A Dog Person’s Guide to San Francisco

In this article:

• How to get around San Francisco with your dog
• Parks and beaches to visit in San Francisco with your dog
• Where to eat and drink in San Francisco with your dog
• Other fun places to visit in San Francisco with your dog

One of the best parts of being a dog person is seeing the world through your dog’s eyes (and nose). And we’ll take that notion a step further: To us, getting to know a new place with your dog is the best way to get to know a new place, period. That’s why we’re creating travel guides for dog-friendly towns around the country. Last stop: Manhattan. Next stop: San Francisco.

San Francisco may be a welcome escape for you and your dog, particularly if your own municipality is in the midst of a brutal stretch of cold and snow. This was the case when I spent a week there with my almost-12-year-old dachshund in late January, fleeing New York City for temperatures that hovered in the 50s.

Here’s what Sheldon and her people did in San Francisco, plus a couple of things we missed that we want to see next time. This itinerary is built around the tastes of particular human beings and an individual wiener dog—so you can adjust for your dog’s, and your own, needs and preferences.

On that note: Onward, to a Dog Person’s Guide to San Francisco.

How to get around San Francisco with your dog

It was easy to navigate San Francisco with a small dog using Muni buses and light rail. Here are the rules:

• Dogs are not allowed during peak hours (5–9am and 3–7pm).
• Only one pet is allowed per Muni vehicle.
• You must pay a fare for your dog.
• Dogs must be leashed and muzzled or in a carrier.
• Dogs must ride on your lap or under your seat.

When the Muni wasn’t an option, ride shares worked well and welcomed Sheldon.

We didn’t get a chance to ride the San Francisco Bay Ferry, but they allow dogs under a similar set of rules to the Muni.

Parks and beaches to visit with your dog in San Francisco

Ocean Beach and Sunset Dunes

If you like your beaches on the cool, cloudy side, we cannot recommend Ocean Beach and Sunset Dunes—located on the West Side of the city by the Pacific Ocean—enough. The currents at Ocean Beach are strong, and it’s only for very experienced surfers. As such, neither Sheldon nor her people ventured into the water, but we enjoyed walking along its three-and-a-half miles and watching wet-suited daredevils rip.

The beach is popular with dogs and dog people, and we saw numerous happy sniffy walks, dog-friend greetings, and fetch sessions soundtracked by crashing waves. Leash rules vary by season; check here for details. If you are taking a leisurely walk on the paved path, stick to the slow lane, where you won’t encounter wheeled conveyances.

In addition to the natural scenery, exercise equipment, and a skate park, we took in several pieces of public art during our strolls. One memorable installation was “Ocean Calling,” which features a telephone through which visitors are encouraged to speak words they wish they could share with lost loved ones.

Land’s End National Recreation Area

Not far from the northern side of Ocean Beach, you’ll find Land’s End, an expansive hiking site with ridiculous views of the Pacific Ocean.

Many dogs joined their people at Land’s End and sniffed all the trails had to offer. Keep yours on a leash—there are real cliffs here with narrow paths and uneven terrain, and a person or dog could be badly hurt if they were to fall.

Be ready to climb—parts of the path are a workout. But we relished the dirt crunching under our feet and paws and suspect many others would, too.

Buena Vista Park

Continuing the theme of good views, it will not surprise connoisseurs of the Spanish language that Buena Vista park offers them. The park is located right in the middle of the city, near the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood famous for its role in 1960s counterculture.

If you’re visiting this particular park, again, be prepared to climb—and to either carry your dog or have them do the same. Sheldon received assistance getting to the top. We were glad to help, and told ourselves she was sort of a living weighted vest.

Golden Gate Park

This massive park covers more than 1,000 acres. It stretches from Outer Richmond and the Outer Sunset on the West Side of the city all the way to Haight-Ashbury. 

Sheldon had a good time walking the 1.5-mile JFK Promenade, a car-free path through the park. Along the Promenade, you can play ping pong on public tables—just bring your own paddles—or lounge in Adirondack chairs.

We also happened to pass by musicians and groups of locals taking dance lessons—in one case, performing a roller-skate dance routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” And, yes, there was an abundance of dogs. Sheldon met a couple of other dachshunds during her walks through Golden Gate Park, and peacefully coexisted with them without forging any close bonds.

Among many other highlights of the park are a Shakespeare Garden; a Bison Paddock; various sports fields; rose, camellia, and dahlia gardens; a rhododendron dell; and the Queen Wilhelmina Garden, in which tulips surround a Dutch windmill.

Panhandle

Named for its shape, the Panhandle—north of Haight-Ashbury—connects with Golden Gate Park and stretches one block wide and a quarter of a mile long. It’s filled with plant smells, and is a good place for a walk or fetch. Watch for bikes on the pathways.

Presidio National Park Site

This National Historic Landmark has been a military outpost for Spain, Mexico, and the United States. The park is near the northern tip of the city, connecting to the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s another delightful walk with your dog featuring views of that span, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Francisco Bay, along with ample plant life.

