Some time ago, we met with the very gorgeous Lloyd (best known on Insta as @allaboutlloyd_) and his lovely owner, Paz. As fellow East London regulars, we chatted about how expensive it is to live in London and why we love it anyway (Lloyd had some very strong opinions on this), why we love East London in particular, and loads of other great things about our beautiful capital. Most importantly though, we spoke about London as a dog-friendly city with many dog-friendly activities, and all the best places to bring your pooch. Here’s our rundown of dog-friendly restaurants in London according to Lloyd – and a few others too.
1. The Hackney Church Brew Co.
Taking the top spot is the new residency from Masterchef: The Professionals alumni Aaron Thomas at the Hackney Church Brew Co. Aaron whips up a menu that is designed with sharing in mind, showcasing bold Indian flavours using locally-sourced produce.
The result is mouthwatering grub that is packed full of spices and flavours — from melt-in-your-mouth goat shoulder seekh kebabs – which are also gluten-free – as well a whole tandoori market fish, aged mushroom parathas and Bombay spring cabbages.
Food aside, the beers are also bloody excellent in this Hackney boozer, and dogs are of course welcome. Plus, on Sundays, they do the ‘best roast in East London’ here, as well as weekly quizzes and occasional live music. Our kinda place!
You’ll find the Hackney Church Brew Co. at 16 & 17 Bohemia Place, Hackney, London, E8 1DU. Nearest station is Hackney Central.
2. The Marksman
The Marksman was the first pub in London to be awarded Michelin Pub of the Year, and it’s a pretty dead posh spot that rustles up one of the best roasts in the whole city.
All the food served here is determinedly British and seasonal – beyond roasts you’ll get chicken and garlic pie, grilled pollock with devilled mussels butter and chopped raw Hereford and Jerusalem artichokes.
If you’re not already sold, it might help if we told you that Lloyd himself is a regular, and there are loads of other doggos that love this spot too.
You’ll find the Marksman at 254 Hackney Road, London, E2 7SJ. Nearest station is Hoxton.
3. Pizarro
Bermondsey is generally a pretty good area for dog-friendly spots, and Paz particularly raved about Pizarro: this place is the bomb. Like most Spanish restaurants, this place really delivers on the tapas. Except here, they’re called ‘pica pica’, which loosely translates as ‘a desire to come back for more’.
A bold claim, but to be honest, they’re not wrong. We recommend the croquetas del día, padrón peppers and pan con tomate, as well as the delectable bacalao a la llauna – a lovely concoction of cod in a traditional Catalan sauce with sautéed baby spinach.
But c’mon, we’re here for the dogs right? And this spot ‘welcomes dogs of all shapes and sizes, providing them with a bowl of water on arrival’. What more could you ask for, dog owners?
You’ll find Pizarro at 94 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TQ. Nearest station is London Bridge.
4. Abuelo
Next on this roundup of dog-friendly restaurants in London is a Covent Garden gem, Abuelo, which has a cool Aussie vibe and feels a lot like home. It’s a cute spot for coffee or brunch, and they also offer some lovely, organic sharing plates in the evening.
Sit at the ‘kitchen table’ and chat to friends and strangers alike (and some pups, if you’re lucky), or bag a seat on the cosy chairs in the corner. The brunch menu here – which includes eggs with roasted pumpkin and green pea and jalapeno pepper fritters – is pretty much to die for, and they also have got a great beer and wine list to boot.
You’ll find Abuelo at 26 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7RS. Nearest station is Covent Garden.
5. Angelina
Angelina is an intriguing restaurant concept that combines Italian and Japanese cuisine — and it’s made waves since it first opened. The seemingly unlikely couple are actually a match made in bloody heaven, and the four and ten-plate sharing menus are both well worth a try.
It’s a friendly spot that is just the right level of sleek and chic, and the staff here will make sure that you’re as happy as Larry as you wine and dine here.
Oh, and it goes without saying that pooches are more than welcome. This is a roundup of the best dog-friendly restaurants in London remember…
You’ll find Angelina at 56 Dalston Lane, London, E8 3AH. Nearest station is Dalston Junction.
