Explore the best dog-friendly restaurants and bars, parks, and hangouts in the City of Oaks.
Who let the dogs out… You should—because your four-legged bestie deserves to have a good doggone day out too. Plan an ~ulti-mutt~ experience with your pooch in and around Downtown Raleigh via our list of some of the best dog-friendly hot spots for those looking to get out of the doghouse.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants & Bars
Bowstring Bowstring’s outdoor grassy area is the perf post for all your furry friends—they may even try to get in on a game of cornhole or sneak a bite of pizza (!). You can also bring ’em inside or on the covered patio while you grab a drink, play a game or tune into live tunes.
House of Hops Whether it’s outside playing cornhole and cooling off with an ice cold beer or tucking inside to escape the heat (also with a beer, of course!), you and your four-legged friend(s) are always welcome at this House.
Raleigh Beer Garden Hungry dog 🤝 RBG’s Hungry Dawgs menu. Feed Fido his pick of pup-tizers—from carrots and bacon to burgers—while you have your fill of your own hooman snacks paired with over 350 beers on tap.
State of Beer Put your fur-baby in a great state with an outing at either SOB location (The Bend locale also offers a covered back patio and spacious backyard for roaming!). And those cult-fave sandos are reason enough to leave the house any time.
Tap Yard Raleigh’s 1-acre beer garden is a hot spot for kids, families, lovers and doggos—think of it like an inclusive playground for all. Tap Yard also hosts trivia, live music, food trucks and other events to keep everyone entertained.
Vault Craft Beer Raise the “woof”—literally—at this unique brew haven situated in a historic building formerly home to Raleigh’s first drive-thru bank. And for man’s best friend, they can cash in on the free dog treat box while hanging inside or out.
West Street Dog Let your pup get out the zoomies and socialize with other canines while you enjoy some bevys at this indoor off-leash dog park with a full bar, also offering daycare, boarding and grooming services—plus Monday trivia.
Wolfe & Porter More like *woof* and porter, are we right?! Post up on the patio or back deck to catch a game, listen to live music, or simply relax with your pal sitting happily at your feet.
Wye Hill The only view better than the one at Wye Hill is of your happy pup enjoying a dog biscuit by your side as you enjoy the sun-soaked patio and sip on a brew or two. Not to mention it’s the perf perch to take a ’Gram snap for your pooch’s profile.
City Market Dogs are welcome at most establishments at this historic hub in DTR. Fetch a good deal at cute shops, lap up a latte at Blackbird Books & Coffee, or lean into culture at an art gallery.
Dix Park Dog Park For an un(fur)gettable day, look no further than one of Raleigh’s largest and most popular park. Its size-specific play space lets your dog play safely—so no worrying about your smaller pooches getting ruffed up by a bigger-boned fella.
Moore Square Pause and reflect at Moore Square, surrounded by some of Raleigh’s best restaurants, bars, coffee shops and boutiques to fill up an outing. Order takeout and throw down a blanket for a chill hang, or head over to the fully-fenced dog park for some social time.
NCMA Rover’s gonna love rovin’ the art museum’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. Whether roaming the trails, propping up near the pond, sniffin’ the sculptures or basking in the sun on the Ellipse lawn, your pup’ll no doubt have the time of his/her life.
Oakwood Dog Park Doggos of all shapes and sizes are welcome to run through the trees at this popular Historic Oakwood destination also featuring shade from the sun, a picnic shelter and softball fields.
Unleashed Dogs need retail therapy too! Find all your pet needs—from treats and food to toys and accessories—to make your canine the envy of all. unleashedmutt.com/city-market
Summer may be over, but Dix Park’s art scene is still in full bloom. Enter Raleigh-based artist and licensed mental health counselor Lamar Whidbee and his first large-scale public artwork, “Get Well Soon.”
Located on the side of the park’s Spruill Building—part of the now-closed mental health facility est. in 1856—the temporary installation showcasing Whidbee’s daughter holding a bouquet of flowers pays tribute to those with unique mental health conditions.
“With this piece, I wanted to acknowledge the history of Dix Hospital and mental health patients past and present while encouraging greater compassion and fearlessness—often exhibited by the children around us—as we engage and improve mental health care today,” says Whidbee. And, rest assured, it’ll definitely put a smile on your face.
👑 Yes, queens! The Wake County School Board approved the CROWN Act, which ensures students will not be punished for wearing natural hairstyles like braids, Bantu knots or twists.
🎾 Causing a racquet: The City of Raleigh pledged $10 million to the massive Swing Racquet + Paddle facility expected to begin construction this summer, ultimately delivering pickleball, tennis and padel courts; a celeb chef-run restaurant/rooftop sports bar; and much more.
🛫 Raleigh is now one of CLEAR’s 40 TSA PreCheck enrollment locations across the U.S.—meaning passengers can now get both CLEAR and PreCheck through CLEAR instead of going through TSA.
💉 Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic! The pharmaceutical company behind the weight-loss drug (also behind Wegovy) announced a new manufacturing facility in Johnston County that will invest $1.4 million in the area, as well as provide 1,000 jobs.
💊 Here’s a new to-do for your aftercare routine. The CDC recommends taking an antibiotic after sex as a way to prevent STDs.
🚗 Cruising around in your little red 2012 Honda Civic? You aren’t alone—the average U.S. vehicle age has hit a record high of 12.6 years old.
