Portland boasts 33 dog parks, leading the nation in dog park per capita ratio (that comes to 5.5 off-leash dog areas per 100,000 residents!), the City of Roses caters to its four-legged pals. With plenty of dog-friendly restaurants, patios, and breweries, several hotels, and natural areas to visit with your pup, Portland regularly ranks among the most dog-friendly cities in the US.

Expedia.com asked us to share some tips for spending a weekend in Portland with your furry four-legged friends. This list highlights some of our favorite spots in Portland that we regularly visit for our favorite places to sit, stay, and play with Sora. Pick and choose among the locations below to put together an epic weekend trip to dog-friendly Portland.

Dog-Friendly Hotels in Portland

*Check out a full list of hotels in Portland at Expedia.com

Hotel Monaco (SW Portland)

Part of the Kimpton hotel family, Hotel Monaco welcomes dogs, regardless of size, weight, or breed at no extra cost. The only requirement is that they can fit through the door (the same policy applies for all Kimpton hotels!). In Portland, pups are greeted by Dakota, a sweet Golden Retriever and the Director of Pet Relations. Pets (cats included) can opt for a plush loaner bed, food, water bowls, and mats, and each guest receives a list of nearby dog-friendly restaurants or other places to visit with your dog. Pups are also welcome to attend the nightly wine reception with their humans.

RiverPlace Hotel (SW Portland)

Another member of the Kimpton Family, the RiverPlace hotel is located right on the Southwest waterfront, with direct access to the Esplanade and river path, perfect to take your pooch for a nice walk and enjoy the scenery. Like all Kimpton Hotels, dogs stay free and no restrictions and are welcome to join their humans at the nightly wine reception or for dinner at the hotel restaurant patio.

Kennedy School (NE Portland)

One of the 50+ McMeninman establishments in the Northwest, the Kennedy School in the Concordia neighborhood in NE Portland is a great option if you prefer to stay on the East side of the city. Walking distance from New Seasons grocery store, several bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and Fernhill park’s off-leash dog area, the location offers plenty to do without the need for a car. Moreover, given that the hotel is a renovated school, you can drink whiskey in detention or fall asleep in class.

Dog-Friendly Portland Restaurants (accessible year round!)

The Knock Back (Alberta Arts District)

With its covered and heated patio, The Knock Back is one of Portland’s more dog-friendly restaurants with year-round access. Gather around the fire pit to feel extra cozy and opt to visit during happy hour to score to score some sweet deals on grub. With food for all palettes, we highly recommend the tempeh reuben.

Food Cart Pods (Various Locations)

Portland is well-known for being home to over 500 food carts at any given time. Mostly arranged in “pods” or groups of food carts, they feature fantastic food from all over the world, often for lower prices than you’ll find in restaurants. Skip the downtown pods with your dog in tow and opt for one of the many in NE and SE Portland, which attract more of the sit-down crowd and welcome dogs. Most have covered patios and, if you’re lucky, fire pits or heat sources to keep you warm in the colder months. Try Cartopia on Hawthorne and 12th, Pod 28 on 28th and Ash, or Mississippi Marketplace on Mississippi and Skidmore. For a full map of food cart pods, see here.

Tin Shed (Alberta Arts District)

With a year-round heated and covered patio, this is one of the few restaurants in Portland where your pooch can tag along, rain or shine. Well-known for being one of the most dog-friendly places in town, Tin Shed features a doggie menu that includes a dessert they can share with their human. Every Tuesday after 3PM is Doggie Love Night where dogs eat free as long as their human orders a regularly-priced item from the menu. The restaurant also supports local animal organizations through the sales of dog bandanas.

Por Que No (Mississippi)

Portland’s iconic healthy Mexican restaurant has both a pet-friendly sidewalk patio and an enclosed patio, perfect for those rainy winter days. Come during happy hour and score deals on food and margaritas. We always opt for the Bryan’s bowl with a side of guacamole. Don’t even think about skipping the guacamole. The restaurant almost always has a long line, no matter the time of day, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait.

Dog-Friendly Portland Bars and Breweries

Basecamp Brewing

The brewery made for the outdoor lover, Basecamp offers a healthy selection of regular and seasonal beers. The huge outdoor patio is covered and heated most of the year (city codes only allow a certain number of days for heated tents) and the fire pits at most tables make the space toasty warm. Order food from one of the two food carts located adjacent to the brewery to complete your outing.

Breakside Brewing (Dekum Triangle)

Breakside pours some of the most exquisite beers in the state, and we’d even argue the entire US. With some of the most creative and dedicated brewers in the industry , Breakside never disappoints. Specializing in IPAs, the Wanderlust and the What Rough Beast New England-Style IPA are both must-try pours. The sidewalk tables welcome dogs and the staff love ogling at your furry friend. They even have treats at the ready for four-legged visitors.