Dolores Park

You and your dog can run around and burn off some calories on this big, grassy hill in the Mission. If you’d like, reward yourself afterwards with an ice-cream sandwich at Bi-Rite Creamery.

Where to eat and drink in San Francisco with your dog

San Francisco has a mild climate—and tons of restaurants with permanent outdoor seating, where we found that well-behaved dachshunds were more than welcome.

The outdoor seating often comes in the form of “parklets,” which arose during the pandemic and have stuck around.

While eating at these establishments, we often kept Sheldon busy with treats. Generally, if you’re going to ask your dog to join you at a restaurant, you should have a distraction plan that works for you and them.

Hook Fish

Seafood near Ocean Beach, with only outdoor seating in what may be the most aesthetically pleasing parklet we saw. The menu changes depending on the day’s catch.

Souvla

This Greek restaurant has multiple locations with outdoor seating. In addition to assorted savory fare, their tangy frozen yogurt is popular.

Dumpling Home

Dogs are allowed in the outdoor area of this restaurant, which is located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood further east in the city. Waitstaff delivered multiple warnings about precisely how hot and juicy the juicy chicken bao were, and were correct to do so. If you show up at night or on a weekend, you should be ready to wait; bring treats to keep your best friend entertained.

Tartine

This famed bakery is a fun casual brunch spot, and the location across from Green Apple Books in the Inner Sunset features a generous outdoor seating area. 

Yo También Cantina

There’s ample parklet seating at this casual vegetarian restaurant, located in the Inner Sunset.

Day Moon

We had plenty of canine company during our visit to this Outer Sunset bakery’s spacious parklet. There was nothing for Sheldon to eat, but she was free to inhale the fresh baked-good aromas wafting through the huge open windows.

Dandelion Chocolate

There’s outdoor seating at Dandelion’s Valencia Street location in the Mission. We had a marocchino—a European drinking chocolate with a double espresso shot—while Sheldon watched. It even came with a little free cookie. If you go, supervise your dog closely and don’t let them eat any chocolate—either off of your own plate or that anyone drops.

Andytown Coffee

There are Andytown locations throughout San Francisco, and we visited the one closest to our lodging every morning. In addition to the coffee, the warm wheaten bread, slathered with homemade butter, provided fuel for walks along the aforementioned Ocean Beach. Sheldon was welcome in the parklet out front, where she mingled with new acquaintances of various breeds and sizes without knocking over a single latte.

Other fun places to bring your dog in San Francisco

Free Gold Watch

This arcade, just east of the Panhandle in Haight-Ashbury, happily accommodated Sheldon. There wasn’t much for a dachshund to do there, but she hung out contentedly while one of her people dominated at pop-a-shot and the other, who is writing this sentence, struggled at the same.

It was noisy at Free Gold Watch, and some of the spaces were a bit narrow, so you should weigh your own dog’s tolerance for such things before bringing them there.

Black Bird

This charming Outer Sunset bookstore and cafe is very dog-friendly, dispenses treats, and even sold some books about and featuring dogs. Grab a coffee or tea and a pastry, and set up shop with your dog and a book in their roomy, verdant backyard. Books for you, plant smells for your dog (and maybe also for you).

City Lights Bookstore

This historic shop, known for its association with Alan Ginsberg—City Lights Published Howl—showcased an assortment of fiction and nonfiction from publishers big and small, including its own imprint. We saw several dog-related titles on the shelves.

City Lights is located in North Beach, a neighborhood on the east side of the city closer to the Bay and attractions like the Ferry Building.

In case you’re like us and cannot get enough of the USA comedy-drama-mystery series Monk, we will note that the outside of City Lights offered a photo op with the Transamerica Pyramid, which we remember from the opening credits of said television program and may be more notable to most people as the second-tallest building in the city.

Green Apple Books

Another cozy bookstore with new and used titles. The Inner Sunset location sits across from an outpost of Tartine (see above).

Alamo Square

Sheldon has never seen Full House, but still enjoyed the pleasant environs near the famous “Painted Ladies,” the Victorian and Edwardian houses from the show’s opening credits. They’re a short walk from the eastern side of the Panhandle.

San Francisco Giants Dog Days

The Giants’ baseball season had not yet started during our visit, but it’s now right around the corner. And we would be remiss if we did not mention that the team hosts “Dog Days”—scheduled for July 11 and September 12 in 2026—during which you’re encouraged to bring your best friend to a ballgame.

The Bay views from Oracle Park alone make it worth a visit even for someone who is not particularly jazzed about baseball. Plus, the festivities include a pregame, on-field dog parade.

That covers what we learned before flying back to the snowy east coast. If you and your dog appreciate mist and steep inclines—for the rumors are true, and the City by the Bay is foggy and hilly—you’ll get a lot out of your own visit to San Francisco.

More dog-friendly travel guides

A Dog Person’s Guide to Boston
A Dog Person’s Guide to a Winter Weekend in Manhattan
A Dog Person’s Guide to Seattle