Sometimes all we want to do after a long week at work is hunker down with friends to dine at a restaurant and order the night away.
However, for some people, that means choosing between leaving a pet at home or chancing it by letting them tag along as a furry plus one.
In some restaurants, staff might look at you as if you are barking mad as you try and wangle a table for you and your muddy-pawed pooch, so to save you the embarrassment of walking away with your tails between your legs, we have handpicked seven of our top pet-friendly dining recommendations to try out this summer.
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No 1 Harbourside
No 1 Harbourside is arguably the most pooch-perfect eatery for those wanting to bask in the liveliness of the busy waterfront while being serenaded with live music performances throughout the evening.
No 1 is well-known among locals for its focus on quality burgers and loaded fries made from ethically sourced, local produce, catering for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans.
Back in Spring, No 1 launched their newest design-your-own menu of burger choices.
From serving up classic cheeseburgers to switching it up with Korean kimchi filled buns and Indian-spiced options, each mouthwatering option is sure to cause some jealous puppy dog eyes from across the table.
The Bristol Stable
Sometimes the craving for pizza is overpowering and we have to give in, especially when you're hungover and feeling a bit ruff.
Luckily, when it comes to serving up good grub, The Stable doesn't mess around.
Boasting an enormous range of ciders, The Stable's menu is beautifully simple and consists of two dishes: pizzas and pies.
Situated in an old warehouse on the Waterfront, the venue has stripped back to its original walls and throughout the restaurant, there are little nods to its industrial character, like the hand-painted signs and art splattered on the walls.
Diners are seated on long wooden benches which encourages a sociable and communal atmosphere, so if you bring your doggo in, expect to be inundated with attention.
Mud Dock
Picture this: you've spent a Saturday morning trying to tire your dog out by weaving around sunbathers in Queen Square while playing a one-sided game of fetch, as they run away with the ball and refuse to give it back.
Once you've caught up with them and prized that slobbery ball out of their eager mouth, it dawns on you that you're the one who has been tired out.
We've all been there but never fear, for just a short walk away is the Mud Dock Cafe in The Grove, which is on standby with water bowls, treats and distractions for your lively pup, while you sink into a hearty full English breakfast.
Part cycle shop, part independent restaurant/cafe, the Mud Dock has unrivalled views of the harbour and welcomes muddy paws and waggy tails in their ambient dining space.
The Pump House
In Summer, there is no feeling greater than soaking up the sun by the harbourside with your furry friend in tow, and there is nowhere more perfect to do so, than at The Pump House in Hotwells.
With a food menu containing the quintessential classics and a drinks menu containing a comprehensive wine list, local ales on tap and over 300 types of gin, the terrace of the former Victorian hydraulic pumping station is the perfect place to overlook Bristol's summertime in its prime.
What's more, the pub is pet-friendly and will welcome your doggo with open arms, both inside and outside the venue.
According to the Bristol Barkers, the staff at The Pump House are used to serving four-legged customers as the venue has two resident dogs named Minnie and Scooby. This welcoming touch is why the iconic pub is high on the list of our go-to places to visit.
Boston Tea Party
Independent and family-run West Country cafe, Boston Tea Party has always prided itself on being a pet-friendly establishment.
On the company's website, they extended this invitation by saying that "four-legged friends are more than welcome. All we ask Is that they keep off the furniture."
As well as being pet-friendly, Boston Tea Party has built a sturdy reputation for being one of the UK's leading sustainable cafes after they were the first to stop using single-use plastics.
Each shop differs slightly from the next but the menu remains the same. If you choose to stop off for coffee at one of these locations, you can expect a jam-packed offering of American-style cocktails, dishes, breakfasts and brunches.
The chain of coffeehouses is located in several areas across Bristol, including, Gloucester Road, Stoke Gifford, Stokes Croft, Clifton, with their headquarters at the top of Park Street.
Society Cafe
Around the corner from the Mud Dock Cafe and at the end of Pero's Bridge is another great spot for those wanting to hunt down some speciality coffee.
Located in Narrow Quay is the sociable and bustling Society Cafe, which is an independent coffee shop, known for its quality coffee beans and homemade cakes.
Its minimalistic, Instagrammable interior makes it a regular hotspot for influencers and bloggers and the cafe's online following is regularly treated to pictures of their furry-four-legged customers.
The Albion
For those seeking to dine alfresco style in a courtyard or indoors next to a roaring fire with their sausage dogs or miniature poodles, The Albion in Clifton Village is our number one recommendation that caters to both scenarios.
The 17th-century coach house turned cosy village pub backs onto a charming, cobble-stone courtyard and is just a stone's throw away from the historic Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The Albion's menu is exactly what you'd expect from a middle-class English pub and it ticks all the right boxes. From St Austell beer-battered pollock to Sunday roasts and hearty helpings of sticky toffee pudding with lashings of custard.
