12 Dog Friendly Restaurants in Cambridge (by a Local)
LOOKING FOR THE BEST DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN CAMBRIDGE?
Then you’re in the right place, because I live in Cambridge, and have been on a mission to find the best spots for a meal where wagging tails are just as welcome.
We all know the disappointment of arriving at a restaurant only to find out our four-legged pals aren’t welcome, don’t we? (And the sad eyes when you have to leave him at home).
As a local with a keen nose for dog-friendly places, I’ve uncovered the crème de la crème of Cambridge’s dog-friendly dining scene.
So, grab your lead, put on your shoes and get ready for WALKIES! This guide is about to take you and your furry friend on a gastronomic tour of Cambridge. Your canine companion’s tail won’t stop wagging – and trust me, your taste buds will be equally excited.
The Waterman
📍 32 Chesterton Road, Cambridge
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
For a good meal, an excellent choice of drinks, including craft beers, and a relaxed atmosphere you can’t go wrong with The Waterman.
Cosy traditional pub inside, with a sun trap courtyard garden out the back, you and your dog are welcome to pull up a chair wherever you want.
The menu at The Waterman is as eclectic as the mix of people you are likely to encounter at the bar. It is not extensive but does have some delicious vegan and vegetarian options, as well as lighter bites and a kid’s menu.
The miso roasted aubergine has been known to tempt me away from the lamb shoulder on occasion but I remain faithful to my lemon posset whenever I manage dessert.
Just a short walk over the river from Jesus Green, a great green and open space that is perfect for playing with your pooch and people-watching, The Waterman’s location is ideal.
The Waterman also has 8 boutique rooms where dogs are also welcome to stay.
Top Tip – The small cafe next door, No30, is run by the same owners and serves great coffee and breakfasts if you do happen to be staying nearby. It is, of course, also dog-friendly.
😋At a Glance:
casual dining and accommodation
The Petersfield
📍 2 Sturton St, Cambridge CB1 2QA
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
There is always a warm welcome for you and your four-legged friend at The Petersfield. Another cosy bar with lots of nooks and crannies as well as a bright courtyard garden seating area.
Grab a dog treat from the glass jar on the bar whilst you peruse the extensive drinks list, choose a board game to play whilst you deliberate what to eat and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
Your pup will likely find a friend or two, if not from other dogs then from the extra friendly staff.
The Petersfield has regular themed nights, such as their excellent Supper Club in the winter months where you get a fixed menu plus drinks centred around a theme of the night, like Burns’ Night, and I am very much a regular for these!
😋At a Glance:
friendly service and great food
The Clarendon Arms
📍 35-36 Clarendon St, Cambridge CB1 1JX
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
A more traditional pub with food, The Clarendon Arms is a pretty small place so it pays to book ahead if you’re going on a weekend.
I had one of the best Sunday lunches in Cambridge at The Clarendon Arms, but you definitely will need to book for this as the secret is definitely out!
Prices are a little higher than places further out, but this is not unexpected for a dog-friendly place to eat in Cambridge city centre.
😋At a Glance:
dog-friendly restaurant in Cambridge city centre
The Punter
📍 3 Pound Hill, Cambridge CB3 0AE
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
The Punter is an old coaching inn that has a bit of a shabby chic style but has a strong range of food and a focus on wine, although ales are available.
You will definitely have to book a table here at night, particularly on weekends or Friday evenings, but lunchtime is usually fine for walk-ins. The greenhouse on the other side of the courtyard from the main building is my favourite spot to eat.
Because The Punter is not quite on the Backs, but a bit further around, it doesn’t tend to get overloaded like other more obvious tourist hotspots like the Eagle. This gives The Punter a more relaxed feel, even though it’s really still in the centre of Cambridge.
😋At a Glance:
central but still secluded
The Granta
📍 14 Newnham Rd, Cambridge CB3 9EX
⭐️ Rating: 3.5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Next to the Mill Pond with views over Coe Fen (and the cows in summer), The Granta really trades on its location.
This is more of a place for a quick lunch with your dog next to the river in Cambridge, particularly when the weather’s nice and you can sit outside.
You can also book a punt from right outside The Granta, which is a much less busy spot to start from and means you get a bit more practice in
😋At a Glance:
riverside views
Salisbury Arms
📍 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
The Salisbury Arms is very popular with locals, thanks to the airy layout and 2-4-1 pizzas on Mondays!
The menu centres around pizza, as they have a pizza oven in the far corner of the bar area where you can watch your pizza being made.
