My road trip with dogs series simply got TOO BIG, so I’ve parcelled out each of the dog-friendly destinations and featured each city all on its own. Welcome to the Toronto edition! Here, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy a weekend in Toronto with your dog — starting with a Toronto pet-friendly hotel and including fun places to hang out with your pooch and dog-friendly patios where you can eat as a complete family.

Looking for another pet-friendly city? Then head on over to my road trip with dogs overview post, where I’ve got a snapshot of each dog-friendly destination that will also, ultimately, help you find the more detailed posts (like this one) for each city I’ve covered so far.

DOG-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS: TORONTO

IS TORONTO DOG-FRIENDLY? HECK, YES! DESPITE ITS REPUTATION AS A CONCRETE JUNGLE, TORONTO IS HOME TO NUMEROUS PARKS, OFF-LEASH DOG RUNS AND MORE. EVEN THE COURTYARDS RIGHT DOWNTOWN, LIKE THIS ONE AT COLLEGE PARK, HAVE SOME GREENERY THAT MAKES FOR AN EASY OUTING WITH YOUR POOCH.

Toronto pet-friendly hotel + things to do with your dog in Toronto

Considering we live in the GTA (that’s the Greater Toronto Area for the non-Ontarians who have entered the chat), it’s about time we featured Toronto in our dog-friendly destinations series. Some parts of the city are more doggy-centric than others – like The Beach(es), where there may in fact be more dogs than people – while some of the downtown core is so incredibly busy with foot traffic that you may want to tread carefully and avoid rush hour walks at all costs in some areas, like near Union Station.

LOOKING FOR A TORONTO PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL? YOU’VE FOUND IT AT THE CHELSEA HOTEL. (ALL PHOTOS TAKEN WITH THE IPHONE 14 PRO)

TORONTO PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL: CHELSEA HOTEL

Part of the international Langham Hospitality Group, you can saunter over to the 1865 Loyalty desk upon arrival at the Chelsea Hotel if you’re a member. There was no one ahead of me when we arrived and when I looked over at the regular check-in line that was six people deep, I was delighted that I signed up for the 1865 program back in 2015 when I stayed at The Langham in New York City. (More on that spectacular property when my upcoming NYC post is published.)

First and foremost, the Chelsea isn’t just Toronto’s biggest hotel – it’s Canada’s! Its 26 floors and 18 elevators service nearly 1,600 rooms, but (somehow) it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb downtown, despite its prime location in the Yonge Street corridor near College Park.

YOU KNOW A HOTEL IS PET-FRIENDLY WHEN IT HAS A POOP BAG STAND AND A DESIGNATED “DO YOUR BUSINESS” SPOT JUST OUTSIDE ITS DOORS.

And what it lacks in parking options for those driving anything bigger than a sporty CUV since the underground parking can only accommodate vehicles under 5’6”, it makes up for in family-friendly amenities like:

• The Family Fun Zone with a heated pool (like, actually really properly heated!); hot tub; corkscrew waterslide, which has a section that winds its way outside of the hotel (yay!) but it’s fully covered and opaque so you can’t see when you’re outside (boo!); a cute Kids’ Centre with a dress-up area, games, books, a small aquarium and even a couple of very happy-looking bunnies; and the Club 33 Teen Lounge, outfitted with a pool table, arcade games ($), foosball table and TVs – all of which are in great working order (even if the space itself could a bit of jazzing up)

THOUGH IT’S NOT A FULL INDOOR WATERPARK IN TORONTO, THE CHELSEA HOTEL’S FAMILY FUN ZONE SURE HAS LOTS OF WATERPARK ELEMENTS, LIKE ITS SUPER-FUN CORKSCREW WATERSLIDE THAT ACTUALLY DIPS OUT OF THE BUILDING IN ONE SECTION.

• A breakfast buffet in the onsite Market Garden Restaurant that has an inexpensive kids’ plate option if your littles aren’t big eaters; food is decent and priced with convenience in mind like any typical hotel breakfast. The self-serve dark roast coffee is *chef’s kiss*

WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST OPTIONS AT RESTAURANTS NEAR CHELSEA HOTEL TORONTO, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MARKET GARDEN RESTAURANT INSIDE THE HOTEL ITSELF OFFERS A BUFFET BREAKFAST. THE DOUGHNUTS (ESPECIALLY THE APPLE CINNAMON ONE) ARE AWESOME.

• The Show Your Key & Save attractions discounts available for Chelsea Hotel guests, updated regularly to reflect new and ongoing partnerships around the city, including a pet-friendly one that I’ve noted below
• A foodie’s delight – T|bar. Chef-driven menu featuring great flavours and good portions without insane prices considering the quality, but no kids’ menu so this is better suited to families with older kids

T-BAR RESTAURANT TORONTO, LOCATED IN THE CHELSEA HOTEL, DOES EVERYTHING WELL — ESPECIALLY FLATBREAD.

