7 Pet-Friendly Restaurants in Bradenton/Sarasota

If you think the best company for your weekend meal is your four-legged friend, then finding a pet-friendly restaurant should be at the top of your to-do list. The Bradenton/Sarasota area has some great options, whether you’re looking for a belly-filling breakfast, beer and a burger or refined continental cuisine.  Check out these seven places:

Old Salty Dog
1601 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota

Voted Best Outdoor Dining, Old Salty Dog offers fresh uptown bar food, cold beer for you and cold water for your dog. Located on the water’s edge, this British-styled eatery offers house-made crab dip, coconut shrimp, traditional fish and chips and Caribbean fish tacos served with homemade salsa verde and cilantro lime cream. Kick back, dig into the crab dip, sip your beer and watch the boats with your furry friend at your feet. 

Sun Garden Cafe
210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota

This Saturday, why not indulge in a long breakfast while your pooch hangs out with you in Sun Garden Cafe’s beautiful outdoor garden? Made from local produce, farm-fresh eggs and fresh fish, the dishes on this menu are sure to satisfy both your taste buds and tummy. Will you go for the sweet potato pancakes or one of the many unique benedicts? Whatever you order, time with your dog, good food and free WI-Fi are sure to start your Saturday off just right. 

Café L’Europe
431 Armands Circle, Sarasota

This beautiful restaurant has been serving fantastic meals for 42 years, and they don't just serve them to people. Bring your dog along and get the early dining menu where you have several choices of appetizers, entrees and the dessert of the day. You can start with creamy Lobster Bisque or a fresh salad. Choosing your main course could take some time, because deciding between the prime rib, Coq au Vin, or prosciutto-wrapped salmon could be your most difficult decision of the day. Your 4-legged friend has her own menu to choose from, too, but you’ll need to decide if she’s in the mood for steak tartar or the Dogsters ice cream treats.

Columbia Restaurant
St. Armands Circle, Sarasota

If you love history and Spanish and Cuban food, then grab a leash and take your dog to Columbia Restaurant, Sarasota’s oldest restaurant. Enjoy an outdoor table on the patio while you dig into some traditional black bean soup, Mojo chicken or something from the tapas menu.

The Bearded Clam Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar
7150 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

If you’re looking for a great place to kick back and relax with a cold beer and some delicious food, with your 4-legged friend by your side this is the place for you. Located on the waterfront, the sun deck and Tiki bar are the perfect places to sit and watch the boats or listen to the live music on Sunday afternoons.

Motorworks Brewing
1014 9th Street West, Bradenton

Housed in a 1920s automobile dealership located mid-way between McKechnie Field and the downtown Riverwalk Park, this full-production Brewery Taproom is the place to go for fine craft beers. The front patio and beer garden features a deck built around a 100-year-old oak tree and has plenty of seating for you and your dog. Check the events calendar for live music performances and special outdoor events like yoga classes.

O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar
427 12th Street West, Bradenton

If you’re looking for something a little different for your dining experience, O’Bricks may be the place for you. With a mix of traditional Irish pub and metropolitan style, they offer everything from fish-n-chips and shepherd’s pie to grilled chicken chèvre and shrimp Eldorado pasta. The patio seating allows you to enjoy the company of your pet while you sip a martini or have a beer.

You don't have to leave Scruffy at your Sarasota or Bradenton apartment. Try one of these four great places where you can get a good meal and your dog can get a warm welcome...and maybe a cool bowl of water.