Known for Bourbon, The Kentucky Derby, and award-winning food, Louisville, Kentucky is a city that has it all. From music festivals to food festivals, and everything in between, there’s something to do for everyone–even those with four legs!
There’s nothing quite like taking a trip knowing that you don’t have to leave your beloved pup at home! Through this dog-friendly guide to Louisville, I will highlight the best dog-friendly things to do, places to eat, and where to stay!
Side note: This post was written by Bre, a local of Louisville. This way, you can be sure you are reading the best and most accurate dog-friendly guide to Louisville. Locals know best! See the author’s bio at the end for more information!
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Table of Contents
Dog-friendly Things to Do in Louisville
PG&J Dog Park Bar
If you’re wanting to go out and socialize, head over to PG&J Dog Park Bar! This is an indoor/outdoor off-leash dog park that also serves drinks ranging from local brews to mocktails and coffee.
It’s the perfect place for humans and pups to hang out and relax with friends! They also host events throughout the month, so check out their calendar to see if anything is going on while you’re visiting!
Cost:
- Humans without a pet: FREE
- Humans with a pet (max 3 dogs/person):
- $10 for a day pass
- $25 for a five-day pass
- There are also various membership options for those who have an extended stay in Louisville
Hours:
- Mondays: CLOSED
- Tuesday-Saturday: 12pm-10pm
- Sunday: 12pm-9pm
Physical Address: 800 Baxter Ave Louisville, KY 40204
NOTE: please have vet records ready to be emailed to info.pgjdogbar@gmail.com
Iroquois Park Overlook Trail
One of the things that makes Louisville so special is the amount of parks we have located throughout the city! There are many to choose from and they all have dirt + paved trails for people and their pups to hike on.
One of my favorites is the Iroquois Park Overlook Trail. This is a 1.2-mile out and back trail at Iroquois Park that takes you to a scenic overlook that, on a clear day, you can see Downtown Louisville.
There are two options to choose from, one is a dirt path hike that is pretty steep and is faster OR you can walk the closed paved road. While option two takes a bit longer, it is my preferred way of making it to the top with dogs!
- Cost: FREE
- Hours: Open 7 days a week from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Physical Address: 5216 New Cut Road Louisville, KY 40214
NOTE: the above address is to Iroquois Park, to get to the trailhead I recommend using AllTrails for a map + directions
Brewery Hop
Louisville is full of breweries that are dog friendly! Spend the day brewery hopping and trying out local beers. Here are just a few of the dog-friendly breweries in Louisville:
Great Flood Brewing Company
Great Flood Brewing Company has two locations in Louisville (Highlands and Middleton). Each location has over 18 beers on tap and a plethora of bourbons and whiskeys. The Middleton location has daily happy hour, small bites, cocktails, pizza, and Sunday Brunch.
Hours:
- Sunday: 12pm-10pm
- Monday-Thursday: 3pm-10pm
- Friday: 2pm-11pm
- Saturday: 12pm-11pm
Physical Address: 2120 Bardstown Road Louisville, KY 40205
Ten20 Craft Brewery
Ten20 Craft Brewery is housed in a massive historic building with a beer garden, indoor tap room, heated dog-friendly deck, and a large event space. In addition to their unique selection of craft beers, you can also order a Mozzi Pi Pizza onsite!
Hours:
- Sunday: 11 am-10 pm
- Monday-Thursday: 3 pm-10 pm
- Friday-Saturday: 11 am-11 pm
Physical Address: 1020 E Washington Street Louisville, KY 40206
West Sixth Nulu
Another fun dog-friendly Louisville brewery to check out is West Sixth Nulu! Dogs are allowed in the Beer Garden, main bar, and courtyard. After sipping on a beer or two, you can order from Emmy Squared. If looking for more excitement, they host trivia every Sunday!
Hours:
- Sunday-Wednesday: 11 am-11 pm
- Thursday: 11 am-12 am
- Friday-Saturday: 11am-1am
Physical Address: 817 E Market Street Suite 101 Louisville, KY 40206
City Scavenger Hunt
You and your pup can explore Louisville with the help of Let’s Roam’s fun and affordable self-guided scavenger hunts. There are 3 Louisville tours to choose from that range from walking .75 miles to 1.8 miles. The street art hunt in Shelby Park is a fun one (and full of Instagrammable moments!)
Dog-friendly Retail/Shopping in Louisville
Fleur de Flea Vintage Market
Wanting to take a blast into the past and find some beautiful vintage clothes, accessories, house decor + more? Grab your pup and head over to Fleur de Flea Vintage Market! The staff is incredible, the music is ALWAYS good, and the shopping is top-notch!
