Learn about the top 14 pet friendly places in Santa Monica and make your California coast vacation perfect!
Santa Monica is known for its white sand beaches, fantastic clubs, and funky restaurants. Combined with the idyllic weather and pet friendly attitude, SaMo, as the locals call it, is an ideal place for a full week of vacation with your pet. And to help you plan your trip, we’ve gathered our top 14 pet friendly places in Santa Monica!
Pet Friendly Restaurants In Santa Monica
1. Ashland Hill – 2807 Main Street, Santa Monica
This Santa Monica beachside biergarten boasts tasty food and pet friendly facilities. The airy wine and beer bar occupies a spacious reclaimed-wood covered patio surrounded by citrus trees. And with dog water bowls spread around the restaurant, your dog will never go thirsty.
Ashland Hill also offers custom dog treats and a once-per-month “yappy hour” with cocktails and bites that support a local non-profit helping animals.
2. Urth CaffĂ© – 2327 Main Street, Santa Monica
Established in 2004 in Santa Monica as the fourth in this California chain, Urth is famous for its health-conscious breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. It’s an especially wonderful breakfast spot, because the delicious food selections can be accompanied by their organic tea and aromatic coffee. And, of course, you can bring Fido to the outside sitting area.
3. Rosti Tuscan Kitchen – 931 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica
Rosti started as a love affair with the smell of fresh herbs and feel of hand-picked garden vegetables. Now this informal Italian kitchen serves delightful fare, including salads and pizza, along with a nice selection of vegan and gluten-free options. And pets are more than welcome to join you on the patio!
4. The Albright – 258 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
The Albright is a Santa Monica institution! Located on the Santa Monica Pier since 1977, their menu features seafood like grilled oysters, Dungeness crab, lobster, shrimp po’boys, poke, beer-battered fish tacos, and paella. The spacious outdoor seating area welcomes dogs, and water bowls are generously placed throughout the space.
READ MORE ⇒ Route 66 – Pet Friendly Sights From Chicago to Santa Monica
Off-Leash Dog Parks In Santa Monica
5. Airport Park Dog Park – 3201 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica
This 0.83-acre, fenced dog park is a delight with separate playgrounds for large and small dogs. All local dogs must be licensed in Santa Monica in order to visit this park, and visitors can obtain temporary licenses from the Animal Shelter at 1640 9th Street or by mail. The Shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm.
This dog park is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm, and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. Note that this park closes for maintenance on Mondays & Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
6. Herb Katz Dog Park in Joslyn Park – 633 Kensington Road, Santa Monica
This dog park can hold up to 45 dogs at a time in the 1.25 acres playground and provides separate areas for large and small dogs. Joslyn Park also has the following facilities:
- community center with an auditorium, kitchen and craft room
- basketball court
- picnic tables and benches
- children’s playground
- 6 off-street parking spaces
This dog park is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm, and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. Note that this park closes for maintenance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
7. Pacific Street Dog Park – 2174 Main Street, Santa Monica
Pacific Street Dog Park features an acre of off-leash area with shaded seats and dog water fountains. It is open daily from 6 am to 8:30 pm and closes for maintenance on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
Pet Friendly Beaches Near Santa Monica
Some of the most memorable pet friendly places near Santa Monica are the sandy beaches! Watching your dog splash in the waves and romp in the sand is a memory you’ll both treasure for a lifetime.
8. Rosie’s Dog Beach – 5000 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach
At Rosie’s Dog Beach, pooches are free to run and play leash-free. Pups have enjoyed this stretch of sand since June 2001, when a local resident named Justin Rudd began planning special events for dogs. In 2004, the city council approved the official Dog Zone, a site which was later named in memory of a bulldog named Rosie.
This four-acre plot now has ample trash receptacles to help the owners keep the rest of the beach tidy. There is a one-dog-per-owner limit, and all dogs should be tagged, vaccinated and controllable. Rosie’s Dog Beach is open every day from 6 am to 8 pm.
READ MORE ⇒ Keeping Your Dog Safe At The Beach
9. Huntington Dog Beach – PCH between 21st Street and Seapoint Avenue, Huntington Beach
Located along Pacific Coast Highway between 21st Street and Seapoint Avenue, Huntington is a great place for a walk on the beach. Pets must be leashed at all times, which makes this a good option for dogs who prefer not to be approached by other dogs walking by.
Huntington Dog Beach is open daily from 5 am to 10 pm, and amenities for dog owners include public restrooms, paid parking, a grassy area with picnic tables, and dog waste bags.
10. Leo Carrillo State Beach – 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
Leo Carrillo State Beach is a popular destination for swimming, surfing, beach-combing and more! Pets on a leash are welcome in the park’s day use areas, campground, and north beach (north of lifeguard tower 3).
Make sure to avoid the tide pools, backcountry trails and south beach (south of lifeguard tower 3), where pets are not allowed.
Spas, Daycares, And Boutiques In Santa Monica
11. Bark Williams – 2901 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica
Bark Williams is Santa Monica’s leading pet spa and a boutique. Family-owned and run since 2004, Bark has long been a favorite for its services for dogs and cats. They use only natural and animal-friendly products, and are the pioneer of the original Yappy Hour – the $10 daily self-wash special.
12. Paws and Effect Pet Spa – 3030 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
Paws & Effect makes pets’ well being their priority. They are a styling salon – peaceful, and clean – also offering special treatments to increase the health, fitness and beauty of their client pets.
13. Lincoln Bark – 1437 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
Long before doggie daycare became a thing, the folks at Lincoln Bark were hosting their friends and neighbors’ pets in their home. Now they offer dogs a safe indoor daycare area with some fun on the fenced porch. Cats can also spend the day and receive plenty of attention, treats, and access to their email (just kidding!).
14. My Pet Naturally – 3240 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
My Pet Naturally is a pet health food store dedicated to providing all-natural, healthy, and holistic products to customers and their pets. They offer a variety of high-quality, healthy treats, foods (including organic, premium raw food), toys, beds, bowls, and other products. It’s a superior one-stop-shop for any pet supplies you may need.
About the Author: Harsh Arora is an Animal Assisted Social Worker and content consultant at leopard-gecko. Harsh is passionate about start-ups, social work, animal welfare, latest tech innovations, and all that makes this world better for animals. When he is not writing, he loves playing with animals, cooking and road trips.
