Dog-Friendly Pasadena: Where To Go With Your Dog

In Pasadena's pet-friendly ecosystem, be prepared for a travel experience where your furry friends are treated like VIP guests every paw-step of the way. Here's our guide to a pet-friendly getaway in Pasadena that are sure to give your pup something to bark home about.

Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays

There are pet-friendly properties in every category, from budget motels to luxurious resorts. No matter where you choose to stay, as a courtesy to other guests, dogs should never be left in a guest room unattended.

On the higher end, the Langham Huntington, Pasadena is all about pampering your pet with their "Doggie Program." For a $135 fee on top of the going hotel rate, your room will be outfitted with a pink porcelain dog bowl, a plush dog bed pillow, and the hotel's Doggie Newsletter, which doubles as a guide to the property and city with your pup in tow. The Langham also offers comprehensive menus of Doggie Spa Services and gourmet In-Room Doggie Dining—plus, acres of picturesque grounds to run around on.

Hotel Dena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott, welcomes up to two dogs per room, up to 40 pounds each, and provides beds, food, and water bowls for a fee of $35 per night per room. Hyatt Place Pasadena invites up to two household dogs per room, with 50 pounds as the maximum weight for one dog and a combined weight of 75 pounds for two. The fee is $75 for stays of six nights or less, or $125 for stays that are a week or longer. The Westin Pasadena is another great option for two-dog families, allowing up to two dogs no more than 40 pounds each and providing beds and bowls—even better, there's no fee as long as there's no damage. The Courtyard By Marriott Pasadena welcomes up to two dogs per room for a $100 fee per stay. At the Residence Inn Pasadena, two-pets 75 pounds max can stay in each suite with a $150 fee per stay.

The Pasadena Hotel & Pool provides a limited-edition bowl and pup tent at check-in, allowing up to pooches or kitties per room for a one-time $75 fee per pet. Pets must not exceed 75 pounds.

In the budget category, Hotel Le Reve Pasadena charges a fee of $37.50 per night per pet. The Route 66 classic Saga Motor Hotel allows one dog no more than 35 pounds for a $35 fee covering two nights; it's an additional $15 per night thereafter. Another pup-friendly choice, Super 8 Motel charges an extra fee of $20 per night and places those traveling with pets in smoking rooms.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants, Pubs, Cafes, and Eatries

Given the prevalence of alfresco dining options and inviting patios, many Pasadena eateries and watering holes welcome dogs in their outdoor seating environments. Lucky Baldwins Pub—one of the top five Belgian beer bars in the US—serves British-style pub fare and their large outdoor patio is perfect for pups. As is the patio at church-themed Congregation Ale House. The Stone Brewing Tap Room in the Del Mar Station complex welcomes dogs and even sells dog treats. Another restaurant with train ties, La Grande Orange Café is a local favorite for Southwestern cuisine. If it's Mexican you crave, head to Mercado in The Commons complex on South Lake Avenue.

In Old Pasadena, Coffee and Plants is a pup-friendly spot serving plant-based coffee (get the Rose Bowl Latte) and offers your dog a puppuccino. The East Washington area café Lavender & Honey is another great location to start the day sipping artisanal coffees, teas, and more on their lovely patio. In the South Lake Avenue retail neighborhood, Corner Bakery Café offers a spacious shaded patio to settle into for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

You can nosh on hot gourmet hot dogs and burgers with your four-legged friend at the original Dog Haus Biergarten location adjacent to Big Bang Theory Way in Old Pasadena. My Vegan Restaurant caters to plant-based diets and pet owners with a few outside tables and water bowls provided upon request. Equally health-conscious and nutritious, True Food Kitchen is "friendly to friendly dogs." For a fine dining experience in a historic setting, The Raymond 1886 restaurant allows dogs on their serene patio. This is just a sampling of the more than 50 local restaurants with pet-friendly patios. Find a comprehensive list here.

Things To Do In Pasadena With Your Dog

The first culinary stop for every visiting canine should be The Dog Bakery in Old Pasadena. Here you'll find the cutest all-natural baked treats for dogs—the menu includes carrot cake, cookies, and wheat-free paw cakes along with jerky and other biscuits. The bakery is also stocked with dog toys, collars, and seasonal goods.

Pasadena's pedestrian-friendliness is well-suited to dog walkers, whether it's strolling through Old Pasadena, scouting for public art, or exploring the architectural landmarks. Grab a walking tour map from the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitors Center to plan your route.

Or get off the urban grid and hit the trails of Eaton Canyon to take your dog on a scenic hike immersed in Mother Nature. For a social experience, bring your pup to a dog park. Visit the new Playhouse Village Park, which offers a separate off-leash dog run for small and large dogs and puts on dog-themed park events. The South Pawsadena Dog Park is worth a visit for the adorable name alone and is popular with locals for being well-lit after dark. Alice's Dog Park is within the seven-acre Vina Vieja Park on Orange Grove Boulevard and has two separate areas for big and small dogs. Hahamongna Watershed Park in La Canada Flintridge (near the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) also has a dog park.

Spoil your pup with a visit to the Roch & Gertrude Pet Spa for grooming services, massages and aromatherapy. If you need to go pet-free for a while, the folks at I Dig My Dog offer daycare, grooming and cage-free boarding in a spacious 32,000 square foot facility complete with a bone shaped swimming pool. BowHaus is another go-to for doggy daycare and it's also a stellar shopping destination for pet supplies. The Pasadena Humane Society's Shop is a sweet spot to shop for dog toys and accessories—you'll get all the fuzzy feels for giving back to their vital work.