Boozehound: 3 Dog Friendly Bars on San Pablo Avenue
Dogs and alcohol–what better combination exists to dull the pain? Luckily, there are bars scattered throughout the East Bay that welcome your Fido on a Friday night. Glug some top-notch hooch with the pooch, and chase it with the hair of the dog at these three canine-friendly bars for bar-friendly canines—all conveniently located on San Pablo Avenue.
Hotsy Totsy
This legendary Albany hangout has been serving up libations to East Bay denizens since 1939, and it’s a dog’s paradise. Filled with welcoming hands ready to pet and obligatory high-pitched squeals that accompany furry creatures wherever they go, this is the spot to bring Rex, or even your ex, on your next weekend bar hop. They offer up a great selection of booze at cheap prices, a robust happy hour and the Tacos El Autlense taco truck right next door…with the best Mexican food in Albany.
601 San Pablo Ave., Albany 94706
(510) 526-5986
www.hotsytotsyclub.com
The Wolfhound
The Wolfhound regulars are like a family–a pack, if you will. On Tuesday trivia nights, this cozy nook is filled with laughter, sounds of clinking glasses, and wagging tails that softly thud against the bar stools. The jukebox spins a great selection of standards new and old, and the space is decorated with old vinyl covers and posters. Feel free to let your dog off the leash to zigzag through the legs of patrons. Nobody minds. Plenty of other bar-goers bring in their own dogs too. This is the spot to unleash, unwind and maybe chase a little tail after a long work week.
5516 San Pablo Ave., Oakland 94608
(510) 338-3023
www.facebook.com/wolfhoundCA94608
The Albatross
Berkeley’s oldest pub is also its best. The Albatross, celebrating over 50 years on San Pablo Avenue, is the red-tinted dive everyone seeks after a long day hunched under fluorescent lights. Dogs are welcome to sprawl and sniff while you sip that third mojito. Patrons are friendly and inviting — UC Berkeley students and burned-out hippies flock to this locale, tastefully decorated with stained glass lamps and gnarled wood furniture. People love it when you bring the puppies and stop to say, “hi.” Go there and play a game of darts, rack up some balls on the pool table, relax in the spacious booths and appreciate a little of what makes Berkeley, Berkeley – with your dog!
The Albatross
1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley 94702
(510) 843-2473
