Coral Gables has always been a very walkable city and with
so many residents and visitors out with their dogs in tow, many businesses have
embraced the idea that dogs are welcome to their establishments. There are
several area restaurants that are very open to their patrons bringing their
furry babies with them. Here are our
favorite dog friendly restaurants in Coral Gables:
Lokal Burgers and Beer, 3190 Commodore
Plaza, Coconut Grove. Located in
Coconut Grove, Lokal is such a dog-friendly restaurant it has a dog menu with
items like “Marmaduke’s Meatloaf.” Open
every day for lunch and dinner, dogs are allowed on the patio which is
logical. Lokal Burgers has received lots
of accolades which is no surprise once you eat here. Miami New Times voted Lokal as one of the “Top
10 Best Chicken and Waffles in Miami” as well as having one of the “Top Five
Veggie Burgers in Miami” not to mention “Top 10 Dog Friendly Restaurants in
Miami.” It is well worth it venturing
over there to enjoy one of the best burgers you will ever eat and the coldest
beer you will ever drink. The Frita
burger is absolutely awesome with the guava jelly and gruyere cheese. Another favorite is the Lokal burger with its
local twist of Florida grass-fed burger topped with homemade honey mustard
using local honey, melted jack cheese, Florida tomatoes, sliced red onions, arugula,
and Homestead avocados. It literally does not get much better than that. This is the perfect place to spend a lazy
Saturday afternoon with Fido.
Shake Shack, 1450 South Dixie Highway (US1),
Coral Gables. Another dog-friendly favorite
is the Shake Shack. And, yes, again,
this fairly new hot spot is so dog friendly it offers a few items for the
pooch. The stand out attribute about the
newest Shake Shack is that it was built with sustainable and recycled
materials. For instance, the tables were
sourced from reclaimed bowling alley lanes handcrafted in Brooklyn, NY, and window
seating was made with wooden counters made from river-recovered cypress. It is just a hop, skip and a jump from
University of Miami and has good burgers, fries, shakes, custards and more. They
even have wine and beer if you want it. The
shakes and cones are made with frozen custard made from real sugar and milk
that contains no hormones or antibiotics right at the restaurant. If you are calorie conscious, feel good
knowing that the Shake Shack features calorie counts for each item on the menu. As for out furry children, there are a
handful of items on the menu for the dogs as well as their own bowls of water.
Ortanique on the Mile, 287 Miracle Mile. An all-time favorite restaurant on the
Miracle Mile is also a very pet friendly restaurant in the Gables. And it is a good thing since the Mile is one
of the most highly traversed roads by foot in all of Miami-Dade County. After
all, the Miracle Mile is so close to Coral Gables condominiums. So you can just imagine the number of dogs
that walk on the Mile! As for the
restaurant, it is unique, Caribbean themed restaurant that is very similar to
its sister restaurant in Grand Cayman.
There are so many favorites on the menu from ceviche to fresh salads and
seafood that patrons have a hard time choosing something so they come
back. As for pets, it is very common to
see people having lunch and dinner outside on the patio with their beloved
furry family members sitting beside them.
Everyone loves Ortanique on the Mile
and goes there over and over again. It
is one of those spots where you enjoy sitting outside with friends and family
while enjoying tropical drinks and dining on delicious specialties.
Pete’s Authentic Cooking, 153 Giralda Avenue. Everyone loves Pete’s Authentic Cooking –
we know that! But to add its
dog-friendly nature to its status takes it even further up the food chain. It offers some of the best sandwiches, salads
and more in addition to breakfast and brunch items that leave you wanting more. Open only on weekdays between 8am and 4pm, Pete’s
is very popular spot in Downtown Coral Gables which is why it is so
crowded. And for those who love taking their
dogs with them everywhere they go, Pete’s is very dog friendly. For those who watch what they eat or who
avoid certain foods, Pete’s has vegan and gluten-free items to appeal to
everybody. Just check out the blackboard
for specials and the extensive menu if you still need ideas. When coming with the dog, be sure to sit
outside. While they love dogs, they know
that not all of their customers do, so they prefer to keep them outdoors. But, hey!
This is South Florida – it is much nicer to sit outside!
Spizzigo, 127 Giralda Avenue. Of course, we have to include an Italian
restaurant in our dog friendly picks.
And one of favorites is Spizzigo just off the Miracle Mile. Open for lunch and dinner, Spizzigo features
fresh homemade pastas as well as unbelievably good pizza and the best
wines and drinks for everyone who has a craving for Italian. And being so close to the Mile, it is also a
restaurant within walking distance to many Coral Gables condominiums and
neighborhoods. When the outdoor dining
is set up, dogs are very welcome to hang with their parents. Everyone wolfs down the pizza bread they
bring when seated as well as most everything on the menu. Its classic Italian fares are the best around
and the prices are not outlandish which makes it easy to eat here a couple of
days (or nights) a week. Top your meal
off with their gelato and you will think you are in paradise. And, if you bring the dog, you can walk off
dinner!
A Dog-Friendly City
Not only is Coral Gables called the City Beautiful, it is a very dog
friendly city as well. Whether you live
in a centrally located Coral Gables neighborhood or away from the downtown business
area, there are lots of businesses that invite dogs just as often as they
invite their owners.
