Ah, the big apple. It’s one of our favorite places for being immersed in the hustle and bustle of city living and indulging in endless amounts of delicious food.

While I was in school, I really thought I wanted to move to Manhattan for a few years. These days, I’m glad I went with the slower-paced living of Southern California, but we still love hopping on a plane and crossing the country for a few days of fun in New York.

NYC isn’t known for being very dog-friendly, but it is possible to enjoy your trip with your fluffy sidekicks in tow. Today we’re sharing some tips from our experiences traveling to New York with Kokoro and Chibi.

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Getting there

Since we’re too far to drive, we fly with our dogs in-cabin. Read our tips on how to fly with your dog domestically in the U.S.

We’ve had no problems with flying Southwest, Spirit, and JetBlue with our dogs in the past. JetBlue is based out of New York and is our airline of choice for flying there. You can also fly Spirit to Laguardia (LGA) on a budget, but my recommendation for a nicer travel experience is to fly JetBlue to JFK.

Another perk of flying JetBlue to JFK is that they have a doggy relief area just outside of baggage claim. Once we deplane, we head there first and let the pups relieve themselves in the fenced, outdoor dirt area. If you choose to grab an Uber into the city from the airport, the pickup area is conveniently located right next to the pet relief area.

Where to stay

Luckily, there are quite a few pet-friendly hotels to choose from. We’ve stayed at both Kimpton and Affinia hotels in the city with the dogs.

Kimpton Hotel Eventi

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Located in midtown, Hotel Eventi is the inaugural hotel of the popular pet-friendly Kimpton chain. Rates tend to be a little on the higher side, but staying here will definitely be a five star experience. However, the restaurants located near the lobby are service dogs only. You can order food to-go and eat with your pup anywhere in the lobby. Or, the third floor has some nice seating and is usually pretty empty unless the daily happy hour is happening. Hotel Eventi also offers a dog-walking service if for some reason your pup needs to stay behind and needs a potty break while you’re away.

Kimpton Muse Hotel

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If you’re looking for more of a tourist experience, this hotel is nestled in the heart of Time’s Square. It’s not quite as high-end as Hotel Eventi, but you’ll find a better rate and the stay is just as clean and comfortable.

Affinia’s Shelburne Hotel

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This option is great if you’re looking for a comfortable stay on a budget. Conveniently located just steps away from Grand Central station and equipped with views of the Empire State Building, the Shelburne Hotel is located in Murray Hill. The staff is extremely friendly and loves dogs. They don’t mind if you need to leave your well-behaved pup unattended for a few hours, which is something that is hard to come by with pet-friendly hotels!

Getting around the city

Coming from LA where it’s relatively dog-friendly and people are accustomed to driving around with their dogs, we were surprised to discover that rideshare services like Ubers/Lyfts are not very accommodating for those traveling with pets. Most of our drivers would cancel on us upon asking about riding with a dog.

It might be a little more cumbersome to take the subway, but it’s a reliable way to get around with your pup.

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Photos courtesy of @pavlovthecorgi

If your dog is small enough, putting them into a bag or backpack and hopping on the subway is probably the best way to get around. No need to wait around for a car to maneuver through traffic and maybe pick up you and your four-legged friend.

What to do

Brooklyn Bridge

Take a walk across the bridge with your dog. Make sure to stay on the walking side and keep an eye out for speedy bikers riding by. The Brooklyn Bridge Park is another great place to take your pup for an on-leash walk and enjoy the Manhattan skyline from across the river.

Oculus at The World Trade Center

This architectural marvel is really a train station, plaza, and shopping mall. Dogs are allowed on-leash in the mall if you fancy going shopping while in the city. Don’t forget to snap a few pics while you’re at it!

Central Park

Take a walk through the iconic and expansive park! Dogs must be leashed, but there is plenty of space to stroll about the windy paths and enjoy the views of the city.

Madison Square Park Dog Run

Located centrally (and conveniently close to the Kimpton Eventi Hotel if you choose to stay there), this dog run is divided into two sides. The small dog side is quite small, but the option is there if your pup prefers not to tussle with bigger dogs. We’ve met up with many pups here in the past and, if your dog is the type that does well at an off-leash dog park, he is bound to have a good time.

Boris & Horton Cafe

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A dog-friendly cafe? Yes please! Boris & Horton is the first and only dog-friendly food establishment in Manhattan. There are two sides to the cafe, so make sure to enter with your dog on the side that’s open to fluffy pups. Dogs are free to be off-leash inside the cafe and you can order food, drinks, and hang out with man’s best friend!

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That does it for our quick guide on visiting New York City with your pups. It can be a little tricky to navigate where you can bring your dog and where you can’t, but as long as you set out with a plan, your trip should go off without a hitch. Have a specific question? Feel free to drop me a line in the comments or send me a DM on Instagram. And don’t forget to snap some photos of the iconic skyline![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]