There’s also an adult pool deck and fitness centre up on the 27th floor, but this wasn’t a grownups-focused visit to the city, so we didn’t even have a chance to venture up there. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a jar of honey for $5, which comes from the bees on the hotel’s own beehive! All proceeds go to SickKids Hospital.

Pro Tip: Be sure to request one of the newly renovated rooms, depending on availability. We found them spacious, airy and modern with nice, crisp bedding.

Most important for this story, however, is that the Chelsea Hotel Toronto is, of course, pet-friendly.

THE CHELSEA HOTEL IS ONE OF THE MOST DOG-FRIENDLY HOTELS IN TORONTO.

Here’s what you need to know about bringing your doggy to the Chelsea Hotel Toronto:

• The hotel welcomes small- and medium-sized dogs with a 50-lb. weight limit (and, it should go without saying that your pooch should be well-behaved and housebroken)
• Two pets per room, maximum
• There’s a $50 per stay pet fee, to account for extra cleaning
• The hotel doesn’t encourage you to keep your dog(s) in your room unattended but provided you leave your phone number with the front desk, exceptions are made for those who can be happily and quietly crated, which means you can go down for breakfast as family, for example
• Dogs are allowed in the lobby and hallways to get to and from your room, but not in any restaurants or common areas like the Family Fun Zone or adult pool, and must be leashed at all times when not in your room
• Just beyond the hotel’s Elm Street exit, you’ll find a pet station with poop bags and faux grass. Some dogs are definitely using it to do their business, but ours wouldn’t and the next-best option (with real grass) is across the street at College Park
• Any damage or guest complaints due to your pet are your financial responsibility
• You can find the Chelsea Hotel’s full pet policy here
• There’s an enclosed patio just outside of the Market Garden Restaurant that’s perfect for dining with your dog if you’d rather not leave him or her in your room when you eat; just be aware that it’s not covered, so it may be closed due to weather

THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO WITH DOGS:

Dogs, dogs and more dogs. Or activities like puppy yoga if you don’t have a dog of your own. Toronto is FULL of dogs.

Once you’re done eating at or having fun in the Chelsea Hotel, there are lots of ways to spend quality time with your dog in Toronto:

• Visit The Distillery Historic District – there’s an adorable shop called Sniffany & Co with luxe pet products and handmade, high-end treats plus top-tier food brands and your dog will also be welcome in a number of other shops throughout this historic district. The cobblestone-lined area is riddled with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and thanks to a number of patios and coffee shops, you could stay all day (so bring a portable water bowl). You can stay well into the evening, too, thanks to the dog-friendly Haunted Walk, which meets at the Distillery front gate (tickets must be purchased in advance and Chelsea Hotel guests get 15% off); we learned so much about the area and heard some very creepy stories in the process. It was a huge hit with almost 15-year-old K Man!

THE HAUNTED WALK TORONTO GHOST TOURS ARE AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT THE DISTILLERY IS ONE OF THE MOST DOG-FRIENDLY.

• Go to a park – High Park and Trinity Bellwoods are both awesome for dog owners, with dedicated off-leash areas that aren’t traditional “fenced in” dog parks. Parking isn’t great for either location, but you may luck out and find free street parking in both spots if you go early enough (we did). High Park – which is enormous and you could easily spend all day exploring – has more dogs running free than we have ever experienced anywhere else, and although our experience was a positive one, you just never know what kind of dogs and dog owners you’ll encounter so be sure to be extra-conscious while you’re here

TRINITY BELLWOODS PARK HAS A BIG NON-FENCED OFF-LEASH ZONE WITH STEEP HILLS ALL AROUND IT, MAKING IT GREAT FOR BURNING OFF PUPPY ENERGY.

• Go to the beach! Cherry Beach has free parking and a large fenced-in off-leash zone that’s full of mature trees, plenty of room for an exhilarating game of fetch and even a dog-friendly section of beach complete with mild Lake Ontario waves. Why bring your own ball when there are free sticks up for grabs?!

THE CHERRY BEACH DOG PARK IS FANTASTIC AND, SO FAR, THE ONLY OFF-LEASH BEACH AREA I KNOW OF FOR DOGS.

DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN TORONTO:

When patio season hits, Toronto has one of the best scenes anywhere. Even if the City of Toronto has made it harder (read: prohibitively expensive) to secure extended patio permits, like we saw during the height of COVID, there’s no shortage of regular patio options in The Big Smoke. This section will definitely grow over time, so keep coming back for more!

We (alphabetically) recommend:

• Black Lab Brewing – since it’s not a restaurant, this brewery plays by its own rules and allows dogs even indoors. Duchess was one of about eight dogs in the joint during our visit and loved making some new furry friends. Although there are foodstuffs available onsite, you’re also encouraged to bring your own food in and stay as long as you like. I’m not usually a beer gal, but I can’t say enough about Black Lab’s Jelly Bean Kennel Sour – OMG. So good!

BLACK LAB BREWING WAS AN AMAZING SPOT FOR SOME EATS AND DRINKS ON A RAINY TORONTO DAY. SINCE IT’S NOT TECHNICALLY A RESTAURANT (EVEN THOUGH IT SERVES FOOD), DOGS ARE ALLOWED EVEN INDOORS HERE.

