Moderately dog-friendly. “The question of whether dogs are allowed in restaurants in Greece is a tricky one. I visited Greece for a month along with my Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, and we were certainly welcomed at many restaurants and cafes. However, nearly all of them were outdoor terraces. It was the shoulder season during September and October, but the weather was still beautiful and naturally everyone was eating outside.
Are dogs allowed in restaurants in Europe? If you’re traveling with a pooch, will you be able to find a place to grab a bite? What are the rules for interiors vs. patios? Does it vary country to country?
Dog-friendly! As with much of Europe, Austria is very relaxed about dogs in public spaces – including eateries. You’ll find most restaurants, bars, and cafes welcome well-behaved dogs. You’ll occasionally see a clearly marked no-dogs establishment, but if you don’t see a sign, chances are you and your pooch are welcome.
The same welcome probably doesn’t apply inside most restaurants and cafes. At a simple restaurant serving the cheapest gyros in Delphi but with no outdoor area, we were only grudgingly allowed to sit just inside the door. We also never saw any dogs inside any restaurants anywhere. The rules though seem to be slightly different in the hip areas of Athens, where we spotted one restaurant near our apartment with a dog-friendly sign and dogs at multiple bars. Small dogs are more likely to be welcome than large.” – Shandos Cleaver
Not dog-friendly. “I feel like Macedonia was a for sure no. I remember being shunned quite a lot. Actually, there was one place in Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, that was a falafel stand that loved Sora. He would toss her falafel, but I don’t think she would have been allowed inside.” – Jen Sotolongo
What is the most dog-friendly country in Europe?
France Is the Most Dog-Friendly Country in Europe.
This rule (which does not include guide dogs) would most obviously relate to kitchens or storerooms but it is possible that, depending on the layout of the café or restaurant, they might decide to ban dogs in case of a risk of contamination of food that is unprotected and accessible. She added: “I do not know the exact amount of the fine, but it is possible for a restaurateur to be fined for not respecting this law.” In reality, many restaurants in France (and bars and cafés) do allow dogs, especially small unobtrusive ones kept on a lead.
A legal expert for the national pedigree dogs organisation the Société Centrale Canine said that the only current law relating to this is European regulation 852/2004, article 4, chapter IX, annexe II, which states that ‘adequate measures’ should be taken so pets do not have access to places where food is prepared, treated or stored.