Dog-Friendly Destinations

By Samantha Carson
Photography By Jonathan Fredin Jun 1, 2026

Amp takes a break from sniffing out the many food spots at Boxyard RTP.

As someone who grew up outside the city limits of a small town with few neighbors and little entertainment outside of sports, television, sports on television, and books, one of the things I love most about the Triangle is the wide variety of things to do and the relative ease of getting to them.

As a lifelong dog lover, I also appreciate how dog friendly many of these attractions are. After all, the only thing better than visiting your favorite go-to spot for a coffee, a drink, or a meal is enjoying them alongside your best four-legged friend!

I checked out several local spots with my dog, Ampersand, and I hope you’ll do the same with yours!

The Bark Bar

Downtown Cary Park’s Barkyard is perfect for pup playtime, while the park’s Bark Bar provides a canopied place to relax and cool off.

Embedded in the Downtown Cary Park, The Bark Bar is an open-air pavilion adjacent to the Barkyard dog park. Patrons can purchase snacks as well as beer (all brands from North Carolina), wine, and nonalcoholic beverages, then enjoy sitting and people-watching (or puppy-watching) or strike up a conversation with another pet parent. For safety reasons, no food or drinks may be taken into the dog park, which is separated into sections for small and large dogs.

Pitbull mixes Corduroy and Pepper make an acquaintance while with owner Andy Bowers at Downtown Cary Park’s Bark Bar.

The relaxed hangout spot is popular with those who aren’t dog people, too. John Cline, co-owner of vendor Cary Park Ventures, says, “We’ll talk to people and they’ll go, ‘We just come for the ambience. We just like the vibe.’”

Note that the line for the bar can be long, particularly during events such as festivals and Town programs, so plan your visit accordingly. The Bark Bar’s hours depend on the weather, but it is usually open from 4–9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. A fire pit keeps patrons cozy year-round. Nearby parking options include the Town of Cary Library Parking Deck, which has chargers for electric vehicles, as well as limited street parking on South Academy Street.

downtowncarypark.com/locations/the-bark-bar

Bond Brothers Beer Company

Jamie Bailey’s 13-year-old black lab Riley loves all of the attention he gets every time they visit Bond Brothers Beer Company in Cary.

A downtown Cary staple, Bond Brothers Beer Company celebrates its 10-year anniversary in June. The brewery features a taproom and beer garden, with rotating food trucks onsite daily.

An Amp-approved visit

Dogs are allowed both in the bar and on the patio. A jar of treats sits on the bar inside, and a water bowl and dog waste station are provided outside.

We went soon after opening on a weekday, and the area was quiet and calm with only a handful of customers. Large umbrellas were open at each table on the patio, so Ampersand was able to rest comfortably in the shade spanning from table to table. He enjoyed a treat and water from the water bowl, and although we didn’t need to use the waste station while we were there, we were pleased to see it well stocked with bags.

Downtown Cary has seen a great deal of development in the past several years, and while street parking is available along East Cedar Street and in a public lot directly beside Bond Brothers, it may be worthwhile to park in the new Cedar Street Parking Deck during peak hours to ensure you can find a space. The brewery location is open Monday to Thursday from 2–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to midnight, and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

bondbrothersbeer.com

Southern Peak Brewery Taproom and Pizzeria

Southern Peak Brewery Taproom and Pizzeria is located within Sweetwater Town Center’s multi-acre shopping, dining, entertainment, and wellness complex.

Located in Sweetwater Town Center on the western edge of Apex, Southern Peak Brewery Taproom and Pizzeria opened in late 2025, building on the popularity of the brewery established in 2016. Founders Ken Michalski and Nathan Poissant joined forces with Anthony Masino for the taproom, which serves distinctive pizzas designed to complement Southern Peak’s craft brews.

The look is yearning, but the patio vibe is laid-back and offered Ampy plenty of sunbathing space.

While the menu offerings are top-notch, equally important to the animal lovers is the dog-friendly patio complete with water bowls where people can enjoy their food and drinks alongside their four-legged companions. When Ampersand and I stopped in, other patrons had brought their dogs to do the same. We all enjoyed the lovely weather from the patio, the humans chowing down on pizza and the dogs having a good sunbathe.

The Taproom and Pizzeria is open seven days a week. Hours are Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Sweetwater Town Center as a whole integrates dining, shopping, entertainment, and apartments into a walkable community. Sidewalks and green spaces with pet waste stations make this spot ideal for a pre- or post-meal stroll with a dog, and Ampersand quite enjoyed exploring the new sights and smells on a walk before our meal.

southernpeakbrewery.com/southernpeaktaproomandpizzeria

Boxyard RTP

Sunshine, water dishes, and lots of good company keep golden retriever Kate happy while owner Rachel Anderson (seated left) socializes at Boxyard RTP.

Boxyard RTP is a two-level outdoor food hall and marketplace that includes plentiful indoor and outdoor seating options as well as a covered pavilion. What makes Boxyard unique is that each vendor is housed in a repurposed shipping container, which gives the spot an eclectic post-industrial vibe. Live events and live music are frequent, and kids and dogs are welcome.

Nearby, Delilah, a golden doodle, makes her rounds while owner Kaila Pool orders food.

We’ve taken Ampersand to Boxyard a few times to meet up with friends, both human and canine, and he always enjoys himself. With the variety of vendors located in the marketplace, there’s an abundance of smells for dogs to explore. Ampersand particularly enjoys investigating all of the different food scents, which vary from Mexican to pizza to Korean barbecue.

In addition, the adjacent Barkyard dog park offers play furniture, waste and water stations, and secure fenced areas for large and small dogs. Large free parking lots have EV chargers.

boxyard.rtp.org

Triangle Canine Club

Last but not least, the Triangle Canine Club deserves a mention, although it’s not a destination. Originally founded as The Dog Moms of Durham, event coordinator Anna Carter explains: “The vision was to create a social network of dog moms with the ultimate goal of supporting community rescue. As the group grew and got more and more popular, we decided to rebrand to Triangle Canine Club to be more inclusive.”

Delilah, a golden doodle, stands in line with owner Kaila Pool at Boxyard RTP.

The nonprofit provides a resource for dog owners who want to meet fellow pet parents, find out about local animal advocacy organizations, and support local businesses. The Club regularly hosts fundraisers for local animal rescues as well as social events and annual festivals, often at Fenton or Boxyard RTP.

Lifetime membership costs $25 for an individual or $40 for a household. Benefits include a T-shirt for a human, bandana for a dog, access to member-exclusive events and discounts at local businesses, and more.

“In 2025 we raised $12,470 for local rescues. We want that number to continue to grow year over year,” says Anna. “In addition to events that raise money for rescues, we also help sponsor at events like APS Walk for the Animals. We would love to be able to continue to increase our sponsorship amounts as well.”

trianglecanineclub.org