Hours of operation:
Sunday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Boston Commons (East Nashville)
1008 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206
Reservations needed: Encouraged on weekends
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Pescetarians, vegetarians
Boston Commons is a dog-friendly pub that features popular New England-style seafood like clam chowder, fish and chips, and lobster rolls. The restaurant welcomes everyone, but sports fans especially may enjoy the restaurant, with its bar offerings and multiple television screens indoors. Guests who’ve previously dined at Boston Commons with their dogs praised the service they received, including the delivery of a water bowl to their patio table.
Hours of operation:
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Thursday: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Website
Ugly Mugs (East Nashville)
1886 Eastland Ave., Nashville, TN 37206
Reservations needed: No
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $
Good for: Relaxed coffee break
With a warm and inviting industrial style, the dog-friendly Ugly Mugs coffee shop has an atmosphere that’s perfect for reading, sipping, or working on your computer. In addition to coffees and teas, the menu offers light breakfast eats, such as bagels, avocado toast, breakfast burritos, waffles, and pastries. There’s also a small patio outdoors with chairs and tables where dogs of all sizes are welcome—though guests may note there’s limited seating.
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website
Redheaded Stranger (East Nashville)
305 Arrington St., Nashville, TN 37207
Courtesy of @dogsofrhs on Instagram
Reservations needed: Doesn’t accept reservations
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
A quirky fast casual taco joint, Redheaded Stranger—named for the Willie Nelson album—features a variety of southwestern Tex-Mex dishes. Dogs are welcome on the restaurant’s covered outdoor patio where pet parents will find water bowls to keep their pup hydrated on warm days. Patrons can enjoy unique combinations like the Tater Tot Taco or Brisket Taco, alongside a beer or cocktail.
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website
Tennessee Brew Works (The Gulch)
809 Ewing Ave., Nashville, TN 37203
Reservations needed: No
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Craft beer connoisseurs
Tennessee Brew Works features year-round and seasonal hand-crafted beers alongside a unique craft beer-inspired food menu. Think loaded hot chicken fries with beer cheese whiz and IPA pickles, caesar salad with IPA caesar dressing, and southern grilled cheese made with beer bread. Patrons can enjoy live music multiple times throughout the week, whether inside or outdoors on the covered patio. While the patio is dog-friendly for those who want to bring their pups, it does get noisy, so anxious or noise-sensitive pups may want to stay at home—or check out another restaurant on this list!
Hours of operation:
Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Website
M.L. Rose (Sylvan Park)
4408 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209
Courtesy of Instagram @woodythecavalier
Reservations needed: No
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: The best burgers in town
With its reputation as one of the best sports bars in town—along with having some of the best Nashville burgers on the menu—fun and casual M.L. Rose is so popular with Nashville residents that it has three locations in the city, with a fourth one on the way. Its Sylvan Park location features more than 80 craft beers to try, along with snacks like hot cheese curds and craft burger entrees made with pasture-raised Kentucky beef—all of which you can enjoy outside with your dog on a large, partially-covered patio, rain or shine. Visitors should note that not all M.L. Rose locations accept dogs.
Hours of operation:
Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday-Friday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website
Epice (12th South)
2902 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204
Reservations needed: Suggested by previous guests, especially at dinner time
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$-$$$
Good for: Shareable Mediterranean plates
Casual-but-elegant Lebanese bistro Epice is a family-owned establishment that features an extensive wine and cocktail list on its menu, as well as lunch, dinner, and brunch. Guests can split an array of small plates—like falafel, grape leaves, and flatbreads—or enjoy full entreés like lamb shank and za’atar roasted chicken. Previous guests loved the covered outdoor patio, which allows for nice breezes—perfect for guests who want to bring their dog along.
Hours of operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Website
Von Elrod’s Beer Garden and Sausage House (Germantown)
1004 4th Ave. N
Nashville, TN 37219
Courtesy of Von Elrod’s
Reservations needed: For parties of 25-50
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Happy hour deals
With an Oktoberfest-inspired menu and in-house butchery, Von Elrod’s Beer Garden and Sausage House is a German restaurant that features 38 taps and a full menu that includes housemade sausage, southern BBQ, and Texas-style beef brisket. Visitors who love a weekend brunch will find malted blueberry pancakes, chicken-fried chicken and biscuits, and mimosas served in 1-liter steins. You can even bring your pup along to sit outside on the covered and enclosed patio.
Hours of operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Website
Butchertown Hall (Germantown)
1416 4th Ave. N
Nashville, TN 37208
Reservations needed: Highly recommended
Outdoor seating for dogs: Yes
Cost rating: $$
Good for: Gluten and dairy-free options
Germantown’s first beer hall since 1909, Butchertown Hall works with many local breweries and is well-known for their margarita-making skills. They’ve got an extensive and inventive food menu, as well, based around a theme of modern barbeque—dishes include roasted oysters, smoked brisket, ceviche, smoked pork chop, and more. Canine guests are more than welcome on Butchertown’s covered and heated patio—one visitor’s companion received a bowl of water and a side of crispy bacon!
Hours of operation:
Monday – Thursday: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website
There are many other dog-friendly restaurants throughout the city that guests may be interested in:
- Joyland
- SandBar
- Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
- Diskin Cider
- Sunflower Cafe
- Shake Shack
- Vui’s Kitchen
- Tailgate Brewery
- Bringles Smoking Oasis
- Hunter’s Station
Tips to Make Your Nashville Restaurant Visit Better
Restaurant visits may not be a great idea for every dog. Pet parents should use their best judgment and consider some of the occasions it’s better to dine without your pup:
- Your dog barks excessively and doesn’t feel comfortable around strangers
- Your dog has shown signs of food aggression
- Your dog struggles to follow basic obedience training
- Your dog gets agitated around other pups
- Your dog is reactive or sensitive in loud environments
Keep in mind Nashville also has dining rules to follow, such as:
- No dogs allowed inside of the restaurant or where food is prepared
- Restaurants have the right to refuse to serve pet parents if they don’t have reasonable control over their dog
- Pet dogs are not allowed to come into contact with any items involved in food operations, such as dishes, utensils, tableware, linens, etc.
- Dogs must be kept on a non-retractable leash no longer than six feet at all times
- Dogs are not allowed on chairs or tables
- Pet waste must be cleaned immediately and sanitized afterward with an approved product
- Pet dogs can’t travel through indoor or non-designated portions of the restaurant
If your pet can’t make the reservation with you, Ease their separation anxiety—and yours—with a local Nashville Rover pet sitter.
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