Ben Madilynn
So, a dog walks into a bar …
A concept that’s proven wildly popular in other Southern cities has finally made its way to Nashville. Celebrating its grand opening later this month, Urban Dog Bar is the area’s first official dog park-meets-bar-meets-restaurant. This new 20,000-square-foot space in The Nations offers everything from a supervised outdoor puppy play area to a full bar with coffee, cocktails, mocktails, and even dog-friendly beer and treats.
We spoke to the owners for the scoop on what you (and your pup!) can look forward to, how to score a membership, and much more.
For Some Background
If you’re a frequent traveler, you may have noticed a recent trend in dog park bars in other big Southern cities such as Birmingham, Atlanta, and Charlotte. There’s just something about being able to sip a cocktail while you watch a gaggle of dogs tear off after a tennis ball. And now, Nashville is joining in on the fun!
Owner Rebecca Gauthier, who co-owns Urban Dog Bar with her husband, Austin, says, “We’re both passionate about people and dogs, and we kept wishing there was a place in Nashville where we could hang out with friends and not have to leave our pups, Edley and Dolly, at home.”
“When we realized there was an opportunity to bring the concept of a dog park bar to Nashville, it just clicked,” she adds. “We felt like it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn our passions into a business.”
PinFor the Dogs
Urban Dog Bar isn’t just dog-friendly; it’s dog-focused. And Rebecca and Austin are ensuring everyone who visits is treated like gold — whether they have feet or paws. “As many dog owners know, bringing your pup to a dog-friendly bar is not always as easy as it sounds,” Rebecca tells us. “They get bored, and if other dogs are around, you can forget about relaxing.”
Every detail of Urban Dog Bar was created with dog safety and enjoyment in mind. This includes trained onsite “Rufferees” to supervise, tidy up, and replenish fresh water.
PinBut that’s not the only special treatment your pup can look forward to.
The 15,500-square-foot outdoor park features mud-proof artificial turf, comfy seating, and a designated area for smaller dogs. There’s also a 5,000-square-foot climate-controlled indoor area where dogs are welcome. And there’s even dog-friendly beer.
“Our dogs go wild for the dog beer, especially the Chicken Porter,” says Rebecca. “We’ll also be serving up homestyle dog meals, so your pup can enjoy a delicious and nutritious dinner right alongside you if you’re not ready to head home yet!”
PinFor the Humans
They pretty much had us at “beer for dogs,” but there are plenty of amenities to excite us humans, too. The inside boasts a full bar with eight local beer taps, wine options, canned drinks, mocktails, and TV screens for game-watching.
Urban Dog Bar also offers freshly prepared food from its kitchen. “The smashburger is high on the list, but the buffalo fried chicken sandwich is our personal favorite — it’s hard to beat!” says Rebecca of the menu.
PinEven better, you can grab a cocktail and head outside to sit in the shade and watch your pup play fetch as you sip. “Our goal was to make the park feel modern and trendy, so there will be fun art and visuals, music that complements the time of day, and cozy spots to relax and unwind,” says Rebecca, adding, “Our vision has always been to create a space that is inviting and community-focused, with the goal of bringing people together over a common interest — dogs!”
For a Membership
You don’t need anything but your wallet to sidle up to the bar for beverages, but bringing your pup requires a day pass or membership along with the presentation of vaccination records.
“Memberships are just for the pups — humans are always free!” Rebecca says. “And no, it’s not weird at all to come without a dog. We love that we can give dog lovers without a pup their much-needed dog fix.”
She adds that all friendly, socialized, and non-aggressive dogs are welcome at Urban Dog Bar. “We do have a few rules to keep things safe: dogs must be up-to-date on rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper/Parvo vaccinations, be over four months old, and must be spayed or neutered if over one year old. These restrictions help keep our space safe and fun for everyone.”
Rebecca and Austin are making the sign-up process easy. You can download the Urban Dog Bar app from the App Store or Google Play to purchase a membership or day pass, sign a waiver, and upload your dog’s vaccination records. Alternatively, you can simply bring a copy of the documents along on your first visit, and the Canine Concierge team will upload them on your behalf.
PinA daily pass to Urban Dog Bar is $12 (plus $6 for each additional household dog), but a monthly or annual membership is where you can score all of the extras. It unlocks all of Urban Dog Bar’s amenities and member-exclusive perks, such as 10% off on retail and private event rentals. You can also look forward to members-only events, and rumor has it there will be dog birthday cakes. We’re all about it.
The monthly membership runs $45 for the first dog and $20 for additional household dogs, and an annual membership is $450 for the first dog and $200 for additional household dogs.
The Urban Dog Bar’s grand opening weekend is currently slated to begin on October 19 at 5700 Ohio Avenue in The Nations. However, the venue may be soft-opening before then, so stay tuned! The grand opening event will includes live music, giveaways, and fun dog-related events. The facility will be open Monday through Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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