There are a few other choices of food, but this is really a pizza place. It does get busy on Monday thanks to the 2-4-1 offer, so make sure you book a table if you are set on coming then.
They have behind-the-bar treats and bowls of water available for doggies.
😋At a Glance:
2-4-1 pizza on Mondays
Hot Numbers
📍 Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ & 4 Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1QA
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Hot Numbers is a local cafe that has a couple of locations, with the Trumpington Street branch being more central and also having more tables if the outside space is in use.
The Dale’s Brewery location is incredibly popular with locals and is more atmospheric, but you need to be there before 9 a.m. on a weekend to guarantee a table straight away, as for the rest of the day it’s packed.
This is an ideal spot for brunch, as all their options are truly fantastic.
I love the pancakes, but you really do need to have a sweet tooth if you order them, and they really are as good as they look!
Coffee is not quite as good as at Bould Brothers, but it’s better than you’ll get at any of the chain coffee places.
Because Hot Numbers is always busy, don’t take your dog here unless it’s happy being surrounded by lots of people and noise.
😋At a Glance:
delicious brunch stop with your dog
Fort St. George
📍 Midsummer Common 11, Cambridge CB4 1HA
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
The Fort St George is part of the Greene King chain of pubs and restaurants, so food wise you know what you are getting.
It’s good food, with a decent selection of drinks, though nothing to write home about. What it lacks in inspirational cuisine, it more than makes up for in location and in the atmospheric 16th-century building.
Right on the River Cam, the Fort St George is in a great location, especially if you have had a long walk along the river watching various crews rowing up and down the water.
This dog-friendly restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating options, with the outdoor area even having its own bar in the summer.
Being right on Midsummer Common it can get busy, like everywhere in Cambridge, but so far I have never had a problem grabbing a table when I arrive.
😋At a Glance:
food and drinks by the river
Novi
📍 12 Regent St, Cambridge CB2 1DB
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Novi is a dog-friendly restaurant in Cambridge city centre and is particularly nice in the summer when they slide back the wall of windows opening the restaurant onto Regent Street so that you can sit outside with your dog.
It’s more of a laid-back restaurant than a formal spot, with great food and a modern vibe. This is the place to come if you want to sit for a while, chat and enjoy the rooftop terrace or watch the crowds going down Regent Street.
😋At a Glance:
laid-back restaurant
Bill’s Cambridge
📍 34-35 Green St, Cambridge CB2 3JX
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Bill’s is a chain restaurant that is more of a place for brunch than for a later meal, although they do stay open until late at night.
They have a dog menu, which is quite cute, and this is definitely one of the most dog-friendly restaurants in Cambridge. They also have lots of comfy seating (for humans!).
😋At a Glance:
very dog-friendly and open late
Scott’s All Day
📍 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2AZ
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Scott’s does a very good avocado and poached egg for brunch, but they really specialise in Pizza.
The windowless room at the back can be a little dark, but as Scott’s tends to always be full, you might need to book in advance and request a space near one of their big windows that fronts the restaurant.
There’s plenty of space in Scott’s for dogs to sit next to your table, and there’s always a really great atmosphere in here. Highly recommended.
😋At a Glance:
pizza and brunch!
Tradizioni
📍 18-19 The Broadway, Cambridge, CB1 3AH
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!
Tradizioni is, as the name implies, a traditional Italian place offering a large variety of pizza and pasta. It’s fairly casual, but is definitely a restaurant rather than a cafe, and has seating outside on Mill Road in the summer.
The food is really good here and not like some Italian places where it’s too greasy. Limoncello across the road is another excellent Italian restaurant (although not dog-friendly).
Portions are big, and you don’t feel rushed. This is the kind of family-run place where you can sit all night, eating your pasta, drinking your wine and having good conversations with friends.
😋At a Glance:
chilled-out Italian restaurant
Which are the Best Dog-Friendly Places to Eat in Cambridge City Centre?
- The Punter and Novi are the best dog-friendly places to eat in the centre of Cambridge.
- Hot Numbers is the best dog-friendly place for brunch in Cambridge city centre.
- The Clarendon Arms is the best dog-friendly place for Sunday Lunch in Cambridge city centre.
- Fort St. George is the best dog-friendly place for both a drink and a bite to eat next to the river in Cambridge.
- The Waterman is dog-friendly both in the restaurant and in the rooms if you are looking for somewhere to stay.
Read More:
All the pet shops in Cambridge
Great article, thanks! Know it’s a little older but just an FYI limoncello is dog friendly. Take mine their all the time, staff love them!
Thanks for the tip!