Categories > Guides and Tips
Paws and Dine: Johannesburg’s Top Dog-Friendly Restaurants
Are you a food enthusiast who loves to dine out with your little furry buddies? If so, Johannesburg is the perfect city for you!
With plenty of cafés and restaurants that cater to both you and your pet, the city’s vibrant culinary scene welcomes pets.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Johannesburg’s dog-friendly restaurants are a great way to indulge in delicious food while showing your love to your furry companion.
Arbour Café & Courtyard
Website: https://arbourcafé.co.za/
Address: Shop 6 Wrenrose Court, 64 St Andrew St, Birdhaven, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Phone: +27 10 753 2007
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7 AM to 4 PM
- Saturday – 7 AM to 3 PM
- Sunday – 7:30 AM to 3 PM
Arbour Café is a dog-friendly spot offering a variety of meals from breakfast to dinner along with a great selection of wines. You’ll love the beautiful terrace, which is the perfect setting to enjoy some of Joburg’s freshest dishes.
The café offers omelettes, galettes, sweet crepes, cakes, pastries, salads, sandwiches, and a dinner menu with steaks, pasta, salmon, and duck.
And the best part? Your furry friend can join you on the beautiful terrace while you enjoy the delightful French-inspired cuisine.
| Pro Tip: Elevate your weekend brunch at the L’Ormarins Bottomless Mimosa Brunch. Enjoy unlimited mimosas and a brunch main of your choice for just R250 per person. |
Blind Tiger Café
Website: https://blindtiger.co.za/
Address: 62 Tyrone Ave, Parkview, Randburg, 2122, South Africa
Phone: +27 76 030 4200
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday – 12 PM to 11 PM
- Wednesday to Friday – 12 PM to 12 AM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 12 AM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 6 PM
Blind Tiger Café is a popular spot located on Parkview’s main street, Tyrone Avenue. The café has a speakeasy vibe and pays homage to the glamorous and crazy 1920s through its drinks menu.
It’s a warm and inviting space with cosy interiors, making it perfect for a winter hangout. In addition to the well-lit, stocked bar, the café features a large beer garden, ideal for big table dinners and private parties in the summer.
Patrons at this dog-friendly restaurant can bring their pooches and enjoy delicious alcoholic beverages while sitting outside.
| Pro Tips: After enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and delicious coffee at Blind Tiger Café, take a short 11-minute journey to Zoo Lake for a serene escape amidst nature’s beauty. |
Café Picobella Trattoria
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaféPicobellaTrattoria/
Address: 66 4th Ave, Melville, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 482 4309
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 8 AM to 10 PM
Café Picobella Trattoria is well-known for its delicious pizza and pasta, and dog owners in Johannesburg can enjoy a lovely dining experience with their furry companions here.
The restaurant’s charming ambience and beautiful terrace create a delightful atmosphere for a meal with your four-legged friend.
The menu offers Italian country-style cuisine with standout dishes such as pork Milanese and osso buco (slow-cooked veal) as well as pizzas from a stylish mosaic-clad oven. For dessert, don’t miss the tiramisu or the polenta orange cake.
| Pro Tips: Get ready to indulge in Picobella’s deliciously crafted pizzas with their two-for-one deal every Wednesday. Their wood-fired oven ensures a perfectly crispy crust. |
Brazen Head
Address: Leaping Frog Center William Nicol Drive Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 465 5318
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 10 AM to 10 PM
Brazen Head is an Irish restaurant and pub that offers a unique and authentic Irish atmosphere to its customers. If you’re looking for delicious Irish pub grub in Johannesburg, then this is the place to be.
Not only is the restaurant known for its fantastic food and drinks, but it’s also a dog-friendly spot that welcomes your furry friends with open arms. Your pooch can enjoy a good old-fashioned steak and chips while you indulge in a steak stout.
| Pro Tips: For a satisfying meal, try out Murphy’s Mixed Basket meal combo, which offers a generous serving of sausage, chicken strips, samosas, and chips accompanied by a delicious honey mustard dip. |
Cnr Café
Website: https://www.cnrcafé.com/
Address: Buckingham Ave &, Rothesay Ave, Craighall Park, Randburg, 2196, South Africa
Phone: +27 (0)11 880 2244
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 8 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 8 AM to 4 PM
Cnr Café is a popular spot in Craighall Park, especially among dog owners, as it’s situated close to Delta Park, which is a great place for dog walking. The café has a cosy and inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing after a long walk in the park.
This place is famous for its homemade desserts and local-favourite coffee blend. It offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, making it a great spot for community interaction.
| Pro Tips: For those who enjoy a leisurely walk before or after dining at the café, head to Delta Park’s southern border and stroll along the Braamfontein Spruit Trail, which is Johannesburg’s major stream that borders Delta Park. |
Doppio Zero Greenside
Website: https://doppio.co.za/restaurant/greenside/
Address: Barry Hertzog Avenue & Gleneagles Rd, Greenside, Randburg, 2034, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 646 8740
Operating Hours:
- Sunday & Monday – 7 AM to 9 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday – 7 AM to 10 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 7 AM to 10:30 PM
Doppio Zero is a haven for pet lovers, offering a chance to savour freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants in the company of their furry friends on a spacious verandah.
Their menu includes wood-fired pizzas, pastas, healthy salads, and soups. Try their famous artisan ciabatta bread, which is baked fresh every day on-site.
