Park your pooch and grab a bite at these Pinellas spots that happily roll out the welcome mat for man’s best friend.
400 BEACH SEAFOOD AND TAP HOUSE 400 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-2400, 400beachseafood.com. Located along the waterfront, 400 Beach Seafood and Tap house is a great stop for some seafood chili and a microbrew. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio, where there is plentiful seating.
BELLA BRAVA 204 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-895-5515, bellabrava.com. For drinks, try the balsamic strawberry martini or one of the many wine selections. Italian fare like Gnocchi Bolognese is incredible. Bella Brava has a lively atmosphere that hugs the bustling Beach Drive, just a short walk to the water.
BURRITO BOARDER 17 Third St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-209-0202, burritoboarder.com. Dogs are welcome at any of the outdoor tables in front of the restaurant. Happy hour specials run Monday-Friday for beer and food. Taco Tuesday means tacos are just $1 starting at 2 p.m.
CAFE ALMA 260 First Ave. S #100, St. Petersburg, 727-502-5002, cafealma.com. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Try the Bloody Mary bar during brunch on Sundays. Café Alma does happy hour everyday with half-price tapas from 4:30-6 p.m. Your pup is welcome to hang while you dine at one of their outdoor tables.
CAFE BOHEMIA 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-895-4495. The new owners confirmed they are happy to have dogs on the patio, which happens to be fenced in. Café Bohemia also offers up a dog bowl for water, if needed. Try some of their delicious sandwiches or homemade baked goods.
CAFÉ PONTE 13505 Icot Blvd. #214, Clearwater, 727-538-5768, cafeponte.com. Chow down on some fine fare from chef Chris Ponte. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, as long as they are friendly, the hostess informed us. Take heed that the restaurant is located inside a strip mall parking lot, so make sure Fido is secured.
CASA TINA’S 365 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-9226, casatinas.com. No pups are allowed into the outdoor patio area, but patrons are welcome to sit along the fence and tie their pooch out front. Casa Tina’s makes a mean mole and other delicious Mexican fare.
CHATTAWAY’S 358 22nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-823-1594, thechattaway.com. For over 60 years, Chattaway’s has been serving up hot delicious burgers and cold beer. The outdoor patio has lots of tables and benches, all of which are open to dogs and their owners. Bonus history points: Rumor has it Jack Kerouac and Ernest Hemingway ate there.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE AND BAKERY 170 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-827-2927, cassisab.com. Kill two birds with one stone with a dog walk to the bakery for a warm croissant and fresh orange juice. Or wind down from the work week at Cassis with a relaxing and romantic dinner under the stars. Park your dogs at any one of the numerous outdoor tables.
DUNEDIN SMOKEHOUSE 471 Main St., Dunedin, 727-736-2227, thedunedinsmokehouse.com. Dogs are welcome at the Dunedin Smokehouse, where the entire front patio is open to your four-legged friends. Chances are your pup is going to beg for a bite of the St. Lous cut pork spare ribs. The meat is so tender and delicious, it’ll literally fall off the bone.
EL CAP 3500 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-521-1314. El Cap burgers, mini-corndogs, and beer are St. Petersburg staples. This is a locals spot, filled with the saltiest of natives. But they know how to work that deep fryer. Dogs are welcome at any of the outdoor tables.
FRESCO’S WATERFRONT BISTRO 300 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-894-4429, frescosbistro.com. Dine right on the waterfront, literally, and bring the family pup along. Try the crab cake benedict or Ahi tuna salad. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor dining area but must be on a leash.
PARKSHORE GRILL 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-3463, parkshoregrill.com. Parkshore Grill has an entire doggie dining section along Third Ave., with water bowls to keep your pup hydrated.
RUMBA ISLAND BAR AND GRILL 1800 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-446-7027, rumbaislandgrill.com. Island food and drinks just a few miles from the ocean. Rumba’s Island bar and grill welcomes dogs on their outdoor patio.
SKIP’S BAR AND GRILL 371 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-9151. Skip’s may be the dog-friendliest place in Pinellas. There are almost as many watering holes for dogs as there are for people, and the entire side of the building is painted with a mural of dogs. Great beer and light bar fare. Occasionally, Skip makes his own jerky; make sure to try it if they have it in stock.
TAVERN AT BAYBORO 121 Seventh Ave. S #2, St. Petersburg, 727-821-1418, tavernatbayboro.com. USF St. Petersburg’s unofficial on-campus food and drink stop is a great spot to bring your dog. Lots of outdoor dog-friendly seating, great sandwiches, and a nice selection of draft beer.
TANGELO’S GRILLE 3121 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 727-894-1695, tangelosgrille.com. Tangelo’s has a huge patio outside that makes for a perfect pooch-friendly lunch date. “We’ll even give you water and a biscuit,” the hostess told Creative Loafing. Nothing ruff about that.
TOUCAN’S ALE HOUSE 8305 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-623-0911, toucansalehouse.com. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor patio area at Toucan’s. Go on Monday nights, choose a beer from their vast draft selection and nosh on the tastiest of burgers for just $5.
TRYST GASTRO PUB 240 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-821-4567, trystgastrolounge.com. Tryst is one of the swankiest spots downtown. Rest your tired dogs at one of the outdoor tables for some happy hour specials. Choose from 120 different draft and craft beers.
WHISTLESTOP 915 Main St., Safety Harbor, 727-726-1956, whistlestopgrill.com. Grab an order of fried pickles or fried green tomatoes, classic fried Florida snacks. Dogs are welcome on the patio outside.
