Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Travel with pets

Where to eat with a pet

Restaurants and cafés usually allow the animal in the outdoor area, on a leash and next to the table.

When traveling with a pet, mealtime requires a bit of planning. In many tourist destinations there are restaurants, cafés, bakeries and ice cream shops that accept dogs, and some accept cats in a carrier or on a leash.

The rule is each place’s policy. Whoever asks beforehand, chooses the table well and manages the pet’s behavior eats more calmly and helps the venue stay open to pets.

Where the animal is usually accepted

At most restaurants that welcome animals, the pet’s place is the outdoor area: porch, deck, garden or sidewalk tables. The indoor dining room, where food is served, is usually closed to them, by house rule and, in some municipalities, by health regulation.

Some venues present themselves as pet friendly and offer a water bowl, mat or even a menu for dogs. Others just allow the animal at outside tables. Street cafés, park kiosks and outdoor food courts tend to be the easiest.

Bakeries, supermarkets and food stores generally do not allow animals inside. At those stops, an adult waits outside with the pet, without leaving it tied up and alone on the sidewalk.

On rainy or cold days, the outdoor area may not be in use. It’s good to have a second address noted or the option to order food to go.

What to ask before you go

A call or a message sorts it out. Ask if the place accepts animals, in which area, if there’s a size limit and if you need to reserve an outdoor table, which is often small.

Also ask if the area is covered, if it has shade and if it’s away from street traffic. For a dog that startles at noise, a table next to a busy sidewalk is not suitable.

Less busy times, like an earlier lunch or mid‑afternoon, make the pet and other customers more comfortable. On holidays and in high season, the wait for an outdoor table can be long: check before you go.

Table manners

The animal stays on the floor, beside the owner’s chair, on a short leash. It does not get on a chair, stool or table, does not move among other tables and does not receive food from the plate.

A walk before the meal helps: a dog that has already burned energy and relieved itself tends to lie down and wait. A mat or a blanket from home marks its spot.

If it barks nonstop, lunges at another animal or becomes very agitated, the right thing is to get up and take a walk, even in the middle of the meal. If it soils the place, the owner cleans it up immediately and tells the staff. Not all customers like animals, and peaceful coexistence depends on the person who brought the pet.

Children at other tables often want to pet the animal. It’s up to the owner to say if the animal accepts it and to show how to approach calmly from the side. If there is another dog nearby, keep distance between the two until you see how they react.

Water, shade and what the pet must not eat

Bring a collapsible bowl and water. Many places provide them, but not all. On a hot day, choose a table in the shade and check the ground: stone and deck in the sun heat up and can burn paws.

Human food is not pet food. Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia, sweets sweetened with xylitol, alcoholic drinks, coffee and cooked bones are among the foods that harm dogs and cats. Excessive seasoning, salt and fat too.

The simplest is to bring the usual kibble or treats and give them to the animal before or after the meal. A change of food while traveling often causes stomach problems. If in doubt about what it can eat, talk to your veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring a dog into a restaurant?

It depends on the establishment and the municipality. In general, restaurants that accept animals accommodate them outdoors, and the indoor dining room is closed to them. Ask before you go.

What is a pet‑friendly restaurant?

It’s one that welcomes animals as part of the venue’s concept, with a designated area and often a water bowl and other amenities. Other establishments simply allow animals at outside tables.

How to take your dog to a restaurant without bothering others?

On a short leash, on the floor, beside the chair, after a walk. If the animal gets agitated or barks a lot, the owner stands up and takes it for a walk.

What can a dog not eat?

Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia, sweets with xylitol, alcoholic drinks, coffee and cooked bones, among others. When in doubt, only the usual kibble and treats.

Can a cat go to a restaurant?

Few cats stay calm in a busy place. When a venue accepts them, they go in a carrier or on a harness with a leash, at a distant table, and for a short time.