• Goppion Caffe – when the neighbourhood dog has its own dog bowl at a cafe, you know it’s not just dog-friendly, it’s dog-fanatical! Bring your pooch inside or enjoy the patio life near Fort York, sipping on coffee beans from Italy and noshing on homemade ice cream (which my kids gave four thumbs up) or the yummiest doughnuts delivered daily from the one and only Donut Hive (the pistachio raspberry is #YUMazing!). And don’t be surprised if the owner treats your fur baby to some soft serve…

THE GOPPION CAFFE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING CAFES WE’VE BEEN TO WITH DUCHESS.

• Grenadier Cafe – don’t have the bandwidth to organize a picnic lunch for a day at High Park? Not to worry, the Grenadier Cafe is within the park itself and allows dogs on its patio. Be prepared for a lineup and pass on the basic machine coffee in favour of some bottled water to go with your chicken Caesar wrap or chicken fingers and fries, both of which are respectable meal choices here
• HOTHOUSE – this is a long, longtime favourite of ours; Big B and I have been going to HOTHOUSE near St. Lawrence Market since we started dating more than 20 years ago. Its famous Sunday brunch is the epitome of gluttony goodness and you can enjoy it on the patio alongside your BFF – best furry friend

DOG-FRIENDLY PATIOS TORONTO, HERE WE COME! LOBSTER BURGER BAR IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF BEING TRULY DOG-FRIENDLY THANKS TO ITS VERY OWN DOG FOOD MENU! THE DOWNSIDE? THE PATIO ISN’T WEATHERPROOF. SO WE WENT WITH TAKEOUT AND ATE AT BLACK LAB BREWING INSTEAD.

• Lobster Burger Bar – though the rain foiled our patio lunch plans here, we really had our hearts set on lobster rolls and the Lobster Burger Bar’s dog menu. That’s right – they have a DOG MENU! Even though I found there was much less lobster meat in the rolls compared to the last time I ate here a few years ago, and I wouldn’t bother with the lobster chowder again, the double cheeseburger and mac ‘n cheese were both outstanding and the lobster cheese gravy made the French fries sing. But, best of all, the dog menu. Wow! We ordered Duchess the $6 portion of the Beef Lovers recipe made with locally sourced beef, beef liver, broccoli, kale, carrots and organic supplements. She went absolutely bonkers for this stuff and devoured it with more gusto than even the raw topper we add to her (very expensive, high-quality, Toronto-made) kibble. This was the ultimate treat for her weekend getaway in Toronto!

THE LOBSTER BURGER BAR DOG MENU WILL NOT DISAPPOINT. AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF PORTIONS, STARTING AT A $6 HALF-CUP (WHICH WAS PERFECT FOR DUCHESS), THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RECIPES TO CHOOSE FROM.

• Market Garden’s patio at the Chelsea Hotel – you can use the Grab ‘n Go offerings just inside the patio doors or grab a bite-to-go from any of the nearby restaurants or quick-serves and pop a squat in this really pretty courtyard, dog in tow

HOW GORGEOUS IS THE CHELSEA HOTEL TORONTO’S PATIO?!

• Mildred’s Temple Kitchen – we hadn’t been to Mildred’s since it moved to this newer location in Liberty Village, so it had easily been a decade since I sunk my teeth into its iconic buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote. Tasting it and re-living our carefree Toronto brunch memories with Duchess at my side made it that much sweeter. There are no reservations on weekends and you can expect to find yourself in a lineup if you arrive after 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, but there’s seating a-plenty on this dog-friendly patio. Just be mindful that while indoor dining opens at 9 a.m., the patio doesn’t actually get going until 10 a.m. Pro tip: get a Petite Thuet croissant (or three) to go

I LOVE THAT MILDRED’S TEMPLE KITCHEN IS DOG-FRIENDLY! THEY EVEN HAD LITTLE BISCUITS AND A WATER BOWL AT THE PATIO ENTRANCE WITH A SIGN THAT READ “DOGS DESERVE BRUNCH, TOO.” ONE OF THE BEST BRUNCHES IN TORONTO.

• Mill Street Brewpub – the duck wings are no longer on the menu (#sadface), but the Korean BBQ sauce on their regular ol’ chicken wings is a mighty fine alternative. Your dog is welcome on the large patio and because its in a prime spot within the Distillery District, your meal also comes with a side of great people-watching

HAVE THE KOREAN BBQ CHICKEN WINGS AT THE DOG-FRIENDLY MILL STREET BREWPUB IN THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT. THAT’S ALL I’M GONNA SAY.

That’s it, that’s all (for now) — I will update our Toronto pet-friendly hotel post as we try new things with Duchess in The Big Smoke.

 

DISCLAIMER: The Chelsea Hotel compensated me for this post, but we spent plenty of our own money on restaurants and activities to help bring this post to life. Destinations are not invited to review or approve anything in this series and all opinions and suggestions are my own.