Dog-friendly Richmond: Places to pal around with your pooch

By Kathy Chouteau

Richmond’s well known for its miles and miles of bayside coastline and wandering hiking trails that are perfect for walks with your dog, but lesser known are some of the eating and drinking establishments that welcome both people and pooches alike.

As we eagerly await the arrival of spring—primetime for pooch hangouts—The Rich Life has compiled a roundup of places in Richmond that are four-legged-friend-friendly so you know just where to go with Fido when the weather warms up.

Sit & Stay Café at the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline

Did you know that Richmond is home to the country’s largest off-leash dog park? The 23-acre Point Isabel Regional Shoreline dog park offers ample trails and water access, and as it turns out, also features the Sit & Stay Café for humans and their pooches. The casual outdoor café offers ample patio seating with umbrella tables, not to mention stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. While humans will enjoy the great café menu with lots of tasty selections, dogs will howl with delight over the many water bowls, treats from the café’s vending machine and ample four-legged friends. After exploring the park and grabbing a bite to eat, visitors can check out Mudpuppy’s Tub & Scrub next to the café, where Fido can get a bath and a toy. Café hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The Sit & Stay Café at Point Isabel is located at 1 Isabel St., Richmond. Call 510-559-8899 or click here for info.

East Brother Beer Co.

One of the best places to hang with your dog in Richmond has to be East Brother Beer Co., a craft brewery in an industrial chic warehouse space that permits pooches both inside and out. Almost every time this reporter has been to this establishment, multiple dogs could be seen chilling with their owners nearby or under the tables inside the taproom or outside on the spacious patio. There’s plenty for the two-legged set to enjoy too, with a fine selection of craft brews to choose from, a wide range of games, frequent musical entertainment and an ever-present rotation of food trucks parked on the patio. Hours of operation are Wed.-Thurs. 4-8 p.m.; Fri. 4-9 p.m.; Sat. Noon to 9 p.m.; and Sun. Noon to 8 p.m. East Brother Beer is located at 1001 Canal Blvd. in Richmond. Call 510-230-4081 or click here for info.

Assemble

Richmond’s Assemble restaurant, which is located next to the Bay Trail and adjacent to the Craneway Pavilion, is an ideal spot for enjoying a delish meal while in the fine company of your four legged friend. Assemble features both a cool indoor dining area and an outdoor patio with some of the best views of the San Francisco Bay that you’re going to find in Richmond. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on Assemble’s patio, while the humans indulge in a restaurant’s lunch or brunch menu. The Rich Life recommends packing your pooch in the car and visiting Assemble to sample the weekend brunch menu on the patio—and following it up with a nice, leisurely walk along the Bay Trail to take in the incredible scenery. Assemble is located at 1414 Harbour Way South in Richmond and serves lunch Tues.-Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and brunch Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more info, visit the restaurant’s website or call 510-215-6025.

Riggers Loft

Another Richmond destination that welcomes humans and canines alike is Riggers Loft, a wine and cider collective that is the home base for R&B Cellars, Carica Wines and the Far West Cider Company. Aside from an attractive tasting room complete with a wine bar and ample seating, Riggers also offers people and their pets prime access to its patio with panoramic waterfront views of the San Francisco Bay and city skyline. Factor in Riggers Loft’s frequent special events and visiting food trucks, and you have all the ingredients for day or night out on the town with your furry friend by your side. Riggers Loft is located at

325 Canal Blvd. in Richmond and its hours are Wed. 5-8 p.m.; Thurs. 4–9 p.m.; Fri, 4-10 p.m.; Sat. 1–10 p.m.; and Sun. 1–6 p.m. For info, call 510-233-2065 or click here.

Little Louie’s Café & Deli

Located at the epicenter of Point Richmond, Little Louie’s Café & Deli has crowd-pleasing breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that focus on using only the freshest ingredients. You know what else it has? A great outdoor back patio that’s perfect for chillin’ with your dog while you enjoy your meal. The eatery’s prime location also makes it perfect for a post-meal stroll with your pooch through downtown Point Richmond and then perhaps through the tunnel and out to Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline—which offers picturesque views of the bay. Little Louie’s is located at 49 Washington Ave. in Point Richmond and its hours are Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sat. & Sun. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 510-235-3108 or click here for more info.

Brezo

Nearby Little Louie’s in the heart of downtown Point Richmond, you’ll find Brezo—yet another pet-friendly dining establishment, albeit a bit more upscale. The restaurant is situated in the hamlet’s historic Baltic Building and has a menu featuring farm-fresh California meats and produce with a Latin flare. Out back, Brezo has a charming patio where diners can sit with their pets and enjoy the outdoors. The Rich Life recommends checking out Brezo’s weekend brunch with your dog on a sunny day so you can fully enjoy the back porch. Similar to Little Louie’s, patrons of Brezo can enjoy a downtown stroll or nearby park with their pooches after dining. Brezo is located at 135 Park Pl. in Point Richmond and is open for breakfast Tues.-Fri.  7-11 a.m.; lunch Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner Tues.-Thurs. 5:30 p.m.– 9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat: 5:30 p.m.– 10 p.m.; and brunch Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more info, call 510-680-5196 or click here.

Do you know of a pet-friendly dining or drinking establishment in Richmond that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in the comments!