Learn about the top 14 pet-friendly places in Santa Monica and make your California beach vacation perfect!
Santa Monica is known for its white sandy beaches, great clubs and lively restaurants. Combined with its idyllic weather and pet-friendly attitude, SaMo, as the locals call it, is an ideal place for a vacation with your pet. And to help you plan your trip, we’ve rounded up the top 14 pet-friendly places in Santa Monica!
Pet Friendly Restaurants in Santa Monica
first. Ashland Hill – 2807 Main Street, Santa Monica
This Santa Monica beachside biergarten boasts delicious food and pet-friendly amenities. The airy wine and beer bar occupies a spacious covered patio of reclaimed wood surrounded by citrus trees. And with dog water bowls scattered around the restaurant, your dog will never cease to be thirsty.
Ashland Hill also offers custom dog treats and a once-monthly “happy hour” with cocktails and snacks in support of a local nonprofit that helps animals.
2. Urth Café – 2327 Main Street, Santa Monica
Founded in 2004 in Santa Monica as the fourth establishment in this California chain, Urth is known for its healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. It’s an especially great breakfast spot, as the delicious food selection can go with their organic teas and aromatic coffees. And, of course, you can take Fido to the outside sitting area.
3. Kitchen Rosti Tuscan – 931 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica
Rosti began as a love affair with the smell of fresh herbs and the feeling of hand-picking garden vegetables. Now, this casual Italian kitchen serves delightful dishes, including salads and pizzas, along with a selection of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. And pets are welcome to join you on the field!
4. Albright – 258 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
Albright is an institution in Santa Monica! Located on the Santa Monica Pier since 1977, their menu features seafood dishes like grilled oysters, Dungeness crab, lobster, shrimp po’boys, poke, beer tacos, and paella. A spacious outdoor seating area welcomes dogs, and water bowls are widely placed throughout the space.
READ MORE Route 66 – Pet Friendly Attractions from Chicago to Santa Monica
Off-Leash Dog Park in Santa Monica
5. Airport Park Dog Park – Airport Avenue 3201, Santa Monica
This 0.83-acre fenced dog park is a fun place with separate playgrounds for large and small dogs. All local dogs must be licensed in Santa Monica to visit this park, and visitors can get a temporary license from the Animal Shelter at 1640 9th Street or by mail. The Shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm.
This dog park is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Note that this park is closed for maintenance on Mondays & Wednesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am.
6. Herb Katz Dog Park at Joslyn Park – 633 Kensington Road, Santa Monica
This dog park can accommodate up to 45 dogs at a time in the 1.25-acre playground and offers separate areas for large and small dogs. Joslyn Park also has the following facilities:
- community center with auditorium, kitchen and craft room
- basketball yard
- picnic tables and benches
- children’s playground
- 6 parking spaces on the street
This dog park is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Note that this park is closed for maintenance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
7. Pacific Dog Park – 2174 Main Street, Santa Monica
The Pacific Dog Park is a one hectare area with covered seats and water fountains for dogs. It is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and closed for maintenance on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Pet-friendly beaches near Santa Monica
Some of the most memorable pet-friendly places near Santa Monica are the beaches! Watching your dog bounce in the waves and play in the sand is a memory you both will cherish for a lifetime.
8. Rosie’s Dog Beach – 5000 E Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach
At Rosie’s Dog Beach, the puppies are free to run and play without a leash. The puppies have been enjoying the sand since June 2001, when a local named Justin Rudd started planning special events for dogs. In 2004, the city council approved the Official Dog Zone, which was later named in memory of a bulldog named Rosie.
This four-acre property now has plenty of trash cans to help owners keep the beach tidy. There is a limit of one dog per owner and all dogs must be tagged, vaccinated and controllable. Rosie’s Dog Beach is open daily from 6am to 8pm.
READ MORE Keep your dog safe at the beach
9. Huntington Dog Beach – PCH between 21st Street and Seapoint Avenue, Huntington Beach
Located along the Pacific Coast Highway between 21st Street and Seapoint Avenue, Huntington is a great place for a beach walk. Pets must be leash at all times, which makes this a good choice for dogs who don’t want access to other dogs.
Huntington Dog Beach is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and amenities include public restrooms, paid parking, a grassy area with picnic tables, and a dog waste bag .
ten. State Beach Leo Carrillo – Pacific Coast Highway 35000, Malibu
State Leo Carrillo Beach is a popular destination for swimming, surfing, beach brushing and more! Pets on a leash are welcome in the day-use areas of the park, campground, and north beach (north of lifeguard tower 3).
Make sure to avoid the tidal pools, trails and beaches south (south of lifeguard tower 3), where pets are not allowed.
Spas, Nurseries and Shops in Santa Monica
11. Bark Williams – 2901 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica
Bark Williams is Santa Monica’s premier pet shop and spa. Family owned and operated since 2004, Bark has long been a favorite with dog and cat services. They use only natural and animal-friendly products, and are the pioneers of the original Yappy Hour – a daily $10 self-wash special.
twelfth. Paws and Effect Pet Spa – 3030 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
Paws & Effect makes pets a top priority. They are a hair salon – peaceful and clean – that also offers special treatments to increase the health and beauty of their clients’ pets.
13. Lincoln Bark – 1437 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
Long before doggie daycare became a reality, people at Lincoln Bark kept their neighbors’ pets in their homes. They now provide the dogs with a safe indoor nursery with some fun on the fenced patio. Cats can also spend the day and get lots of attention, treatment, and access to their emails (just kidding!).
14. My pet naturally – 3240 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
My Pet Natural is a pet health food store dedicated to providing all-natural, healthy and holistic products for customers and their pets. They offer a wide range of high quality, healthy foods, foods (including organic, premium raw), toys, bedding, bowls and other products. It’s a premium one-stop shop for any pet supplies you might need.
Information about the Authors: Harsh Arora is an Animal Support Social Worker and content consultant at leopard-gecko. Harsh is passionate about entrepreneurship, social work, animal welfare, the latest technological innovations and all that makes the world a better place for animals. When not writing, he enjoys playing with animals, cooking, and walking.
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