Anyone with a dog can tell you that Bangkok is not always a pet-friendly place. The city parks are closed, condos won’t rent to you, and it can be tough finding a hotel. But all that is changing. The resurgence of real life in the wake of Covid has seen Bangkok come around to the good boys and girls who call this city home. 

Landlords know there’s a gap in the market, bars and restaurants are keen to bring in diners and their doggos, and last year saw a long-awaited pet-friendly area open in the heart of the city. Bangkok authorities have long been against dogs in parks. But governor Chadchart Sittipunt could be making pet-friendliness in Bangkok’s parks a priority in the years to come. Just last month, Rot Fai park included a newly dedicated walking area for dogs. From the plush Kimpton Maa-Lai to the greenery in Benjakitti, pets are ready for 2023.

Out and About

Benjakitti

Photo: Benjakitti Park / BK Magazine

This is the park that could be said to have started it all. In addition to being one of the most wildlife friendly city parks in the city—with an emphasis on wetland-like ecology—Benjakitti’s opening last year was a boon for Bangkok dog lovers. However, the dog-friendly area of the park is actually rather small and entrances can be a bit of a problem. The walking area is paved, often with water on either side, so be sure to have a handle on your more adventurous pooches. There are rules to follow such as leashing and picking up after your dogs, but the original insistence of registering has fallen out of practice. Could this be the future of Bangkok’s parks?

Dog Park 49

Photo: Dog Park 49 / Facebook

If you’re less about the morning walk and more about spoiling your pooch with a kind of puppy spa day, Dog Park 49 has a number of fun activities for your best friend. The most interesting, perhaps, is the swimming pool—yes, a swimming pool—for your pet. You’re charged by weight, and you can just let them dive in. The cost for a day at the little park is around B150-250 per day, and there is help there for running, socializing, and bathing your pooch. This little puppy play area has been around for a little over five years and is a favorite for Bangkok animal lovers. 

BMA Dog Park

Photo: BMA Dog Park / Facebook

If you don’t mind driving a bit outside the city, there’s BMA Dog Park. Beneath the Ram Intra Highway, BMA Dog Park—open every day from 5-9pm—isn’t the most beautiful place in all of Bangkok for dog owners, but it’s safe and secure and there’s plenty of space to run around. It’s ideal for those with really big dogs. Before getting in, your dog must go through vaccinations and a health check-up. Once inside, dogs can run around offleash and play on slides and in the sandpit.

Green Lung

Photo: Bang Kachao / BK Magazine

The big spot of green at Bang Kachao is often one of the city’s best kept secrets for people who want to get out and about. What makes this special is that you can run your dogs while you cycle—even if it is a bit of a hike to get to that side of town. More importantly, it can be a real day out for both you and the dogs to explore one of the wilder sides of Bangkok, with sites like the Fighting Fish Museum, the river, and a number of friendly cafes where both you and your puppers can rest your legs. 

The Commons

Photo: The Commons Saladaeng / BK Magazine

Thanks to their indoor-outdoor, open-plan design, the common areas at both branches of the hip community mall in Thonglor and Saladaeng have become dog-friendly paradises. While your loyal companion gets acquainted with other four-legged friends, you can catch up with your besties while munching on Fowlmouth’s fried chicken burger or innovative flavors from Guss Damn Good.

Restaurants 

D’Ark

Photo: D'Ark / Facebook

Grab a seat outdoors facing the mall’s central courtyard and massive waterfall and enjoy dishes like salmon eggs Benedict topped with hollandaise sauce on a toasted English muffin paired with a piping hot americano at this chic spot for dog lovers. With the mall’s mercifully shaded courtyard, this means you don’t have to worry about leaving your faithful friend out in Bangkok’s heat. 

Craft

Photo: Craft / BK Magazine

Head to Kimpton Maa-Lai’s first-floor cafe-slash-bar—one of the few places you can bring your (well behaved) pets in well-heeled company—and order a brew made with high quality beans sourced from Thai and foreign suppliers. For a more sophisticated sip, go for the siphon-filtered coffee or the Turkish-style brew to replace your typical espresso.

Bangkok Trading Post

Photo: Bangkok Trading Post / Facebook

With its soaring glass walls, cool marble tables, and herringbone floors, this luxurious but cool all-day-dining cafe should be on top of anyone’s list when it comes to the neighborhood's go-to brunch spot with dogs. Drop by for cold-pressed juices, quality pizzas, and stacks of pancakes as you sit with your four-legged friends and unwind with Phrom Phong’s beau monde.

L’Oliva

Photo: L'Olivia / Facebook

Housed in a standalone two-story building surrounded by a black awning, a paved parking area, and a lush green garden, this imposing slice of Italy comes with an alfresco dining area where you can gather your friends—dog friends—to enjoy hearty Italian classics. The specialty here is Neapolitan pizza, featuring puffy crust topped with mortadella, ricotta, pistachio pesto, and fresh fiordilatte cheese. 

Indus

Photo: Indus / Facebook

From the gorgeous 1960s house to the verdant garden, weekend dog walkers have it good at this Indian institution. Since 2006, Indus has been dishing out staples like butter chicken, nawabi raan, and bhagare baingan. For pet owners, you’re more than welcome to bring your pets on the weekends.

