Best Bars and Parks to Take Your Dog in Austin
Austin is a wonderful place to have a dog. It is by far the best city in the country to have a dog and live the “dog parent” lifestyle. This is because of all the restaurants and bars that allow dogs, and the prolific amount of apartments to rent that allow not only dogs, but dogs of any breed and size.
So here are some great places to go drinking, hiking, and hanging out with your dog:
Yard Bar
www.yardbar.com
The primary bar/restaurant for taking your dog in Austin is Yard Bar on Burnet between Allandale and Crestview. It’s literally a dog park with tables, beer, and food.
There’s always a $5 cover, but you can also pay $150 for a year membership.
The dog park is 21 years + and you must show proof of vaccination and spay/neuter to enter. And cannot have more than 2 dogs. There are human monitors (Bark Rangers) in the park to make sure play doesn’t get out of hand and problem dogs are removed. Don’t forget to tip them! There’s agility equipment, a small dog only section, and an outdoor walk-up bar. So it’s a really great place to get some safe and quality socializing time in for you and your dog!
Moontower Saloon
www.moontowersaloon.com
Moontower Saloon is in the south off Slaughter and Manchaca and is a sprawling, open space, with volleyball courts, food trucks, cornhole games, pool tables, live music, and lots of outdoor seating. It’s very kid friendly as well. Lots of parking available. Dogs are supposed to be kept on leash. Doggie bags provided.
Bangers Sausage House and Beer Garden
www.bangersaustin.com
Bangers is on Rainey St in downtown Austin. It’s known for it’s $10 “Manmosa” which is a giant mimosa served in a beer stein and 100 beers on tap. Serving sausages of course, and other sides like jalapeno mac and cheese, and chilil cheese fries. You’ll have to keep your dog on leash in the huge beer garden, but they’ll get plenty of fun sniffing all the other dogs and people. This place can get crowded, so it’s best to only bring your dog during peak hours if your dog is very social.
Off Leash Areas
Red Bud Isle Dog Park
This is the go-to place for off leash fun with your dog. It’s a beautiful lakefront park in West Lake Hills off Westlake Drive. There are 13 acres for your dog to romp in, including places for her to get into the water. with great hiking trails, canoeing and boating docks. Parking can be hard, so go early or practice patience while waiting for a spot.
Emma Long
Emma Long Metropolitan Park, is off Hwy 360 in Bee Cave. It’s got picnic tables, trails, BBQ pits, and places to swim in the Colorado river. And you can have your dog off leash on the Turkey Creek Trail. It’s a great place for families, and you’ll see a lot of local Austinites with their kids, strollers, dogs, bikes, etc. Perfect place to socialize and soak up the beautiful nature Austin has to offer.
Auditorium Shores Leash Free Dog Zone
Auditorium Shores is very central. Right on the river in downtown Austin, Townlake. It is leash free, but also not fully fenced in, so only take your dog if he has a good recall. Take your Chuck-It and throw the ball for your dog with beautiful Austin as your backdrop. There are watering holes for you and your dog, and poop bag dispensers, benches to sit. You can also easily walk on the trail across the river then back. Parking is actually not that bad, except for weekend afternoons of course.
Onion Creek
Onion Creek is not too well-known as a great place for off-leash fun. It’s been called Austin’s best kept dog park secret. It’s in Southwest Austin, off William Cannon and East of I-35. It’s a more secluded and wilder park that doesn’t have set trails or trail markers. But there are less people and a few horses, so be ready for horse poop. There’s access to the creek, and a playground for kids. I’ve read it can be hard to find, so really check out the route before you set off.
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
This park is in North Austin, in the corner of I-35 and W Palmer. This popular off leash park has a lot of hiking and biking trails and a swimming pool and lots of creek access. If you have a bike chaser, this probably isn’t the best choice of park. There’s lots of parking, and even park rangers and volunteers to answer questions and point out the wildlife. It’s a large park, without too much signage, so be prepared to possibly get lost!