If you’ve got a dog that you love to take everywhere, then you’re in luck. Asheville is dog friendly! Some of the bars and restaurants even have special treats on their menu for your four-legged friend. Lots of people know Asheville as Beer City, USA but it’s been making a name for itself as Dog City, USA as well. Keep reading to see our top picks for best dog friendly places in Asheville. We’ll answer one of the most frequently asked questions: Can I take my dog to the Biltmore. We’ll also dive into dog friendly breweries in Asheville. Woof!
Dog Friendly Restaurants in Asheville
12 Bones Smokehouse | River Arts District
Your dog is welcome on the patio at one of the best restaurants in Asheville: 12 Bones Smokehouse. They have incredible plates and sandwiches, sauces, local beers … just typing this makes us hungry. It’s the kind of place that locals go to and one of THE best places to get a bite in town. (They’ve also got another location on Hendersonville road – their South location.)
Daphne at Twisted Laurel | 130 College Street | Downtown Asheville
Daphne at Twisted Laurel is centrally located in downtown Asheville and is super dog friendly. It even has it’s own dog menu. For an entree you can choose for your dog a protein, starch, and a side. If that’s too much food, you can opt for a dog snack or even a dessert. (They’ve got dog ice cream on the menu!) In addition to the menu options, they’ve got a great outdoor patio. It’s easily one of the best dog friendly bars in Asheville.
Smoky Park Supper Club | 350 Riverside Drive | River Arts District
One of our favorite restaurants in Asheville, Smoky Park Supper Club, is also super dog friendly. The lawn is one of the biggest in town and it buts up to the Greenway so you can get a walk in before you sit down to a meal or a beer. Smoky Park also lets the folks from Shelter Dog Transport Alliance use their boathouse/event space on days when they’ll be taking the dogs north. Shelter Dog Transport Alliance has rescued numerous dogs and they’re always looking for volunteers so give ’em a look if you’d like to get involved.
Sunny Point Cafe | 626 Haywood Road | West Asheville
The outdoor patio area at Sunny Point is a great spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner in West Asheville. It also happens to be dog friendly. It’s often crowded, especially on weekends, so be sure your dog is comfortable around lots of other people and pets before bringing them to this spot. Oh and be sure to keep them on a leash as Haywood road is just a stone’s throw away and it is busy with cars.
The Hop Ice Creamery | Various locations
No one does dessert for dogs in Asheville quite like the Hop Ice Creamery. They serve up Happy Tails Doggie Ice Cream for pets and regular ice cream for their humans. Check their facebook page for more details about upcoming events as in the past they used to host Doggie Ice Cream Socials.
Mayfels | 22 College Street
If you’re scratching your head wondering where you can get a delicious bite to eat in downtown Asheville and at a spot that also happens to be dog friendly, then head on over to Mayfels. They’ll hook you up with a table at their outdoor patio while you sip on a mimosa and they’ll bring a bowl of water and a biscuit for your pup.
Universal Joint | 784 Haywood Road | West Asheville
There’s a good bit of shade on the outdoor patio at the U Joint which makes it, along with the food and drink that’s served, a hit with local dog owners. There’s even a ‘secret’ dog burger that isn’t on the menu but that you can order for your pet. It’s basically a regular burger without the bun or toppings and it comes at a discounted price. There are other Universal Joints outside of Asheville but we’re unsure whether they have the dog burger at those locations or not.
White Duck Taco | Multiple locations in Asheville
The three White Duck Taco locations in Asheville are all dog friendly. Our favorite one out of the three is the River Arts location along the French Broad. It’s a cool spot with lots of room to spread out and the food is, as always, delicious. Note: they’re all closed on Wednesdays. Learn more about our favorite taco spots in the 828 here.
Dog Friendly Breweries in Asheville
Hi-Wire Brewing | 284 Lyman Street | River Arts District
One of the first places we took our rescue pup Maggie was Hi-Wire. They’ve got a lot of outdoor space for you to hang out in and if they get restless you can walk across the street and take your pet for a spin on the Greenway.
Wagbar | 320 Merrimon Avenue | Weaverville
Head up the road to Weaverville for what is quickly becoming one of the coolest and best places to take your dog near Asheville: Wagbar! (It’s not a brewery but it does have local, craft beer). It’s also got cider and non-alcoholic drinks. And while you sip on a cold beverage, your dog (or dogs – you can have up to two dogs per human) can run around in a fenced in area and play with others! Don’t have a dog? No worries, you can still go to Wag Bar and hang out for free! (A membership applies to those who want to bring their dogs.) Oh and if you’re in town for just the weekend, Wagbar has day passes.
