Lori

we take our pups at least once a week! it’s our absolute favorite thing to do in Chicago. You wouldn’t know you aren’t at the ocean many days! In the summer, we ride our bikes over with the dogs in our riding basket, hang at the beach with them for a few hours and then head down the beach to The Dock which is an awesome dog friendly beach bar and restaurant at the other end of Montrose Beach. In the months before Memorial Day and after Labor Day it’s quite wonderful too and not nearly as crowded (parking is also better in non peak months) In the summer it can get insanely busy on the early evenings and weekends. This should probably go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway

hit Mondog Beach for an hour and then stroll down to the other end of Montrose Beach for live music and burgers here! Totally dog friendly and just a great neighborhood vibe. We live in the neighborhood and ride our bikes over with our dogs in our baskets in the summer to avoid the parking mess.

loved having a late lunch here post a couple wine tastings in the area. the food wasn’t your normal tapas fare (the goat cheese, onion and balsamic toast was the bomb!), cocktails were great, dog bowl and plenty of room for the pooches. great staff, east side entrance to the patio. loved it.

we loved their red wines, lovely patio (with Bacci!) and the staff was friendly and accommodating.

right down the street from the off leash dog beach, watched sea lions and otters frolick in the water as we ate, staff couldn’t have been nicer, food was good but we don’t eat a ton of fried food so it was a little much for us, but yummy and likely worth the bump in my cholesterol 😂

we walked the beach with our pups. we were here off season and not a lot of people were out so we asked a local and they said most people were cool with dogs off leash if they didn’t disturb others. officially leashes are required. love this place. highly recommend for people and pets

there are 2 signs right next to each other… one that says dogs should be leashed and then another that says dogs not allowed on the trail. We deduced this to mean no dogs on the longer 4 mile hike. we did a short .5 mile loop out to the coast and the views were spectacular. great place for a short 20 minute pit stop.

this is the only official “off leash” beach in the area so it gets a 5 bone rating but as others stated, it isn’t the prettiest or least smelly beach. my dogs loved sniffing all the smells. I did not love it.

Dogs allowed EVERYWHERE even inside the restaurant (food is only ok but the atmosphere was great and staff friendly). The rooms are perfect complete with a blanket and extra towel for muddy paws, a full roll of paper towels (seriously, why doesn’t every hotel do this?), and a completely enclosed patio. So many paths to explore, treats and toys upon arrival, and just the most incredible views you could ask for. While there was so much to explore in the area we spent most of our time here just hanging out and enjoying the peace, quiet and bounty of Mother Nature. The price makes it a splurge, but this was the first leg of our Northern California trip and it was so worth it.

we saw there was a line out the door and I said to my husband “want to go somewhere else?” and a guy leaving overheard and said “it’s worth the wait” - he was right. sandwiches, soup and pastries were all great, plenty of outdoor covered seating even if the weather isn’t perfect, dogs welcome outside (and spent their time fending off a few really persistent birds which they enjoyed and we appreciated 😂) - the other review that mentions dogs not allowed inside is correct. it would be tough to go alone since this is the case.