6. We Are Vegan Everything (WAVE)
London is no longer short of vegan restaurants, and this one is a welcome addition to the pack. We Are Vegan Everything (WAVE) is a plant-based paradise filled with cakes, pastries, toasties, freakshakes, and a banging all-day brunch menu.
The interiors will whisk you away to the Indonesian archipelago as you relax on bamboo chaise lounge seats, day beds and swinging ceiling chairs. (Oh and it goes without saying that, in WAVE’s case, being animal-friendly goes further than the food. Dogs are obviously more than welcome).
You’ll find We Are Vegan Everything (WAVE) at 11 Dispensary Lane, Mare Street, London, E8 1FT. Nearest station is Hackney Station.
Further recommendations from the wise whippet 🐾
Paz and Lloyd also recommend the Conservatory Archives, the plant-covered haven on Hackney Road and E5 Bakehouse, the artisan bakery and coffee shop near London Fields.
Other dog-friendly restaurants in London:
7. L’Escargot
Located right in the heart of Soho and just a stone’s throw from the great theatres of London, L’Escargot has been at the epicentre of London’s fine dining since 1927. But what makes this spot different from most other spots in Central London is that this one is dog-friendly.
In-fact, dogs are spoiled beyond recognition here, with doggos given treats provided by the prestigious brand Mungo & Maud and silver bowls for water – oh dahling! For the humans, the grub ain’t bad either – they’ve got lobster, scallop and monkfish fricassée, snails and wild mushrooms, beef fillet with truffle and coq au vin all on the menu. Time to get you and your four-legged friend down there we say.
You’ll find L’Escargot at 48 Greek Street, London, W1D 4EF. Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road.
8. Brutto
This neighbourhood restaurant and bar won itself a Michelin Bib Gourmand earlier this year, and it’s pretty darn easy to see why. Emulating a traditional Tuscan trattoria, Brutto is a lovely spot just down the road from Farringdon station, and they sell all the Florentine classics you could ever want to get your hands on.
Tuscan beef shin and peppercorn stew, cannellini beans, pork and mortadella tortellini, tiramisu – you name it, it’s here. They’ve also got an all-day bar which is great for a casual glass of wine or a Negroni, as well as live music throughout the week.
The best part of all? They’re more than welcoming to dogs, and even will give them doggie bags! A man’s best friend and all so the saying goes…
You’ll find Brutto at 35-37 Greenhill Rents, London, EC1M 6BN. Nearest station is Farringdon.
9. M Victoria Street
This next one is a really worthy addition to this roundup of dog-friendly restaurants in London – and particularly for your pooch. Slap-bang in the middle of Victoria and St James’ Park, it’s a glossy spot that has an award-winning restaurant, excellent steak, a glam cocktail bar and even a wine shop.
Perhaps the best thing about M Victoria Street however is the fact that they do a ‘6 Legged Brunch’ menu – i.e. a combined menu for both you and your pup! For just 35 quid, you’ll get three courses for you and three courses for your dog.
So while you’re tucking into a ribeye steak and eggs, your pooch will be guzzling down on biltong risotto. Yep – you read that right – risotto! Expect to get lots of thank you licks post-meal.
You’ll find M Victoria Street at the Zig Zag Building, 74 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ. Nearest stations are Victoria and St James’ Park.
10. MEATliquor
Rounding off this list of the best dog-friendly restaurants in London roundup is one of our favourites here at Secret London. US-style burgers, chicken wings, delicious fries and cocktails are the order of the day at MEATliqour, which now has ten different branches in London.
Don’t be put off by the name if you’re a veggie or vegan however – they’ve got a whole host of plant-based patties, as well as gluten-free options. If you’ve got room for dessert, go for an ice-cream float. Oh, and they bill themselves as ‘dog-friendly, people tolerant’. So that tells you all you need to know if you’re bringing a pooch.
You’ll find MEATliquor at various different locations across London. You can find out more here.
So there you have it – a list of some of the best dog-friendly restaurants – as told by Lloyd the Whippet, his lovely owner Paz and our resident SEO Writer Sam. If you need any more proof that we love dogs, here is Sam actually eating at a dog-friendly restaurant with his dog Willow…