Wedge Brewing Company | 5 Foundy and 37 Paynes Way | River Arts District
We wrote a post about some of the best outdoor breweries and bars in Asheville because there are almost too many to choose from. Still, not all of them are dog friendly. Thankfully, the Wedge Brewing Company is. You can take your dog to either location as there is plenty of outdoor space for you and them to hang out.
Burial Beer Co. | 40 Collier Avenue | South Slope
Burial has long been a favorite brewery for both locals, tourists, and dogs. (We love their Surf Wax IPA.) In addition to unique, delicious, hand-crafted brews, they’ve also got a cool outdoor area where you and your dog can relax.
Wicked Weed Brewing | 91 Biltmore Avenue | Downtown Asheville
At almost any point in time you can find a couple of Wicked Weed beers in our fridge. We’re big fans of their Pernicious, Appalachian, and Coastal Love brews. And while we like drinking at home, we also like getting out of the house once in a while. Wicked Weed’s outdoor patio is a cool dog-friendly place to meet up with friends.
Battery Park Book Exchange | Downtown Asheville
A champagne bar meets bookstore in downtown Asheville that also happens to be dog friendly. What else do you need to know? Do you and your dog a favor and head there asap. It’s a one of a kind place and something you won’t forget if you are visiting for either the first or tenth time.
Dog Friendly Hotels in Asheville
Aloft Asheville Downtown | 51 Biltmore Avenue | Downtown Asheville
It used to be fairly difficult to find lodging for you and your dog. But times are changing and more places are becoming dog-friendly. The Aloft in downtown Asheville is one of those dog-friendly hotels.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel by Asheville – Biltmore | Biltmore Village
For those of you wanting to visit Asheville with your dog and see the Biltmore, you’re in luck. The DoubleTree by Hilton has easy access to the Biltmore and it has pet-friendly rooms.
Omni Grove Park Inn | North Asheville
Not only does the Omni Grove Park Inn have one of the best places to see a sunset in town but it is also dog-friendly! Dog friendly rooms are limited though so if you want one, book well in advance. Additional fees apply such as a cleaning fee but up to two 60 pound dogs are allowed to stay with you.
Can I Take My Dog to the Biltmore?
One of the questions we hear the most is this: Can I take my dog to the Biltmore? The short answer is ‘Yes.’ Dogs are allowed on the grounds of the Biltmore so long as they are leashed. Dogs not allowed inside any of the buildings in the Biltmore (service dogs being the exception.) As far as outdoor patios, your dog is welcome at Bistro and Cedric’s Tavern. Unfortunately, as far as lodging goes, none of the rooms at the Biltmore are pet-friendly.
Other Dog Friendly Places in Asheville
If you’ve had enough beer and are tired of visiting dog friendly breweries in Asheville (is that even possible?!) then you’ve got some other options. There are a couple of free dog parks in Asheville. Check out the Dog Park at the French Broad River Park as well as the Azalea Dog Park on the east side of town.
In addition to dog parks, dogs are allowed in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Pisgah National Forest (which includes Bent Creek) and Nantahala National Forest are also dog friendly but your pet must be on a leash. Leashes are also required at trailheads and campgrounds, lakes and waterfalls. You can get a fine for not having your dog on a leash. Current fines are $80.
Want to know more about hiking near Asheville? We’ve got some info on that too, and many of those places are dog friendly!
Things to Know About Visiting Asheville With A Dog
Well, if you’ve made it this far, chances are you’re already here in Asheville or you’re looking forward to your upcoming trip. A couple things to remember as far as visiting Asheville with your dog.
- Be sure to keep your dog on a leash at all times in Asheville unless they’re on your own property (this includes trails).
- Nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not allow dogs on their trails. (There are two exceptions: dogs are allowed on the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconoluftee River Trail). They are, however, welcome in the campgrounds and picnic areas.
- Carry poop bags with you. There are some free poop bags strewn about in Asheville but it’s best to bring them with you in case one is not nearby when you need one.
Need an Asheville Dog Sitter?
If you need a dog sitter, feel free to get in touch! We host dogs in our home for overnight visits as well as day care. We only watch one dog at a time so that they get a lot of attention. In addition, we have a small fenced in backyard, can provide daily exercise, and are non-smokers.
Best Dog Friendly Places in Asheville Recap
How many of the above dog friendly places in Asheville have you been to with your dog? Were you able to make it to each of the dog friendly breweries in Asheville that we listed? Got one that we missed? We’d love to hear from you. Please like, pin, save for later, or share!
Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley are travel writers, photographers, and the authors of Authentic Asheville.
Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube