Spring is here, and Northern Virginia is on its way to warmer days. Outdoor patios are brimming with activity, but finding an inviting place to eat may be pretty challenging if you have a furry, four-legged family member tagging along.
Our Favorite Northern Virginia Dog-Friendly Restaurants
Lucky for us, Northern Virginia has many restaurants offering dog-friendly dining. We have come up with a list of our favorite pet-friendly eateries.
Barkhaus
Barkhaus, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is the Washington D.C. metro area's premiere dog-friendly bar and restaurant. Dogs must be registered with proof of vaccinations for everyone's safety before being allowed entry. The canine-loving establishment offers an off-leash indoor and outdoor dog park.
Events such as dog yoga, paint your pet, and "yappy" hour happen each month at Barkhous. And the hip, dog-friendly restaurant offers craft beer and incredible food like flank steak, tacos, and Korean chicken wings. Your dog will never want to leave this puppy playhouse.
Lost Dog Cafe
Lost Dog Cafe, with five locations throughout Northern Virginia, is a fantastic dining experience in a laid-back environment with an eccentric dog motif. Lost Dog Cafe is a well-known supporter of Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, a non-profit foundation that helps find homeless cats and dogs permanent, loving homes.
This Northern Virginia gem has an enormous menu featuring an extensive selection of pizza, including gluten-free and vegan, and fifty specialty sandwiches like the K-P (smoked turkey breast, melted brie, tomato, lettuce, and pesto on a buttery toasted croissant), the Mighty Dog (hickory ham, turkey breast, bacon, and melted cheddar cheese on a toasted sub roll with lettuce, tomato, and mayo), and the Greyhound (sliced avocado, fresh spinach, mushrooms, and tomato with melted mozzarella cheese on a warm pita with avocado ranch). Bring your pooch and enjoy a fantastic lunch, dinner, or happy hour at Lost Dog Cafe.
Lazy Dog
With two Lazy Dog locations in Northern Virginia, one in Chantilly and the other in the Fair Oaks Shopping Center in Fairfax, bring your pup and your appetite. Known for its hearty pot roast, pasta, and dog-friendly patio, Lazy Dog is a perfect place to kick back, relax, eat some good food, and drink. The sizable menu offers everything from cheeseburger fries to wok-fired calamari, a kid menu, and housemade sangria. The portions are large enough; Fido may even get some leftovers.
Dogfish Head Alehouse
This popular neighborhood watering hole has a fantastic selection of craft beer and incredibly juicy burgers. With two Northern Virginia locations in Fairfax and Falls Church, Dogfish Head Alehouse's tagline, "off-centered food and drink for off-centered people," conveys this is a place you and your furry friend can be yourselves. This is a spot with a "where everyone knows your name" vibe.
Hamrock's Restaurant
Hamrock's Restaurant in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia, is the epitome of a charming eatery. The Moore-McCandlish House, built in 1842, turned restaurant features a wrap-around porch and courtyard seating. The restaurant offers a tasty assortment of dishes like salmon, rockfish, shrimp and grits, and delicious soups. Hamrock's also has "Lobster Night" each Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features a three-course meal for $39 with delicious options like lobster bisque, lobster and crab ravioli, and Maine Lobster.
Dining Out with Your Furry Family Member in Northern Virginia
Dining out with your pup can feel a little challenging at first, but plenty of restaurants in Northern Virginia will welcome you both with open arms.
