Short answer: Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor, The Filling Station and The Little Fleet in Traverse City, Tupelo Honey in Grand Rapids and Stadt Garten in Detroit all say on their own sites that dogs are welcome on the patio.
Michigan has no law that allows dogs on restaurant patios, so each place needs a variance from its local health department. Patios are seasonal, and many close for winter.
Michigan does its best drinking outdoors in the short, bright summer. A beer garden in Grand Rapids, a trackside patio in Traverse City, a leashed walk to lunch on Mackinac Island.
We rewrote this guide in October 2026, and it changed more than most. Four places have closed, and Founders turned out to ban pet dogs from its beer garden. Every card now says where its dog policy comes from.
Grand Rapids
Harmony Brewing Company
Wood-fired pizzas like the Wedded Bliss, on a sunny patio.
Experience Grand Rapids lists its patio as dog-friendly, and it has hosted patio etiquette sessions for dogs and owners. Its own site doesn’t mention dogs.
Brewery Vivant
Duck nachos it calls famous, and a Nashville chicken sandwich.
Experience Grand Rapids lists a pet-friendly patio, and it has run “Dining with Your Dog” classes. Its own site doesn’t mention dogs.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
Mac and cheese waffles with Asheville hot fried chicken, from 8am daily.
Its page says: “Furry friends are welcome on the patio.”
Detroit
Batch Brewing Company
A covered patio and biergarten. Mondays bring a barbecue pop-up.
BringFido describes a dog-friendly patio. Its own site doesn’t mention dogs, so check before you go.
Atwater Brewery Tap House
Dirty Blonde wheat ale or the Vanilla Java Porter, open every day.
BringFido says dogs can join you on the sidewalk patio. We couldn’t confirm the rooftop biergarten.
Stadt Garten
A German-style beer and wine garden with snacks rather than full meals. A pretzel and a radler is the move.
Its site lists a “dog friendly patio”. It is seasonal.
Ann Arbor
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
The Black & Blue Burger, or pizza and cheese curds.
Its site welcomes dogs on the patio, weather permitting, with a “Pups on the Patio” menu. Part of each pup meal goes to the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
Traverse City
The Filling Station Microbrewery
Picnic tables by the tracks, the Stoker pizza and a Bullet Train Lager. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Its site says: “Children and well-behaved dogs welcome on the patio.”
The Little Fleet
A food truck lot and bar with cocktails and year-round Szechuan-inspired food from its in-house kitchen. Opens at 3pm.
Its site says: “Well-behaved pets on a leash are welcome on our outside patio.” Only service dogs go inside.
Mackinac Island
The Carriage House at Hotel Iroquois
Fresh whitefish on the patio. It is a summer property, so check dates late in the season.
The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau lists its patio among the island’s dog-friendly places to eat. The hotel site doesn’t mention dogs.
The tourism bureau names several other spots and says dogs must be leashed at all times. Look for a “Dogs Are Welcome” sticker on the door. Mission Point Resort’s restaurants accept service dogs only.
The rule for dogs on Michigan patios
Michigan’s food code bars animals other than service animals from food establishments, and there is no law carving out patios. A restaurant that wants dogs outside needs a variance from its local health department, and conditions vary by county.
Kent County, for example, requires dogs to be leashed and vaccinated, kept on the ground, and brought in from outside rather than through the dining room. Its guidance spells it out. A bill to allow patio dogs statewide, Senate Bill 200, had not become law as of October 2026.
What changed in this update
- The Green Well, Grand Rapids: closed in August 2025.
- Traffic Jam & Snug, Detroit: destroyed by fire in May 2022.
- Bobcat Bonnie's, Detroit: the Corktown restaurant closed in March 2025.
- Blue Tractor, Traverse City: closed in August 2025.
- Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids: removed: its own FAQ says pet dogs aren’t allowed in the beer garden.
- Mudgie's Deli and Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor: removed: no dog policy we could cite.
New this time: Tupelo Honey, Stadt Garten and The Little Fleet.
Before you go
Most of these patios are summer-only, and lake weather turns quickly. Call ahead from October on, and pack a towel for wet paws.
Planning a lake loop? Our road trip planner maps the stops.
Every listing was checked on 13 October 2026 against the restaurant’s own website, the local health department or the city’s tourism office, and each card says which. Patios and policies change with the seasons, so call ahead before you go. Here is how I make my guides.
