With incredible history, food, and the arts, Philadelphia is such a fun city to visit with your pup! Just a quick drive from NYC (it’s less than 2 hours away), you can either make it a day trip or stay for the night and let your pup enjoy one of the best dog-friendly hotels in the city of brotherly love! Let’s explore dog-friendly places in Philadelphia and see where you can stay, eat, and find things to do with your dog.
Where To Stay
I believe that we should never be charged a pet fee when bringing our pups to a dog-friendly hotel! That’s why I always choose Kimpton Hotels. No matter the size of your dog, they stay for free.
Kimpton Monaco, a luxury boutique hotel, is the best dog-friendly hotel to stay for the night. The hotel is located in Center City Philadelphia within blocks of the famous attractions like the Liberty Bell, Independence Mall, Old City, and Society Hill.
The best thing about Kimpton hotels is that they host a complimentary “wine hour” every night from 5pm-6pm. You can enjoy a glass of wine with your pup by your side, meet other dog parents, and chat about how great your dog is! ?
Where To Eat
With outdoor seating available in most restaurants, you definitely won’t have trouble finding a place to sit down to eat with your pup.
White Dog Cafe
However, there is a particular dog-themed restaurant you HAVE to check out! White Dog Cafe, an American restaurant serving local & organic ingredients, is a must-visit for every dog lover! With whimsical dog décor and artwork throughout the restaurant, it’s gorgeous!
Although your pup isn’t allowed inside, plenty of outdoor seating is available. Have your partner or friends watch your pup so you can head inside to check out the cute dog-themed decor!
White Dog Cafe has a few locations, and the closest one to the city is at University City (Address: 3420 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
Things To Do In Dog-Friendly Philadelphia
Schuylkill River Dog Run
When we visited Philly, our first stop was Schuylkill River Dog Run. Known as the city’s largest dog run, it has clean k9 grass (turf), a doggie fountain, and a separate area for the small pups. Right above the park, there’s a bridge that gives you stunning views of both the waterfront and the city of Philly.
Independence National Historical Park
A visit to Philly won’t be complete without a bit of history. I mean, it’s the birthplace of the United States! The most historic exhibits are located right in Independence National Historical Park.
Start by visiting the Liberty Bell, which symbolizes the abolitionist movement and freedom in the United States. You can view the Liberty Bell from outside through large windows with your pup.
Next, check out Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were written and signed, and see other outdoor exhibits.
Elfreth’s Alley
Elfreth’s Alley was built in 1702 and is now designated a National Historic Landmark.
Due to overcrowding, when Philadelphia was becoming a bustling city, merchants needed alternate routes to the river to quickly get to the ports where their goods and materials arrived. Two blacksmiths surrendered a portion of their land to create an alleyway that led to the ports. This alleyway was named after blacksmith and land developer Jeremiah Elfreth.
Elfreth’s Alley is now the oldest residential street in the United States. Walking through here with your pup, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time.
Enjoy Art at the Magic Garden
Back in 1991, an artist named Isaiah Zagar started working on a large vacant lot in the South Street area of Philadelphia. He created a place entirely covered by multi-layered walls and colorful mosaics using objects such as handmade tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels, and mirrors.
This nonprofit museum consists of two indoor galleries and a bi-level outdoor sculpture garden for you and your pup to enjoy.
Admission is $15 for adults and free for your pup. Tickets must be purchased in advance. You can purchase tickets and reserve your time of visit here.
Run up the Rocky Steps
If you ever watched Sylvester Stallone’s movie “Rocky,” he plays the main character of Philadelphia fighter Rocky Balboa. In the film, Stallone runs up 72 steps that lead to the Philadelphia Museum of Art entrance, now known as the famous Rocky Steps.
Are you and your pup up for a challenge to run up the 72 steps?
You’ll also see a massive statue of Philadelphia fighter Rocky Balboa signifying personal victory to the right and outside of the museum. Of course, I made Danny and Gatsby take a photo here!
Stroll around Fairmont Park
Fairmont Park is known to be the largest landscaped urban park in the world. The park is massive and stretches from the Center of Philadelphia to the northwest of Philly.
Of course, you won’t be able to explore the entire park in one day. Still, if you just take a 30-minute walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you can explore a small section of the park with your pup, such as the historic boathouses and mansions built by wealthy families between the 18th and 19th centuries.
Explore Chinatown
Stroll the bustling streets of Philly’s Chinatown to immerse yourself in the history and culture with your pup. Get some souvenirs from the local shops and try the best foods in Chinatown, such as dumplings, dim-sum, rolled-ice cream, and Vietnamese Sandwiches. If you love Vietnamese Sandwiches, make sure you get them from Banh Mi Cali, located at 900 Arch St. It’s the best in town!
There isn’t any outdoor seating in Chinatown, but you can order to go and eat at nearby Franklin Square while you and your pup enjoy fountain shows.
Book Your Stay at Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Now that you know the best and most dog-friendly places in Philadelphia to stay, eat and play with your pup, what are your plans? Let me know what you and your pup enjoyed most after your visit! Spoil your pup and book your stay at Kimpton Hotel Monaco and explore dog-friendly Philadelphia.
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