One of our most frequently asked questions is our favorite dog friendly New York hangouts, so Marley and I thought sharing some of our top picks was a great place to start our blog. Whether you’re visiting Manhattan with a dog, have just got a puppy or simply have more time on your hands to spend with your best friend, let us know what you think in the comments below.
Central Park: An Early Morning Haven for Dogs
Ever since he was a puppy, Marley’s been riding in cabs up to Central Park for some ball time and it’s one of his favorite places to go for a dog walk in NYC. It might seem like an obvious place to start, but if your pup is ball-obsessed or a born retriever like Marley make sure you get there plenty before 9am (or after 9pm!) to enjoy some off-leash fun – during the day it’s on-leash only.
Early morning is super social for dogs and their owners, so great for puppy socialization and playing chase. If you have a dog that loves water as much as Marley does, it’s good to know there are various fountains and pools to watch out for (and drinking fountains for some post-chase hydration)!
Scenic Walks Along the West Side Highway
The West Side Highway is another of our favorite on-leash areas in NYC. It’s a picturesque place to walk or run with your dog along the water with iconic city views. Marley particularly loves watching people hit golf balls through the nets of The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers and is always on the lookout for rogue golf balls that have escaped around the perimeter. Amazing dog entertainment, perhaps best on a long line!
Chelsea Waterside Dog Park: Off-Leash Playtime
The West Side Highway is also home to Chelsea Waterside Dog Park, so if you want to combine a dog walk with some off-leash playtime, we recommend heading there especially now it has been enlarged. There are separate areas for large and small pups making it perfect for nervous dogs and mounds to play hide-and-seek with playful puppies. It’s generally a really good spot for dogs to learn how to interact with others and to practice dog training such as recall in a contained area. They sometimes have doggie events on here too!
Madison Square Park: A One-Stop Spot for Dog Essentials
Once Marley has his exercise he sometimes needs a good clean, so we often take our Golden boy to Madison Square Park where you can combine a few dog essentials in one trip. The dog run is the perfect place for him to let off steam, owners can grab a Shake Shack for themselves (this is where it all started!) and Marley’s top tip is the delicious dog treats for your pooch there as well. On the way home, we swing by PetSmart to use their dog wash downstairs and pick up any dog food or play toys that catch Marley’s attention! It’s our go-to NYC pet shop now Barking Zoo has closed.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Hotels
When Marley has had his walk, we generally choose a dog-friendly restaurant to take him out with us for breakfast, coffee or lunch. Cookshop is one of our favorites, where we get super tasty brunch and Marley has a water bowl and (homemade) biscuits on the patio. For drinks or coffee, Marley often steers us into the super dog-friendly Highline Hotel where there are both indoor and outdoor seating areas, a jar full of dog treats and usually a few noses and bums to sniff. If you are coming to the city and looking for dog-friendly accommodation, this definitely gets our vote!
Another dog-friendly hotel we’d recommend is The Marlton NYC. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s a super cozy spot in winter for coffee or drinks by the fire. Or if you really want to treat Fido, The Wilson NYC takes it to the next level, with its own dog menu.
Your Recommendations: Share Your Favorite Dog Hangouts
Have you been to any of these hangouts with your dog? Are there any others you think we should try? We’d love to hear about them if so!
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