Bloomington, overall, is very dog friendly. It has two dedicated dog parks — the Ferguson Dog Park and the Switchyard Park dog park. There are plenty of hotels that allow your furry friends to stay the night. Your dog will be sure to get pets from friendly college students as you walk down Kirkwood.
However, if you’re out in town and have your pet with you, your restaurant choices are much more limited. In Indiana, animals are generally not allowed inside retail food establishments.
Still, some restaurants will allow you to sit with your dog on the patio or in outdoor seating.
FARMbloomington
FARMbloomington is located at 108 E. Kirkwood Ave. It serves American food and usually opens it patio during the spring and summer months. Last summer, FARMbloomington hosted “VIP (Very Important Pups)” Wednesdays and would offer free dog-friendly meals if customers purchased an entree.
FARMbloomington is closed Monday, open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Heartwork Brewing
Heartwork Brewing, a brewpub located at 1703 N. College Ave., encourages customers to bring dogs to its outdoor patio. On its website, it says dogs must be leashed at all times, and that managers may ask “Any dogs or humans that show aggression or disturb other patrons” to leave.
This brewery also serves Neapolitan-style pizza and is planning to expand its kitchen this spring, according to its website. It’s open from 4-9 p.m. Monday, from 3-10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Lennie’s Brewpub
Lennie’s is a prime location on Kirkwood. Located a quick walk away from Sample Gates, this is a great spot if you’re planning to spend time on Indiana University’s campus. Lennie’s has a pet-friendly patio where you can keep your dog leashed during your meal.
Lennie’s opened in 1989 and had the first commercial brewery to open in Monroe County in 1994. It is well known for its pizza, soups and beers. You can visit Lennie’s from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cardinal Spirits
Like the three other options on this list, Cardinal Spirits allows customers to have dogs on its outdoor patio. Cardinal Spirits is a craft distillery located at 922 S. Morton St. In addition to serving its house-made spirits, it has a tasting room, cocktail bar and restaurant. The Cardinal Spirits patio overlooks the B-Line Trail.
Cardinal Spirits is closed Monday and Tuesday. It’s open from 4-10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Hopscotch Coffee
If you’re looking for breakfast, Hopscotch Coffee, located at 235 W. Dodds St., might be your best bet. You can bring your dog on the patio while you drink your coffee. In addition to its drink menu, you can also order breakfast food and lunch, though it can be a bit on the pricier side.
Hopscotch Coffee is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's spring 2026 Source Campus Visitor's Guide.
