Cottonwood offers a massive open-air space with both shaded and full-sun seating and regular movie nights and live music that make it a good choice for a leisurely time out. After ordering at the counter, dig into local eats, like crawdads, or down a local beer on tap as you find refuge at the heavy picnic tables, the best seats to tie off the pooch. Bonus feature: if your best bud gets fidgety, head through the nearby gate that leads to a local park.

Just a few blocks off Heights Boulevard and the hike-and-bike trail, Eight Row Flint is a prime place to end a long walk with your dog. If you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the patio and go for the taco combo platter — you can’t go wrong with the pork or Brussels sprouts. You’ll find plenty of seating options with tables anchored to the ground so your pup can safely take in the crowd while you enjoy your meal. End the night with proprietary bourbon or tequila. 

This new venue has raised the bar (no pun intended) on the patio concept. The main deck with a wide selection of beers and cocktails available at the indoor-outdoor bar, an upper deck with Downtown skyline views, and the stadium seating of the food truck amphitheater all mean there’s no lack of options to find the right spot for you and your pup. Before or after grabbing a drink, stop for a bite from the food truck of the day, then find a place to settle in. With bigger dogs, opt for seating near the perimeter railing or at the outdoor bar facing the lush trees that line White Oak Bayou trail.

Join the crowd of ‘Stros fans and catch a game at Henderson Heights, an outdoor bar with an expansive patio, an enticing selection of beer on tap, and an eclectic cocktail menu, with offerings like a spicy jalapeno margarita. And while you indulge in burgers and bar food or unload on one of the patio’s four porch swings, spoil your pup with treats on hand.

Named after a giant, shaggy sheepdog, the Heights location of Barnaby’s offers a spacious dog-friendly patio and a dog menu, offering items like a chicken and rice bowl, ground beef and garlic (mind those doggie kisses), and a dessert consisting of a milk bone in a block of peanut butter ice cream. Owners can also get their grub on, with delicious finger foods like the chicken tinga quesadilla topped with queso fresco, or the bruschetta meatloaf sandwich.

This classic Houston bungalow houses a full bar venue surrounded by multiple patios notable for their white rock ground cover. Choose from one of four distinct seating areas, all of which are ready for you and your pup, rain or shine. Grab a bite from a rotating array of food trucks and enjoy a game on the large, single-screen outdoor television, or head to the dedicated dog park with picnic tables inside so you and your friends can share a drink while your pup enjoys making friends of his own.

A Museum District barbecue joint with an ice house vibe, The Patio at the Pit Room is an essential locale for enjoying smoked brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, Frito pie, and crawfish served Thursday through Sunday — all with your pooch in tow. With various seating choices on its patio, Rover will rest easy on the wooden deck surrounding the bar while you catch the latest sports game or just focus on your two-legged dining companions. Opt for a larger picnic or four-top table if you’re still social training your dog.