Velo Cult (Hollywood District)

Neither a brewery nor a bar, or even a cafe, Velo Cult is actually a bike shop that serves coffee by day and local brews by night (or day, if that’s your thing!). Since it’s not a restaurant, dogs are welcome to hang with their humans. Feel free to bring your own food and nail out some work or come in the evening to enjoy one of the many events the bike shop hosts.

Dog-Friendly Restaurant Patios in Portland

Bye & Bye (Alberta Arts District)

This popular vegan bar and restaurant has two dog-friendly patios. Pups may walk through the restaurant to the heated back patio (just keep in mind that smoking is also allowed on this patio). Bye & Bye offers a selection of rice bowls and sandwiches, a rotating tap list of local brews, and some of the best cocktails in town.

The Ocean (NE Glisan)

Can’t decide on just one type of food among friends? Head to the Ocean and choose from vegan Indian cuisine from the Sudra, Italian-style meatballs, or tacos from Uno Mas. The shared outdoor seating makes the micro-restaurant pod the perfect destination for groups with varied tastes and pups in tow.

White Owl Social Club (Buckman)

Voted Portland’s best patio by Willamette Weekly in 2016, White Owl Social Club features a special patio entry for its doggie patrons. Famous for it’s vegan beet burger that leaves even carnivores drooling, this restaurant caters to all dietary needs. White Owl also hosts Yappy Hours on Wednesdays featuring extended happy hour specials for humans and treats for the pups. They even bring in shelter dogs for socialization and potential adoption.

Dog-Friendly Portland Parks

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (Sellwood)

Thanks to pressure from the Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge went from being a landfill to Portland’s first designated wildlife refuge in 1988. In 2004, it became the city’s first migratory bird park, as over 185 species of birds call the area home. The one-mile trail around the shallow lake is a nice detour from the busy Springwater Trail.

International Rose Test Garden – (NW Portland)

Dogs are welcome to visit this 4.5-acre rose garden with picture-perfect views of Mt. Hood (on a clear day, of course). With over 10,000 rose plants, Portland’s Rose Garden is the oldest public garden of its kind in the United States. Though the garden is open year-round, June is the best time to visit for peak bloom. Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and enjoy the free admission and your spot of choice to gaze over the city and Mt. Hood beyond.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden (Woodstock)

What started as a site covered in brush, blackberries, and the remnants of a Shakespeare theater constructed by nearby Reed College students, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden was converted to an almost 10-acre botanical garden. Dogs are allowed on leash and the paths are free for all to enjoy every Monday and Tuesday and every day from Sept 2 through Feb 28th, otherwise admission costs $5.

Forest Park (NW Portland)

One of the country’s largest urban forests, Forest Park is the gem of the city’s nature lovers. With over 70 miles of well-tended trails, Forest Park offers plenty of options for hikers, trail runners, and casual walkers, with limited options for mountain bikers. Picnic in the Arboretum or take in the view of the city and Mt. Hood from Pittock Mansion. Depending on your starting point and time of visit, it’s not rare to not encounter another soul on the trail.

Short Dog-Friendly Excursions from Portland

Thousand Acres (Sandy River Delta), (Troutdale)

Undoubtedly the Portland-area’s favorite destination dog park, Thousand Acres is, you guessed it a thousand-acre-plus off-leash dog park located at the Sandy River Delta (it’s 1400 acres, to be exact). With plenty of trails and two rivers to explore with your pup, this is a dog’s paradise. And it’s not just for dogs either. The wetlands offer sublime birding and the trails are open to mountain bike and equestrian usage. Located right off I-84 and just 20 minutes from downtown Portland, this is a must hit park for dogs.

Sauvie Island (North Portland)

Sauvie Island is just a short drive north of Portland and is the largest island in the Columbia River and one of the largest islands in the U.S. Located at the junction of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and Multnomah Channel, the island serves as a wildlife refuge in the north and a agricultural mecca in the south. Head to one of the islands many beaches (keep a close eye on your pup as the shelf drops suddenly in some places) or walk along one of the many nature trails. Just keep in mind you’ll need a parking permit to park in any of the natural areas, which you can pick up in several locations.

Powell Butte (SE Portland)

Hike, bike, or ride your horse with your pup alongside among the nine miles of trails that wind around this extinct volcano and Portland’s second-largest park after Forest Park. On a clear day, test your knowledge of the area’s mountains and name the five in sight. While Powell Butte is located in the city of Portland, it takes a bit of time reach and few people make the trek to Powell Butte, so it’s often uncrowded and you’ll have the trails to yourself.

enerG Kayaking (Oregon City)

With just a 20-minute drive from Portland, you can get up close and personal with Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest by volume on a kayak or SUP tour with eNRG Kayaking. Well-behaved pups are welcome on tours. If you’ve never tried either before, take a beginner’s class to get your sea legs. Every Tuesday during the summer are ladies’ paddle night, which offers paddle board or kayak rentals for $15.

Where are some of your favorite dog-friendly Portland establishments?

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