In addition, the restaurant is wheelchair-friendly and provides on-site and covered secured parking next door.
| Pro Tips: Try the Mediterranean hake paired with a warm sweet potato salad. The horseradish cream and pickled onions add a wonderful burst of flavour to the dish. |
Hudsons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HudsonsParkhurst/
Address: 4th Ave, Parkhurst, Randburg, 2193, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 268 0713
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 12 PM to 11:30 PM
Hudsons is an American-style diner in Parkhurst that specialises in two cuts of house-ground beef for their burgers. They also offer non-beef options like ostrich and veggie patties.
All their ingredients are locally sourced and made fresh daily.
Another thing that makes Hudsons stand out is their dog-friendly patio where pet lovers can hang out with their social doggos (on a leash).
| Pro Tips: Double up on flavour every Tuesday at Hudsons with their 2-for-1 pizza deal—perfect for sharing or indulging solo! Don’t miss out on their happy hour from Monday to Friday, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, featuring hand-crafted toppings that will elevate your pizza experience. |
Love Revo Maboneng
Address: 295 Fox St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2094, South Africa
Phone: +27 61 888 3591
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 1:15 PM to 2 AM
Love Revo is a trendy restaurant with a unique atmosphere, as it’s based in an old shipping container.
The restaurant serves South African meals, including potjie (small-pot food) and meat platters. Their tapas portions and juicy, flavourful meat will make you want to keep eating.
| Pro Tips: Kick off your weekend early here with the electrifying atmosphere of a Thursday night DJ set that’s sure to draw a lively crowd. |
Milk Bar Parkmore
Website: https://milkbar.co.za/
Address: 11 Holt St, East, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Phone: +27 72 641 8977
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 7 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 7 AM to 7 PM
Milk Bar is a pet-friendly restaurant and bar that welcomes well-behaved dogs on leashes. The quirky African-retro-styled café is named after Abu’s Milk Bar in downtown Addis Ababa.
The place has a casual and friendly atmosphere, making it ideal for a weekend family lunch. Additionally, there is a jungle gym for kids on-site, so your little ones can have fun while you enjoy your meal.
| Pro Tip: If you’re interested in watching rugby games, you can catch a game on a Saturday afternoon here. Make sure to arrive early to secure a table with a view of the screen. |
Salvation Café
Website: https://www.salvationcafé.co.za/
Address: 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 482 7795
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 8 AM to 4 PM
Surrounded by little boutique stores, Salvation Café is set in a courtyard-like setting that your furry friend will absolutely love.
The café’s tables flow outdoors onto a covered veranda, perfect for relaxed family meals.
Their menu offers a variety of healthy, sweet, and savoury breakfast options, including breakfast burritos, made with fresh and healthy ingredients like free-range eggs, chicken, and grass-fed beef.
For lunch, they have a good selection of salads, sandwiches, and wraps, and even a kid’s menu that will make adults envious.
| Pro Tips: If you’re looking for a satisfying vegetarian dish, you should definitely try the avo and hummus dukkha. This Egyptian dish combines creamy hummus with ripe avocado to create a deliciously addictive flavour. |
Soul Souvlaki
Website: https://soulsouvlaki.co.za/rosebank/
Address: 42 Bath Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Phone: +27 10 203 9538
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 9 AM to 7:30 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 8 AM to 9 PM
Soul Souvlaki is a Greek restaurant that serves amazing Greek street food and is pet-friendly.
Their must-try dishes are lamb, bifteki (spiced minced beef patties), or chicken souvlaki wrapped in freshly baked pita bread with tzatziki, fresh tomatoes, red onion, and rocket.
You can also create your own meze platter by choosing from grilled halloumi, baked chilli feta, tarama and tzatziki dips, chicken or lamb kebabs, and salads.
| Pro Tips: Cap off your Soul Souvlaki feast with a sweet treat crafted by a local Greek mama. Choose from a delectable array of baklava, saragli (pastry roll), chocolate melomakarona (Greek cookie), and kourabiedes (shortbread-type biscuit). |
Schäffler’s Nursery & Under the Trees
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Schafflers/
Address: 28 Johannesburg Rd, Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 786 0242
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 8 AM to 5 PM
Schäffler’s Nursery & Under the Trees is a great place to relax and enjoy organic food. Their menu is diverse and caters to different dietary requirements.
The restaurant is located in the middle of a nursery with beautiful flowers and plants to admire or buy. You can sit under the trees on the verandah and enjoy your meal with your pup.
Once you’ve finished your meal, you can take a leisurely stroll through the nursery and admire the well-maintained plants.
| Pro Tip: The café boasts not only a cosy and inviting atmosphere but also has a bookshop within its premises. Moreover, you can find unique gifts at the store. |
X&O Patisserie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XOpatisserie/
Address: Shop 127, 27Boxes Mall, 76 4th Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg, 2109, South Africa
Phone: +27 82 040 0787
Operating Hours:
- Open daily – 9 AM to 6 PM
X&O Patisserie is a dog-friendly bakery that offers a local version of the famous cronut, a mouth-watering croissant/doughnut hybrid.
Their cronuts are fried in oil, rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and topped with glaze, making them downright decadent.
In addition to cronuts, X&O Patisserie also offers XOnuts (a baked version of the cronut), artisan-roasted coffee, and homemade teas.
| Pro Tips: Walk off those delicious pastries with a stroll to Melville Koppies. It’s a dog-friendly haven just 7 minutes away on foot, perfect for a post-snack adventure! |
