My wife and I recently took our dog on a West Coast road trip, and we figured the adventure would go one of two ways: either we’d have to leave her behind when we went out to queer shops and bars, or we’d have to skip those spots entirely and have a more Fido-focused trip. We never expected these spaces to be as dog-friendly as they were, and we were constantly surprised by the little joys that came with bringing Charlie with us.
Here are four reasons you might want to bring your dog to a queer bar or other queer spaces—or reasons why you might not want to, if you don’t want to improve your travel experience.
They’ll be the centre of attention
Used to being the cutest one in the bar? Sorry, that spot will now be taken by your dog. Everyone will want to say hello, and the staff might even offer them treats.
Like most pubs in the U.K., the LGBTQ+ and straight-friendly Regent Bar (2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh) allows pups inside. They are even welcome to join you on the furniture, which is pretty unheard of in North America. Were there cute lesbians at the bar when I visited? Probably. But I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful beagle one table over.
At the sapphically inclined The Ruby Fruit (3510 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles), pets weren’t allowed beyond the patio, but we didn’t miss out by bringing our doodle with us. We enjoyed the warm L.A. evening while the sweet wait staff kept coming outside to “chat with us” (i.e., pet our dog). The Ruby Fruit recently hosted a Halloween dog parade in the parking lot next door; they truly treat furry friends like royalty.
All things considered, you can totally use your pet’s popularity to your advantage. If you thought being a wingman/woman/person was reserved for one species, you were sorely mistaken. Use your wingdog to draw in fellow dog-loving hotties to chat about your mutual pooches. Your offer of pup cuddles in the morning or a future walk with your furry friends might be the icebreaker you needed to secure a date or new friend.
You’ll make unexpected connections
Social circle totally saturated? Looking forward to the same old small talk at the queer bar? Might as well leave Fido at home. But if you’re open to new experiences, bringing your pup along will certainly make it happen.
While exploring San Francisco’s Castro neighbourhood, I was craving both a drink and a bit of history. We ducked into Twin Peaks Tavern (401 Castro St., San Francisco), a landmark that opened in 1935 as an Irish/working-class bar and then became a gay bar (owned by two lesbian friends) in the early 1970s. It’s believed to be the first American gay bar to have removed its window coverings, so that patrons were visible from the street. The pub has preserved a cozy feel with its carpeted floors and vintage furniture and vibes. Best of all, it’s very dog friendly. A friendly yellow Lab greeted our little doodle at the door, and they hit it off right away. In the meantime, we exchanged some puppy pleasantries with the Lab’s owners, a gay-male couple several decades our senior. We expected a bit of chit-chat about the city and our furry friends, but we got so much more. We soon learned that one of the men had frequented the tavern in the ’70s, alongside his friend Harvey Milk (one of the first openly gay elected politicians in the United States before his assassination in 1978). The dog owner spoke about frequenting Twin Peaks before and after the window coverings came down, about police raids and the collective grief of losing community to HIV/AIDS. We felt privileged that our dog led us to such a special encounter.
You’ll need to stay flexible
Love to follow a strict plan? Bringing your dog to a gay bar probably won’t work out in your favour.
Sadly, just because a place is dog friendly doesn’t mean that this applies at all times. The lesbian bar Gossip Grill (1220 University Ave., San Diego) is so dog-forward that they actually have a whole page of rules on their website (and on display at the bar) for your pooch. Dogs are only allowed in certain areas of the bar and at certain times of day—it makes sense to keep dogs off the dancefloor when a DJ is spinning. Should you end up at a queer bar only to find out that it’s not a Fido-friendly time, take a deep breath and wander the neighbourhood. You’re bound to find a nearby patio that allows pooches.
When we drove into San Francisco, my wife and I wandered around the Castro with Charlie in tow, assuming there wouldn’t be too many places we could all go together. We soon discovered that all we had to do was ask; we were pleasantly surprised by all the places she was allowed inside. Our little chaos demon got to drink with us on the upper floor balcony of Lookout (3600 16th St., San Francisco), which overlooks the gaybourhood. She joined us in Knob’s (432 Castro St., San Francisco) gay apparel shop, to give us barks of approval while we tried on various Pride outfits. She meandered through Fabulosa Books (489 Castro St., San Francisco) with us, proudly displaying her “I have two moms” bandana. (Hot tip: remember to stay flexible with your finances, too. Because how cute are all the rainbow dog toys and apparel you will inevitably buy?) She even posed in front of the very first Pride flag at the GLBT Historical Society Museum (4127 18th St., San Francisco).
(Read Pink Ticket Travel’s insider’s guide to San Francisco here, and see our visit to the GLBT Historical Society Museum here.)
You’ll want to hang out all the time
Possibly the biggest danger in bringing your furry bestie out to all the hottest queer spots is that you won’t want to go anywhere without them.
Ultimately, the two of you may need a couple nights away from each other, especially on a longer trip. Canines and clubbing crowds don’t mix, and you’ll want to allow yourself some time to let loose while your pup gets a sensory break. A night off will give you both some breathing room. Your cuddly companion is also a great excuse to head home when you need an early night. Plus you know you’ll have someone to keep you company if you’re nursing a hangover the next day.
Make sure to schedule your dog-free nights ahead of time. Book a Rover or sitter in advance. Last-minute pet-sitting can be hard to come by: people may not be responsive, places that have space may be far from your accommodation, and if you’re at a destination for a special event, chances are pet-sits will be busier than usual.
Remember that people all over the globe love their pets as much as you do, and trust that your pup will get great care while you enjoy a well-deserved, worry-free gay night out.
