Time and again, San Francisco is recognized as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. What are some things you can do and places you can go with your furbaby in the city where canines outnumber children?
Where to take pics of your dog in San Francisco
There’s no shortage of iconic landmarks and Instagrammable spots in SF. If you love to
snap pics of your pup, check out these dog-friendly places where your supawstar can strike a pose!
Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts is a popular spot for graduation, engagement, and wedding photos, but you don’t need a special occasion to take pictures here. Pose your pooch in front of the Greco-Roman rotunda and colonnades for those Insta-worthy shots.
Umbrella Alley
Sandwiched between two buildings on Beach Street, Umbrella Alley is one of the city’s most colorful alleyways. With fun installations, 10 interactive murals, and more on the way, it’s a grrreat location for
pupfluencers!
16th Avenue Tiled Steps and Hidden Garden Steps
Don’t miss these beautiful mosaic stairways located within a short walk from each other. With multiple sections featuring different designs, both the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps and Hidden Garden Steps offer lots of opportunity for furrific photos.
Baker Beach
This mile-long sandy beach in the southwest corner of the Presidio is a puptastic location for photos. Here you can take pictures of your mutt with the Pacific Ocean, Marin Headlands, and Golden Gate Bridge in the background!
Dog-friendly restaurants in San Francisco
San Francisco’s food scene is dynamic and diverse, and you can enjoy a good chunk of it with your canine companion by your side. Here are just a few of the hundreds of restaurants in SF where four-legged patrons are welcome.
Delarosa
Both the Marina and Downtown locations of this Italian eatery have outdoor seating where you and your pooch can hang out as you tuck into a Roman-style pizza. There’s no doggie menu, but water bowls are available for furry customers upon request.
Beach’n
Just a bone’s throw from dog-friendly Ocean Beach is this fully plant-based coffee bar and kitchen. While you and Fido are here, be sure to try the French toast, which comes highly recommended by vegans and non-vegans alike.
Le Marcel
Your pup is in for a treat at this Union Street fixture! Le Marcel is a bakery that specializes in handmade,
hypoallergenic treats for canines. With over two dozen rotating offerings that include Border Collie Bon Bons, Muttaroons, and Peanut Biscotti, your hound will be howling for more!
Dog-friendly event in San Francisco
Petchitecture
Petchitecture is the annual gala fundraiser for Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS). A program of the nonprofit Shanti Project, PAWS keeps people and their companion animals together by providing services that help older adults and people with disabilities and illnesses care for their pets. These services include a pet food bank, financial assistance, and emergency
foster care.
Every year, Petchitecture features unique, pet-friendly architecture available for bidding, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting PAWS. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, May 18th, 6-9 PM at the Fairmont San Francisco. Canine guests are welcome and tickets are on sale soon! For more information, visit the
Petchitecture 2023 website.
Dog beaches in San Francisco
The City by the Bay is home to some dog-friendly beaches. Here are a few of those spots where you and your canine buddy can enjoy an afternoon of sun, sand, and sea!
Ocean Beach
After grabbing a bite to eat at Beach’n (see above), burn off your meal at
Ocean Beach, located on the westernmost border of San Francisco. Your furkiddo is allowed on-leash or under voice control from the north end to Stairwell 21. If you’re heading to the section between Stairwell 21 and Sloat Boulevard, the leash needs to go back on except from May 15th to July 1st when dogs can be under voice control.
Baker Beach
With large currents, undertows, and rip currents,
Baker Beach is not a swimming beach. It does, however, offer puptacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, so it’s definitely worth a visit. Dogs can be off-leash north of Lobos Creek but must be leashed south of Lobos Creek.
Animal shelter spotlight in San Francisco
San Francisco SPCA
One of the oldest humane societies in the US, the
SF SPCA introduced the no-kill movement and was the first cageless animal shelter in the country. Now the largest shelter in the Bay Area, the SF SPCA offers a wide range of services to save and protect animals, including adoptions, advocacy, community medicine, spay and neuter, and veterinary care. In 2019, the nonprofit announced Vision 2030, which aims to positively impact the lives of 5 million cats and dogs over the next 10 years.
Looking to adopt a new family member from the SF SPCA? Tune in to the SF SPCA Speed Dating events every Thursday from 12:15-12:45 PM PST on
Instagram to meet the shelter’s adorable dogs and cats!