Cafes

Luka

Photo: Luka / Facebook

Chong Nonsi’s favorite brunch spot is known for its eclectic, rustic-industrial decor and down-to-earth comfort food that’s ideal for breakfast, lunch, and brunch—think breakfast burrito with quinoa, scrambled egg, cheese, sausage, tomato salsa, avocado, and Thai chipotle salsa. But the place also dubs as a perfect spot for patrons with pets who want to watch you have a cup of coffee or special tea blend. 

Toby’s

Photo: Toby's Saladaeng / Facebook

Looking for a dog-friendly place that promises hearty, Aussie-inspired mid morning meals with your pet? Head to this photogenic, sun-kissed spot at either Sukhumvit Soi 39 or Saladaeng, for their flat whites, cold pressed juices, and brunch staples like the Egg Mikado (sourdough topped with two poached eggs, cured salmon, and yellow hollandaise sauce). 

Brunch Paradiso

Photo: Brunch Paradiso / Facebook

Located inside Shama Yen Akat Hotel, this brunch spot serves comfort food in generous portions with a Melbourne cafe-style vibe Don’t miss their Paradiso Brekkie with scrambled eggs, sourdough and brioche, roasted tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, sausage, thick-cut bacon, and their very own baked beans that are simply tasty. Bring your pet here or have a staycation where your pets can enjoy their own bed. 

Vivin Cafe and Bistro

Photo: Vivin Cafe and Bistro / Facebook

Years after making its name at farmers markets and supplying restaurants with hyperlocal ingredients made by Thai artisanal cheese makers—with cheese, wine, and cold-cuts—this cafe-slash-bistro boasts mouthwatering dishes made from high-quality ingredients. It’s so pet-friendly that you can even bring your pets indoors. First opened at Ekkamai headquarters, the venue has branched out to a leafy soi in Asoke. 

No Cafe Just Coffee and Breakfast

Photo: No Cafe Just Coffee and Breakfast / BK Magazine

Originally a bagel stall in front of their homes, couple Vilawan “Kaew” Kouphaisalsombut and Piyarath “Waan” Pornsakpattanakul found their permanent spot at Sathorn Soi 11, selling homespun, freshly-made bagels and baked goods, from smoked salmon to their homemade cranberry walnut and parma ham. The place may be packed on weekends, but it’s an ideal spot to sip coffee with four-legged friends.

Plantiful

Photo: Plantiful / Facebook

This Ekkamai plant-based cafe is also a pooch friendly paradise. All dishes are 100-percent based on unrefined and minimally processed plant sources, like the Bibi Bowl (spinach, shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, carrot, Japanese cucumbers and riceberry with a bibimbap dressing). Grab some fresh-pressed juice or coffee while you chill out on the terrace with your doggo.

La Cabra

Photo: La Cabra / Facebook

Known for their simple, Nordic approach to coffee and flavorful, crisp roasts, this specialty coffee meister from Denmark promises a handsome slow bar primed for a range of high-quality caffeinated concoctions beyond the usual americanos and espressos. The real show stoppers are hand-brewed coffee, featuring single-origin beans sourced from Kenya and Ethiopia, and pets can join outdoors.

Bars 

Tropic City

Photo: Tropic City / Facebook 

It’s not just the 24th best bar in the world according to the World’s 50 Best Bars, it’s also animal friendly. In particular, there’s an outdoor terrace where you can take a break away from all the music and designer tropical shirts to chill with your furry friends. The cocktails here are first rate, and it’s one of the only really high-end bar hangs for your friendly dog or very adventurous cat.

Mikkeller

Photo: Mikkeller / Facebook

This craft beer spot is exactly what you think of when you imagine a pet-friendly space. There’s grass, bean bag chairs, and, of course, Bangkok’s best beer bar according to the BAD (Bangkok After Dark) Awards 2023. Serving from 30 taps and a diverse range of bottles, Mikkeller is home to people who care about beer and gives off a rare family-friendly vibe to go with the pets. 

Siri House

Photo: Siri House / Facebook

A spot for high-end food and high-end drinks, Siri House is also well known for its small outdoor space—good for both alfresco dining and dancing if there’s an event. But, this little patch of green (which includes an in-ground swimming pool) is also open to pets. Fans keep you cool in the seated area and the surrounding greenery gives the whole place a fun tropical vibe for the doggos to explore. 

Very Nice Bar

Photo: Very Nice Bar / Facebook

This new bar in Charoenkrung has a subtle hint of Japanese izakaya vibe in its DNA, with its minimalistic, light wood-feel elements that scream hipster—and they welcome dogs inside and out. What sets Very Nice Bar apart is its diverse menu that offers more than just draft beer; they have quite a selection of wine labels, umeshu, and unique snacks that come with western-influenced dishes such as the creamy mentaiko pasta. 

Mad Bulldog Pub and Grub

A new pub on the scene, the pet-friendly Mad Bulldog Pub and Grub in Phra Khanong has been open for just around two months. The gastro-pub on Sukhumvit 71 by W Market (whither we know not) has live music nearly every day and a selection of Western and Asian snacks. Pets should be leashed, in a trolley, or in a bag.