Bark with Joy: A Local's Guide to the Best Dog-Friendly Places in Barbados
Welcome to Barbados, where the sun, sand, and sea provide the perfect backdrop for an adventure with your furry companion. As a proud Bajan local and a dog mum, I understand the joy of exploring our beautiful island with your four-legged friend by your side.Whether you're a resident or visiting with your furry pal, this guide will lead you to the best spots where your dog can feel welcome and safe.
I will be updating this list periodically, as more places (hopefully) become more dog friendly. However, according to Barbados' legislation only service dogs and Emergency Support dogs are allowed in restaurants. If you’re the owner of somewhere that is pet friendly and not listed on here, get in touch! I’d love to come visit. If you’re unsure about taking your dog to a space that is not listed on here, it's always smart to call ahead and make sure before you go.
My dog enjoying La Cabane, located in Batts Rock, St.James
A note on animal culture in Barbados from a local perspective
(it’s me, Hi! I’m the local! Read my bio here):
I’m going to be straight with you; Barbados is not a pet friendly place (especially when compared to other countries in the Global North such as the US, Canada and Europe), most Barbadians are scared of dogs when they see them in public and visitors are often shocked to see how many people treat animals in the island.
Things are continuously changing, and there is a very vibrant animal loving community on the island, who you can connect with via many Facebook groups and organised events (listed below!). There are a number of incredible animal welfare organisations working hard to improve the dire state of animal welfare in Barbados, but it is often an uphill battle to change a deep rooted culture and attitudes towards animals. They need your support! There is so much more that can be said on this topic, but I will leave that for another post. You can also check out my post on animal welfare and the Barbados Green Monkey.
For the sake of transparency, I would rather manage expectations for those who are unfamiliar with the culture in Barbados and offer a few tips:
Don’t assume people want to be near your dog. Dog friendly places are few and far between, and many people are not used to seeing a dog out in public spaces (besides beaches, on the road, hikes or in parks) and the response can vary tremendously. Keep your dog near you and let people come to you if they are interested.
In my personal experience, many young children are also unaware of how to interact with dogs in Barbados, so they may squeal or pet your dog excitedly, without realising that it may startle or scare your dog. If children seem excited to engage with your dog, always keep an eye on them and try to guide them on how best to interact with your dog.
Never leave your dog unattended. While it’s common to see dogs tied outside of a supermarket or store in other countries, I do not recommend that you do this in Barbados.
When out in public, don’t assume that other dogs are socialised, and always speak to the owner before allowing the dogs to greet each other.
Without further ado, here are the best dog friendly places in Barbados (in no particular order):
The Restaurant at the Animal Flower Cave
Always Summer (located in Limegrove Lifestyle Centre)
Copacabana (on the beach)
Sea Shed (On the beach)
Ju Ju’s beach bar (on the beach)
Hikes with Canine Camp Barbados
Barbados Cruising Club (On the beach)
Outpost (on the beach)
Lobster Alive (on the beach)
Baby Doll Restaurant on Hastings Board Walk (I don’t know whether the boardwalk itself is dog friendly so please be mindful of that)
The Park Cafe, Peronne Village
Are there any more dog friendly places in Barbados that I may have missed? Let me know!
Animal Welfare and Activist Groups that you can support in Barbados
Please consider lending you weight and support behind the following animal rights and welfare groups in Barbados:
The African Green Monkey Project is planting fruit trees across the island, as part of an ongoing project initiated by Karen Howard-Tripp.
Woodbourne Kennels
Action For Animals Barbados petitions for animal rights in Barbados.
