Photo by Georgia Gregory Photography. Inquire with us if you'd like to schedule a golden hour shoot on a nearby beach.
San Diego loves dogs. And dogs love San Diego! Strict health codes keep them outside of restaurants, so we focus on epic--sometimes breathtaking--patios.
Extremely close to Dog Beach
Viewpoint Brewing is 100% dog-friendly, inside and out
We love San Diego for perfect weather in every season, and some of the best patio culture in the world. It's sunny, it's lovely, it's why we live here. But sometimes you just want to sit inside with your dog. Viewpoint is the best spot for that. Stroll from Dog Beach and our Del Mar cottages along the lagoon, and pick any table, including under the covered roof. Or skip the hike and drive here!
Make reservations at the fancy Brigantine
Brigantine affords you beautiful views over the lagoon...and it affords you exactly four pet-friendly tables on their patio. So call ahead to reserve, or try walking in midweek. Typically no treats or pup cups.
A quick walk North to Cedros Design District and Fletcher Cove
From Dog Beach, decide if your dog needs a bath. If so, Dirty Dogs is a mile up the road with grooming, DIY stations, and fancy DIY dryers for excellent doggy hair styles. If your dog doesn't need a bath head about a half a mile up the hill to the incredibly dog-friendly Cedros Design District.
In the morning, we swear by Barefoot Coffee Roasters and Naked Cafe
Your pup will be in good company at Barefoot Coffee Roasters, with indoor-outdoor design and firepits in case the weather ever dips down below...68 degrees ;). Cedros Design District is very dog-friendly in general, as long as your dog doesn't try to eat the rabbits at the Grange cafe.
Naked Cafe has a huge turfed patio with excellent shade and an adorable dog menu. Brenda and her family have been coming here for years for radiantly healthy food and hyper-local vibes. Not that it's about people-watching, but the people-watching is excellent.
For afternoon and evening, try Culture Brewing and Solana Rustic Root
Culture Brewing is arguably the dog capital of Solana Beach. Your dog will likely be among canine friends here. The vibe is industrial, friendly, super fun and super beer-forward. If you want something a little more textured, softer, gentler? Rustic Root--just across the train tracks--has delightful dog menus, human menus, and cocktails. It just opened in 2025, so it's the new fancy kid on the block. The staff tends to be especially creative, interesting, and entrepreneurial.
For Brenda Family Originals: Pizza Port and Sushi Station
Both spots have good patios, good takeout, and a long history of feeding Brenda's visiting neice as she writes this blog without any AI. (Truly!) Pizza Port's trivia and live music are especially fun, and you can find their beer all the way up to Seattle.
A hillier walk south to Del Mar Plaza
For breakfast, Stratford Court Cafe
We love their huge trees, huge patio, and teeny tiny charming cottage from the early 20th century. We're surprised at how good their Chilaquiles are.
For dinner, Tamarindo and Il Fornaio
Tamarindo's fresh food extends beyond our favorite guacamole in town...and all the way to their adorable dog menu, with its cute Ruckus Special.
Il Fornaio's Del Mar restaurant provides incredible sunset views, that white tablecloth experience, and solid Italian food. Dogs are allowed on the large cocktail patio and enoteca patios, which are both first come / first serve with no reservations. We like to call when we're on our way, just to make sure the wait looks good.
All around San Diego
You'll generally find great energy and enthusiasm for dogs. Patios are typically good bets. We love asking if they have pup cups or dog treats to gauge how deeply welcoming they are.
If you're into a scavenger hunt, be on the lookout for Terra Pawz. It's an fellow woman-owned San Diego company that makes dog treats from the leftover grain from beer brewing, or what hardcore folks call the "spent brewing grain." Circular economy and sustainability at its finest!
All in a BeachHaus
The San Diego sustainable dog treats mention above is not an ad, but this is! Our best properties for accessing Dog Beach and these restaurants are:
- Maybe Sailboat Villa, though it doesn't have a fenced yard
- Seahorse Cottage and Turtle Retreat, which combine to form the 25th Street Family Compound
- Shell Cottage and Octopus Hideaway, which combine to form 26th Street's Joint Beach Bungalow
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At BeachHaus, we write to help host you in our beloved properties across North County, San Diego. We write to help bring your perfect vacation to life. We write to deepen our own joy and gratitude for this beautiful place. We write to extend our work as a kind, caring voice in women-led hospitality. Write to us too, if you like: admin@beachhausrentals,com or text (858) 252-7791. We'll write back promptly, typically between 8:00 am and 8:00 PM Pacific time.