Pet-Friendly Restaurants in Sarasota, FL

Melissa Gissinger
August 22, 2024

Five Sarasota-area restaurants have confirmed dog-friendly outdoor seating: The Old Salty Dog on City Island, Owen's Fish Camp downtown, Sun Garden Café in Siesta Key Village, Lazy Lobster on Longboat Key, and Mad Moe's Pub and Grill in Osprey. All five allow leashed, well-behaved dogs on their patios or outdoor areas.

Restaurant	Area	Hours	Dog Area
The Old Salty Dog	City Island	Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun 11am-9pm (breakfast Fri-Sun from 7:30am)	Outdoor deck
Owen's Fish Camp	Burns Court, downtown	4pm-9:30pm Mon-Thu/Sun, 4pm-10:30pm Fri-Sat (dinner only)	Backyard and covered patio only, not the porch or indoors
Sun Garden Café	Siesta Key Village	7:30am-1:30pm, daily	Garden patio
Lazy Lobster	Longboat Key	Dinner hours, roughly 4-9pm Mon-Sat, closed Sun (seasonal, call ahead)	Terrace garden
Mad Moe's Pub and Grill	Osprey	11am-10pm daily, later Fri-Sat	Outdoor covered seating

For pet owners, finding a restaurant that welcomes their furry companions is an important part of enjoying the local dining scene. In Sarasota, FL, there are plenty of options for those who want to bring their pets along for a meal. Explore five of the area's most reliably dog-friendly spots below.

The Old Salty Dog

One of Sarasota's iconic waterfront dining spots, The Old Salty Dog on City Island is a longtime favorite for pet owners.

Address: 1601B Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun 11am-9pm; breakfast Fri-Sun from 7:30am, City Island location only
Cost: Most menu items $8 to $25
Dog policy: dogs welcome on the outdoor deck

Source: Visit Sarasota County, official venue listing.visitsarasota.com

The waterfront deck faces Sarasota Bay, and the menu runs from their well-known beer-battered hot dog to fresh seafood.

Owen's Fish Camp

Owen's Fish Camp, tucked into Burns Court in downtown Sarasota, is a Southern-style seafood spot with a well-documented dog policy.

Address: 516 Burns Court, Sarasota, FL 34236
Hours: 4pm-9:30pm Mon-Thu and Sun, 4pm-10:30pm Fri-Sat (dinner only, no lunch)
Cost: Entrees generally $18 to $35
Dog policy: well-behaved pets are welcome outside in the backyard or on the covered patio; not permitted on the porch or indoors

Source: restaurant management statement on Yelp; corroborated by multiple diner reports.Yelp (plain text per link policy for review-aggregator sources)

The banyan tree out front, a gift to developer Owen Burns from Thomas Edison, is as much a draw as the food.

Sun Garden Café

In the heart of Siesta Key Village, Sun Garden Café is a breakfast-and-lunch spot with a dog-friendly garden patio.

Address: 210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota, FL 34242
Hours: 7:30am-1:30pm, daily
Cost: Most breakfast and lunch items $10 to $16
Dog policy: well-behaved dogs welcome on the outdoor garden patio

Source: Sun Garden Café listing.sungardencafe.com

Arrive early on weekends; the patio's roughly 15 tables fill up fast in season.

Lazy Lobster of Longboat Key

A short drive from downtown Sarasota, Lazy Lobster offers a dog-friendly terrace garden alongside its seafood menu.

Address: 5350 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key, FL 34228
Hours: dinner only, roughly 4pm-9pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday; hours shift seasonally, so call ahead
Cost: Entrees from $13.95, early dining menu from $9.95
Dog policy: dogs welcome at umbrella-shaded tables in the terrace garden, weather permitting

Source: Visit Sarasota County and BringFido venue listings.visitsarasota.com

It's a good after-beach stop if you've spent the day at one of Longboat Key's own dog-friendly spots.

Mad Moe's Pub and Grill

South of Sarasota in Osprey, Mad Moe's is a casual sports pub with dog-friendly covered outdoor seating.

Address: 106 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229
Hours: 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat (hours vary slightly by source; confirm before a late visit)
Cost: Burgers and pub food, mostly $12 to $18
Dog policy: outdoor covered seating is dog-friendly

Source: multiple diner reports and venue listings.restaurantji.com, dinesarasota.com (plain text per link policy)

It's a reliable, low-key option if you want pub food and a game on TV rather than a waterfront view.

Pet-Friendly Dining Etiquette

Sarasota is generally welcoming to pets, but a few habits make the experience better for everyone. Keep your dog leashed and close to your table rather than letting it approach other diners. Bring a portable water bowl, especially in warmer months. Clean up after your pet so these patios stay open to dogs going forward.

FAQs

Which Sarasota restaurants allow dogs on the patio?

The Old Salty Dog, Owen's Fish Camp, Sun Garden Café, Lazy Lobster, and Mad Moe's Pub and Grill all have confirmed outdoor dog-friendly seating in the Sarasota area.

Can dogs sit anywhere at these restaurants?

Usually not everywhere. Owen's Fish Camp, for example, allows dogs in the backyard and on the covered patio, but not on the porch or indoors, so it's worth confirming the specific outdoor area before you're seated.

Do these restaurants require reservations for dog owners?

Reservation policies vary by restaurant and aren't dog-specific. Owen's Fish Camp does not take reservations at all, while Lazy Lobster and others recommend calling ahead, especially during peak season.

Exploring Sarasota's Pet-Friendly Real Estate

For those considering a move to Sarasota, FL, the abundance of pet-friendly restaurants is just one benefit of living in this community. The welcoming attitude toward pets extends to parks, beaches, and many residential communities, with options from single-family homes with large yards to condos near dog parks.

Partner with Melissa Gissinger for Your Sarasota Real Estate Needs

If you're looking to explore Sarasota real estate, reach out to Melissa Gissinger. With a deep understanding of the Sarasota area, Melissa can guide you through finding a pet-friendly property that suits your needs, whether that's a cozy condo near downtown or a spacious home with a yard for your pets to roam. Contact Melissa Gissinger today.