Stanley's Guide to Dog-Friendly Calgary In June
My name is Stanley. Genuine goodest boi, connoisseur of off-leash parks, and the most handsome regular at several of Calgary's finest establishments. These are my recommendations. You're welcome.
Four Dogs Taproom
1205 1st St SW
Built with love, built for dogs, built for community. That's basically my entire personality in one sentence.
Four Dogs was founded by Vince in honour of his four rescue dogs: Zen, Friday, Elvis, and Sasha. Each beer is named after one of them, with their faces on the label, and the whole taproom is a love letter to what special needs rescue dogs teach you about showing up anyway. The kind of origin story that makes you feel things.
I love popping in for a pint. Water, mom says. Always water, she says. She is no fun. But I do love playing with my friends here, because this is the kind of place where that's just... expected. Dogs inside, dogs outside, dogs at the bar. A built-in seat at the bar for your pup, actually, which I consider basic infrastructure that more establishments should adopt immediately.
My only complaint, and I will keep raising it until action is taken, is that Vince has not yet named a beer after me. Sir Stanley of Earl Grey. It's right there, Vince. It is RIGHT THERE.
Vin Room
Mission: 2310 4th St SW | West: 8561 8A Ave SW
Wine tastings for mom. Dog-friendly patio for the king. (Me. I'm the king.)
Vin Room is Calgary's premier wine bar with over 100 wines by the taste, and both locations roll out a genuinely excellent welcome for dogs on the patio: complimentary dog beds, pawsecco, fur baby fare. The Mission front patio is dog-friendly seven days a week. West brings the same energy.
But my favourite event of the entire year, possibly my favourite thing that happens in the world, is the Pooches Patio Paw-ty. Five-course dinner made just for dogs and their humans. Wine pairings included for the two-legged half of the party. And owner Phoebe comes around to personally give pets to every single dog there, but me especially, which I personally believe should be mandatory at all restaurants, all the time, no exceptions, this is not a debate.
Even on regular nights without my 5 course meal, I fully endorse the cheese selection. #CheeseTax is not a bit. It is a tax. And I am the government. Pay up!
Haven House Cafe | North Haven
1107 48 Ave NW
Technically, dogs aren't allowed inside. I have reviewed this policy. I have thoughts. But I will be paw-fessional because Lan makes sure I get treats from the treat jar every 5 minutes.
Here is what Haven House does have: a lovely shaded sidewalk patio, a sunny grassy knoll, and a location that is basically a stone's throw from some of the best off-leash parks in the city, including Nose Hill, which is my personal favourite park in Calgary and possibly the entire universe. After a serious morning run, mom can grab lunch with her friends Lan and Bill while I supervise from the grass like the responsible beef cake that I am.
What mom loves most about this cafe in NW Calgary is how much focus it puts on community. Regular donation drives, a community creators corner, promoting community businesses bringing neighbors together.
The beef barley soup is very good, mom only gave me a bit of beef, but the speed at which the soup disappeared is a good sign that it’s delicious.
The baked goods are excellent, by all accounts, I do like date squares. But the lemonade. THE LEMONADE. The ice cubes are made from frozen lemonade and berries, so it never gets watered down. That is not a small detail. That is a philosophy. That is the kind of attention to detail I deeply respect and will continue to respect from the grassy knoll where I was also not offered the soup.
Stanley awards all three of these establishments four paws out of four and the bonus nub.