Hours:
- Sunday: 12 pm-6 pm
- Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED
- Wednesday-Saturday: 11 am-6 pm
Physical Address: 947 E Breckinridge Street Louisville, KY 40204
Mahonia
Although I manage to kill every plant I touch, I absolutely love browsing around Mahonia! Located in Nulu, Mahonia is a local plant store that sells plants, decor, and clothing. It’s also located in a “hip” district with other pet-friendly stores, bars, and restaurants!
Hours:
- Sunday: 11am-5pm
- Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-6pm
Physical Address: 822 E Market Street Louisville, KY 40206
Duluth Trading Company
Located on Whiskey Row, Duluth Trading Company sells men’s + women’s workwear and gear for your dogs! From grooming supplies and toys to car accessories, Duluth has durable and high-quality gear for the whole family!
Hours:
- Monday-Saturday: 10 am-7 pm
- Sunday: 10 am-6 pm
Physical Address: 111 W Main Street Suite 115 Louisville, KY 40202
Dog-friendly Restaurants in Louisville
Merles Whiskey Kitchen
Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen is an award-winning restaurant that serves delicious southern and soul food. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the city, from the atmosphere to the food, Merle’s provides customers with a fun and tasty experience!
Hours:
- Sunday-Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
- Friday-Saturday: 11am-12am
Physical Address: 122 W Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
Coals Artisan Pizza
If you’re in the mood for unique and amazing artisan pizza, Coal’s is the place for you (and your pup)! Every pizza is inspired by neighborhoods local to Louisville and is cooked in a coal-burning, brick oven.
Hours:
- Sunday: 12pm-9pm
- Monday-Thursday: 4:30pm-9pm
- Friday: 11:30am-10pm
- Saturday: 11:30am-9pm
Physical Address: 3724 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40207 (St. Matthews Location)
Garage Bar
Located in Nulu, Garage Bar is a great place to grab food + a drink and hang out on their outdoor patio area. This is a lively restaurant (especially during the summer) and the outdoor area is perfect for playing a game of ping pong or simply hanging out with your friends and pups.
Hours:
- Sunday: 11am-6pm
- Monday: 5pm-10pm
- Tuesday: CLOSED
- Wednesday-Thursday: 5pm-10pm
- Friday: 5pm-12am
- Saturday: 12pm-12am
Physical Address: 700 E Market Street Louisville, KY 40202
Pet-friendly Hotels in Louisville, Kentucky
21C Museum + Hotel
21C is the perfect place for people who enjoy a moderately upscale, artsy hotel! It is located in the heart of Downtown Louisville and is within walking distance of several restaurants and museums! A big bonus to this hotel is that they have a FREE, dog-friendly art museum that is open 24/7!
- Address: 700 W Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
- Pet policy: $40 pet fee per stay, max weight 50 pounds
The Seelbach
The Seelbach is a luxury hotel with a rich history and is known to be one of Louisville’s haunted hotels. They have a great pet policy and even contribute to charity when you bring your pets!
- Address: 500 S 4th Street Louisville, KY 40202
- Pet policy: $100 fee/stay with a portion being donated to one of our local animal shelters, The Kentucky Humane Society, two pets up to 75 pounds
Aloft Louisville Downtown
Aloft Louisville is a great place to stay if you’re bringing pups! Not only is it within walking distance to most of the main attractions in Downtown Louisville, but they also have the BEST pet policy and even have treats + dog amenities upon request!
- Address: 102 W Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
- Pet policy: Dogs stay FREE, two dogs max with no weight limit
Is Louisville a dog-friendly city?
Yes! Louisville IS a dog-friendly city. You and your pup will have the best time checking out the local breweries, shopping for antiques, and enjoying the sunset from Iroquois Park Overlook Trail. After a day full of fun dog-friendly activities, you’ll be able to relax in a beautiful dog-friendly hotel in Louisville (so many options!).
About the author!
My name is Bre and I’ve lived in Louisville my entire life! I’m a big-time dog lover (I currently have 3 dogs, two corgis + a husky), and also enjoy exploring as much as possible. Therefore, I’ve been able to scout out tons of dog-friendly places located throughout the city. Louisville truly is a wonderful place with a diverse amount of things to do, I’d recommend anybody to visit at least once!
Follow along in Bre’s adventures on her blog or Instagram!
What else would you add to this dog-friendly guide to Louisville?
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