January isn’t most New Yorkers’ favorite time to head outdoors, but it is “Walk Your Pet Month”—so why not layer up, grab your pooch, and take advantage of walking’s health benefits? Just stash your small canine in a carrier and hit the rails for a fun-filled outing. You’ll find NYC has plenty to offer pet owners beyond the parks. In fact, many New York cafés have begun offering menus crafted just for dogs. Clock a few minutes walking from the train to your destination, then reward yourself—and your pup—with one of the tasty treats below.
Boris & Horton, East Village
Billed as the first dog-friendly café in New York, this hip East Village java house, founded in 2017 by a father-daughter duo, offers warm cups of joe from Variety Coffee Roaster alongside pastries and other baked goods. Inside the industrial, brick-walled space, you’ll find a pet patisserie whipping up cookies and biscuits, as well as the brand’s own line of freeze-dried treats in salmon and beef liver flavors. The shop often hosts adoption and pop-up events with ice cream and breakfast tacos.
Subway
Château le Woof, Astoria
This homey, red-bricked Astoria spot has been a café, market, and playground for pups since it opened in 2015. You can choose from freshly baked cookies (with icing) and rotating flavors of ice cream “pupper cups.” There’s also a selection of dog gear, plus an on-site dog groomer and off-leash play area. Pet owners can sip La Colombe lattes while nibbling on fruit scones, croissants, and breakfast burritos. Don’t forget the grab-and-go pet toys and treats—doggie ice cream birthday cakes, anyone?
Ollie’s Ice Cream + Stuff, Bushwick
Located near Bushwick’s Maria Hernandez Park, this pint-sized ice cream parlor serves seasonal, artisanal scoops for humans and pups alike. The Fido-approved treats, created by owner Eric Kyriakopoulos, include the shop’s famed “Peanut Butter Pumpkin Butt” made with crushed dog treats, pumpkin puree, no-sugar peanut butter, and a fat-free cashew yogurt.
The Wilson NYC, Chelsea
This breezy neighborhood eatery caters to Chelsea owners in search of a splurge-worthy meal. Nab a seat just outside the venue’s leafy terrace and side patio and choose from an array of savory dishes such as homemade biscuits, sliced apples, and luscious frozen pupsicles with banana, pumpkin, and peanut butter. Culinary director Jeff Haskell, who honed his skills cooking for his English Bulldog, Stella, also whips up fancy feasts like a decadent grilled steak with steamed baby vegetables, which furry companions are encouraged to share with their owners.
La Contenta Oeste, West Village
Reserve an outdoor patio table at this West Village Mexican eatery and select from a trio of classics made for dogs. Canines can nosh on pan-roasted El Slide burgers, a hearty Pollito Con Papas (poached chicken breast with roasted carrots and potatoes), and a healthy El Vegetariano (quinoa, rice, carrots, sweet potatoes). Meanwhile, pet owners can enjoy chef Luis Arce Mota’s tasty sprawl of nachos, fish tacos, enchiladas, and the spot’s signature El Silencio cocktail, made with mezcal, Campari, and lime juice.
MTA Away Advice: Check out pet travel safety tips from Maxine and Little Chonk all month on Instagram and TikTok as part of our collab for National Train Your Dog Month!
Kate Donnelly is a travel and food writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Travel and Leisure, Food and Wine, Architectural Digest, Conde Nast Traveler, and others.
