Dog Friendly Alexandria

By Karen Johnson

Enjoying Alexandria is even more fun with your Best Furry Friend (BFF).

Throughout the city there are lots of great places to explore, eat and shop with your dog.

PawsGo is happy to share this list of favorites.

Sightseeing with Your Dog

Mount Vernon Estate—the grounds are dog-friendly. There is also seasonal All the President’s Pups tour.

The Torpedo Factory

Potomac Riverboat Cruise – Canine Cruises Spring through Fall. (Dates remaining: August 18, Sept 15 and 29, October 26)

Footsteps to the Past – many of the walking tours are dog-friendly.

Shopping with Your Dog

Independent small businesses and national retail outlets will welcome your BFF.

Anthropologie (Old Town)

Crate and Barrel Outlet (Old Town)

Banana Republic (Old Town)

Papyrus (Old Town)

Periwinkle (Old Town)

Kiskadee (Del Ray)

Forge Industrial Works (Old Town, they even hold adoption events)

Running Errands with Your Dog

The Greener Cleaner (Del Ray)

The Neighborhood Pharmacy (Del Ray)

United Bank (Del Ray)

Walgreen’s (Del Ray)

Executive Lock and Key/Hardware (Del Ray)

Greenstreet Gardens (Northridge/Braddock Road)

Dining with Your Dog

Leana’s Wood Fired Pizza and Tap (Del Ray, allows dogs on the patio and has a doggie menu)

Vola’s Dockside Grill (Old Town, allows dogs on the patio and has a doggie menu)

Virtue Grain and Feed (Old Town, allows dogs on the patio and has a doggie menu)

Sonoma Cellar ((Old Town, allows dogs on the patio and has a doggie menu)

Bastille (Parker Gray, allows a limited number of dogs on the patio and holds doggie happy hours)

Mason Social (Parker Gray, allows dogs on the patio and holds doggie happy hours)

Jackson 20 (Old Town, allows dogs on the patio and holds doggie happy hours)

Lost Dog Café (Parker Gray, they also support their own rescue — Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation)

BlackHall Hitch (Old Town)

Southside 815 (Old Town)

Buzz Bakery (Slaters Lane)

DRP Belle Haven (Belle Haven)

DRP (Del Ray)

The Dairy God Mother (Del Ray, make sure you get a Puppy Pop or a Squirrel for your BFF)

Northside 10 (Lynn Haven/Del Ray)

The Happy Tart (Del Ray)

Thai Pepper (Del Ray)

St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (Del Ray)

Nectar Coffee and Wine Bar (Del Ray)

Bombay Curry Company (Del Ray)

Rosemarino (Del Ray)

Evening Star and The Front Porch (Del Ray)

Kaizen (Del Ray)

Bon Vivant (Del Ray)

Market to Market (Del Ray)

Cheesetique (Del Ray)

Snackbar (Del Ray)

Taqueria Poblano (Del Ray)

Los Tios (Del Ray)

Pork Barrel (Del Ray)

Holy Cow (Del Ray)

The Sushi Place (Del Ray)

Del Ray Café (sadly, no dog friendly area, but deserves a shout out for the BEST dog treats. Available on their menu to take home to your BFF)

Rocklands (West End)

Ted’s Montana Grill (West End)

Getting Crafty with Your Dog

Fiber Space (Old Town)

Calico Corners (Old Town)

Businesses Smart Enough to Have Treats Available for Dogs Walking Past

The Enchanted Florist (Old Town)

Alexandria Hyundai (Del Ray)

Long and Foster (Old Town)

Ascend Cycle (Del Ray)

Waxing the City (Del Ray)

Del Ray Café (Del Ray, dog-friendly servers and staff will often race outside with a delicious treat for deserving –begging– dogs)

Karen Johnson is the founder of PawsGo, the Alexandria-based online community for women and their dogs promoting an active lifestyle. www.pawsgo.com