Few cities are as easily walkable as Boston. If you're of a mind, in an afternoon you can hoof it from Hanover Street in the North End to Shawmut Avenue in the South End to Kenmore Square without even working that hard. As it turns out, Boston is also among the more welcoming cities for dog owners. No matter what neighborhood you're in, from Harvard Square to Brookline to Beacon Hill, the staffs of many of the businesses, restaurants, and shops are more than happy to see customers stroll in with a dog in tow.
On a walking tour of the city on a recent blustery Saturday, we found that the sight of Sebastian (facing page), a well-behaved Boston terrier, coming through the door elicited a smile far more often than a request for the dog to wait outside. The clerk at Winston Flowers on Boylston lit up when Sebastian trotted through the door, and she immediately launched into tales of taking her own dog around town. Many shop owners have bags of doggie treats hiding under the counter and were only too happy to have a playful pup roaming the store.
In general, locally owned stores and cafes seemed more open to dogs than chains did, and most restaurants only allow dogs at outdoor tables due to health code concerns. We tried walking into a couple of banks with Sebastian and were politely asked to step back outside. It felt a bit like being caught sneaking into the VIP room at a nightclub, albeit without the humiliating walk of shame afterward.
But, as more than one business owner put it, most dogs are better behaved than kids. So if you ask nicely, you'll find that most doors in Boston will open for you and your pooch.
"This is a great city for dogs," says Lexie Gross, a Kenmore Square resident who takes her dachshund, Otto, everywhere. "You have to go out of your way to find places that don't like dogs."
Here is a sampling of places that do:
Back Bay
Best Cellars 745 Boylston St., 617-266-2900
A cleverly laid-out wine shop where bottles are categorized by taste and style (big, sweet, fizzy, fresh), Best Cellars is the perfect wine store for dog owners, because the bottles are stored out of harm's way. "We have more people knocking things down in here than we do dogs," says clerk Brad MacDonald.
Louis Boston 234 Berkeley St., 800-225-5135
If you're shopping at this ultra-hip clothing store/salon/cafe, you probably have the cash to hire someone to watch your bichon frise while you're out. But if you choose to bring Fluffy along, it won't be a problem. Louis caters to people who are used to being pampered, and that apparently extends to their dogs.
The Globe Bar and Cafe 565 Boylston St., 617-778-6993
The Globe's large patio is often populated by nearly as many dogs as people. The staff leaves a bowl of water out for its four-legged customers and considers them a vital part of the business. "We would lose a lot of business if we didn't allow dogs," says assistant general manager Jennifer Cleary.
Beacon Hill
The Red Wagon 69 Charles St., 617-523-9402
This children's clothing boutique and high-end toy store is a favorite among city-dwelling parents, and dog owners are just as welcome. Just be sure to keep the pooch on his leash as there's plenty of potential toy trouble for him to get into.
Moxie 51 Charles St., 617-557-9991
Just down the hill from the Red Wagon sits Moxie, a kind of playground for shoe- and handbag-addicted women. Unfortunately, guys, you can't just offer to wait outside with the dog; Moxie is totally dog-friendly. "It's Beacon Hill. People are dog-crazy here," says employee Michelle Kiang. "In a neighborhood like this, you have to be open to dogs."
Panificio 144 Charles St., 617-227-4340
A combination cafe, bakery, and sit-down restaurant, Panificio is known for its affordable food, such as monster sandwiches or big omelets stuffed with tomato, spinach, and feta cheese. The portions are healthy, and city-dwelling dog owners report that the staff is quite dog-friendly.
Brookline
Taberna de Haro 999 Beacon St., 617-277-8272
The owners of this friendly Spanish spot gladly allow dogs on leashes at the outdoor tables. The tapas-based menu has plenty of small plates that your pooch might enjoy sharing, too. What dog doesn't dig a little veal sausage?
Brookline Booksmith 279 Harvard St., 617-566-6660
This Coolidge Corner staple is a favorite of locals looking for quality used books at a good price. The staff here is happy to have dogs in the store and is known to keep a bagful of treats behind the register. You might also find a bowl of water by the door on warm days.
The Wine Press 1024 Beacon St., 617-277-7020
This shop is known not just for its wine and beer selection but for the two dachshunds that are always hanging around. Customers' dogs are welcome, as well.
Harvard Square
Grendel's Den 89 Winthrop St., 617-491-1160
Employees of this hangout beloved by generations of Harvard kids and Cantabrigians say they're always happy to have dogs in the house, provided they're better-behaved than the bar's namesake.
Schoenhof's Foreign Books 76A Mt. Auburn St., 617-547-8855
A gold mine for lovers of European, South American, and African literature, Schoenhof's actively encourages customers to bring in their dogs and make them part of the reading experience at the store. "Reading a good book with your dog, in front of a fire, on a cold winter's night is a great pleasure," says store manager Rupert Davis.
Harvard Book Store 1256 Massachusetts Ave., 617-661-1515
The staff here has a slew of regular four-legged visitors, including a black Lab named Atticus (clearly owned by a Harper Lee fan) and an Airedale named Yuri. "The dog-biscuit-hiding place is periodically moved," says Heather Gain, the store's marketing manager, "as some of the stealthier dogs have been found head-deep in the bag just moments after entering the store."
Cambridge Trust 1336 Massachusetts Ave., 617-876-5500
If you're going shopping in Harvard Square, you're certainly going to need a healthy bankroll. And your dog is welcome at Cambridge Trust Co., where the assistant branch manager keeps a supply of treats handy. "They are on my desk in a large glass cookie jar, which I must confess does raise an eyebrow on occasion," says Adrienne Bailey.
South End
Tremont 647 647 Tremont St., 617-266-4600
This upscale eatery is the place to be seen with your canine. If you're feeling adventurous, roll out of bed on Saturday or Sunday and hit the pajama brunch. Dogs are welcome on the patio (which is the best place to be seen anyway), and the brunch menu has loads of dog-friendly treats. Try the homemade pop tarts or a side of slab bacon and see how much of it you get before Rover talks you out of it.
Polka Dog Bakery 256 Shawmut Ave., 617-338-5155
Polka Dog is the canine equivalent of Modern Pastry: a fantasyland of treats of all stripes and flavors. The homemade treats, which include pizza-flavored biscuits and doggy cannolis, are all-natural and sugar-free. Polka Dog also puts on a doggie brunch on Sundays, starting at noon; it features, ahem, blueberry WOOFles.
Flour Bakery Cafe 1597 Washington St., 617-267-4300
Home to killer thin-crust pizzas and crazy-good cookies and cakes, Flour is a regular stop on the neighborhood circuit for dog owners and their friends. The staff has even been known to drop a cookie or two on the floor when dogs are around.
North End
Shake the Tree 95 Salem St., 617-742-0484
"It's fun to have dogs in here," says owner Marian Klausner, whose unique shop carries a little bit of everything in the way of clothes and jewelry. "It lets people who maybe don't know each other bond a little bit."
Prima Donna 30 Prince St., 617-723-1267
Not just dog-friendly, this boutique caters to canines with a wide selection of doggie clothing, including Patriots and Red Sox jackets. The owner, Debra Mattaliano, carries clothes for humans, too, and often has her own dog, Olive, in the store.
V. Cirace 173 North St., 617-227-3193
This venerable wine and liquor shop, which has been in the North End for more than 100 years, welcomes well-behaved dogs, and employees say they see more than their fair share of them, given that the store is located next to a dog park.
