The Top Dog Friendly Places in Charlotte

Whenever I travel out of town, I am scavenging all of the websites looking for the best places that I can go with my dog, no matter the weather. If you are ever in Charlotte with your dog, I did the work for you. Here are some free and cheap places to check out.

Best Place Overall

Whitewater Center– Walk the trails or do some outdoor yoga with your dog and then grab some food and drink and listen to the live band play while watching people whitewater rafting. Some weekends they have festivals and some nights they even have outdoor movies. The only thing you have to pay for is parking.

Places To Have a Beverage and Maybe Listen to Some Live Music

Rosie’s Garden in NODA– Order a coffee, tea, or wine, and then go for a stroll around the garden. Live music and sometimes food trucks are outside with firepits and a tent in the winter and fans in the summer. Dogs are also allowed inside.

Anne Close Springway– If you don’t have a membership, then the daily fee is $12. Similar to Whitewater Center, this has beautiful trails for walking, live music and beverages on Friday and Saturday nights, and the option for water sports such as kayaking.

Places to shop

Park Road Shopping Center– Most places are dog friendly including: Michael’s Craft Store, Blackhawk Hardware, and Park Road Books. There are also several restaurants that allow dogs on the patio.

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall on South Blvd-Enjoy walking through numerous vendor stalls of antiques and consignment items.

East 8th Vintage– This is a relatively small consignment shop but is located super close to many coffeeshops that give pup cups including Starbucks and Villani’s and is in the middle of a cute neighborhood where it is fun to walk the dog. You can even walk over to Caswell’s Station for lunch on the patio with your pup after exploring the shop. They have some outdoor heaters and fans to help with the weather and they provide dog bowls.

Plaza Midwood- Sanctuary Imports, Betty, and Moxie are all dog friendly. Sanctuary Imports even has free dog treats at the door.

Crown and Honey Boutique– Located in Plaza Midwood. Hosts various local vendors. Inside is also CHNO coffee and room to sit and read.

The Depot at Gibson Mill in Concord You could spend hours perusing the antiques and textiles. Plus they have a delicious deli to grab lunch right inside.

Places to Exercise Together

Fit with Fido is a cardio/core work class that takes place inside different breweries on Saturday morning at 11AM. It typically rotates between Vaulted Oak, Southern Strain, and Lenny Boy.

Outdoor yoga is offered at many parks and breweries throughout the city during spring and summer. Some places include: Romare Bearden park in uptown, Freedom Park in Dilworth, Veteran’s Park in Plaza Midwood, Camp Northend, Devil’s Logic Brewery, etc. Here are links to some of the groups offering yoga around own: Habitual Roots and Dancing Lotus

Places to Walk Your Dog in Nature

See my blog post Secret Trails and Gardens to find places within a 30 minute drive of center city.

Places to Play with other Dogs

Lucky’s Bark and Brew– This has both an indoor and outdoor part so that it doesn’t matter the weather. Dogs run about freely while owners can sit at a table and have a drink or even order in food from a local restaurant (weekends usually have a food truck onsite). Dogs can get bathed and groomed as well. Another benefit is this does not include a fee like some of the other dog bars.

McAlpine Dog Park– This is the biggest dog park in city limits and has lots of grass instead of just dirt and mud. There is a huge upper field for large dogs and then a more shaded area for medium size dogs. Little dogs also can be in their own private fenced in area. This is also within a bigger park, so you can take your dog for a walk on trails around a small lake or through the woods.

Places With Walk Up ordering and Seating Outside

Milkbread in Plaza Midwood– This was the old Dairy Queen. Simply order at the window and then sit on the patio. Their popular items are coffee and donuts but they have salads, sandwiches, and alcohol as well. They give free pup cups as well.

Cheat’s Cheesesteak on Pecan Ave, where they offer pup cups while you wait for your order.

Moo and Brew– There’s a walk up bar on the side with tables, or if you want the full menu, you can sit on the shaded patio with your pup.

Breweries and Coffee Shops That Allow Dogs Indoor For Those Rainy Days

Southern Strain, Burial, and Pilot Brewery– All located in the heart of Plaza Midwood.

The Hop Shop in Plaza Midwood– It’s not exactly a brewery but more like a coffee shop vibe but with beer and wine. It’s cozy and includes board games and free wifi. They always offer your pup free treats.

Bohemian Wine Bar in Plaza Midwood– Dogs allowed on the cozy enclosed patio.

Resident Culture– Only allowed inside at the Plaza Midwood location located near Veteran’s Park. (Allowed outdoors at their Southend location.)

Frank’s Beer Shop and Common Market– located in Plaza Midwood, but have limited indoor seating.

Birdsong, Divine Barrel, Free Range, and NODA Brewery– All located in NODA.

Great Wagon Distillery– Known for their cocktails, pizza, and F1 racing watch parties. Located in NODA.

Wooden Robot and Triple C Brewery – located in Southend.

Thousand Hills Coffee Shop in Southend. (They validate parking in the garage.)

VGBG– Dogs not allowed inside but the patio is covered with a tent that includes fans and space heaters in different weather. They have giant games to play such as connect 4, chess, and jenga.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for others to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.