🌳 Perhaps other cities shouldn’t be so green with envy over us? Raleigh’s ParkScore ranking dropped from No. 53 last year to No. 56 this year.
WHAT’S NOT
🪪 The NC DMV is asking patrons to cough up more cash, as they increased the price of driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and vehicle registrations at the beginning of July.
Close out the week—and month—via this new DTR event series.
On Fridays, we fitness… then pig out and rock out, naturally. Enter Fitness & Food Trucks on Final Fridays, Get 2 Know Raleigh’s recently launched event series in partnership with Moore Square and Raleigh Parks. So now you can look forward to both the first and last Friday of the month—a win-win!
Running monthly through October, the series features a free hourlong family-friendly fitness class hosted by Zin Yoga & Wine, Current Wellness, Row House Midtown and Knuckle Up (respectively)—plus food trucks, a local vendor market and live music. So you can break a sweat via workouts like yoga, boxing fundamentals, dance fitness, cardio and more, or just come for the eats, drinks and vibes (hey, no judgment).
Inspired in part by her involvement in First Fridays at Moore Square, Final Fridays promotes a healthy lifestyle while manifesting founder Sana Siddiqui’s “vision of families coming together for free fitness activities.” Case in point: trading your typical Friday evening bar-hopping for fitness and fresh fare.
Via her “movement to celebrate and unite our community, both online and off,” she hopes the event series will not only bring people together, but provide attendees a chance to reset and recover from the month. Not to mention emphasizing a “third place” to hang outside of traditional work and home environments at no cost. Here’s to moving and fueling your body! June 28,get2knowraleigh.com
A newly released 10-point action plan sets to bring vibrancy back to Fayetteville Street.
Things are finally looking up for Fayetteville Street. While the once-vibrant sector had arguably lost some of its luster, Downtown Raleigh Alliance and the City of Raleigh recently released the first set of recommendations from their ongoing Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy in an effort to revitalize North Carolina’s Main Street.
The “Activating Fayetteville Street” report developed by the Interface Studio-led consultant team features 10 recommendations for making the corridor more attractive, competitive and connected based on local need and other city attractions. Taken together, these “10 big ideas” could mark the biggest shift to the district in 15 years.
“Fayetteville Street and our central business district are part of the face of our Downtown, city and state,” says DRA President and CEO Bill King. “So elevating this area is critical to how Raleigh is experienced and perceived.”
Setting a new course for the heart of Downtown, the goal of the recommendations is to breathe new life into the area from the NC State Capitol to Martin Marietta—from highlighting Black-owned businesses and adding more housing on and around Fayetteville Street to connecting main attractions via a family-friendly route and more.
“The intention is to implement as much as possible, but realistically I expect some will still have to evolve or adjust as things change,” says King. That said, look for the streetscape design update to begin immediately, as well as changes to City Plaza, parking fees and many of the placemaking/public art aspects. “We have steps outlined for the first 100 days and first year to drive progress,” he maintains—progress that will only proliferate as Interface continues to seek ways to maximize Downtown’s strengths. Here, the takeaways we think will have the biggest impact on our city.
Courtesy of Google Maps
Courtesy of Monroe Street Midway
Defining the Districts
“Art pulls a community together,” as would a designated Arts and Entertainment District in the lower area, which would also serve to attract local and national establishments and entertainment ops while further fostering Fayetteville Street’s identity. The abandoned parking lot at the northwest corner of South and Wilmington streets serves as a primo spot for “play, small business opportunities and entertainment options,” according to the report.
Courtesy of Interface Studio
Courtesy of Interface Studio
Bright Streetscapes
Famously supersized, Fayetteville Street’s sidewalks have never lived up to their full potential. Swapping current antiquated planters, benches and newspaper corrals for designated zones for outdoor dining would serve as a smart solution, which would free up space for walking, furniture and activity (think outdoor vending, workspaces, lawn games and temporary stages). Meanwhile, added greenery and lighting on significant buildings, trees and sidewalks would bolster literal vibrancy, wayfinding and safety.
Photo by Patti McConville, Alamy Stock
Utter Relief
The lack of public-access relief stations in DTR has long posed a problem. Taking a cue from Portland, relief could be on the way in the form of new self-cleaning public bathrooms + increasing hours and maintenance for free bathrooms in public buildings. Answering the call for another shortage would include improved parking signage, increased time allowances on parking apps and first-two-hours-free parking in City-owned garages.
Rendering by Interface Studio
Photo by Kebony
Courtesy of DRA
Leveraging Public Spaces
“On the playground is where I spend most of my days…” That’s the hope—by activating the oft-underutilized street into a full-blown 16- to 18-hour veritable playground via inviting well-lit passageways bustling with outdoor dining, vendor stalls, recreation, public art and more. This also goes for positioning City Plaza as “Downtown’s front porch” and establishing a visitor center.
Courtesy of Interface Studio
Photo by blazeCLT
Downtown Connector
Bold connections generate growth. Thus, a Chavis-Dix Strollway could be implemented to connect DTR to Dix Park and the Rocky Branch Trail, with a South Park Heritage Walk bridging the gap from DTR to Chavis Park and other East Raleigh destinations.
Human Touch Group Pavillion by Partyk Lewinski
Lucky Plaza by Choo Yut Shing
Marketing Main Street
Raleigh’s “Main Street” needs to assert its identity. Period. Engaging public space design and street activity via mobile retail carts, food trucks and permanent stalls in dead zones would increase foot traffic—as would the creation of a Downtown gift card program.
