DOTTIE, A CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL, IS THE UNOFFICIAL MASCOT OF HOUND HAUS, A NEW COFFEE HOUSE, BAR, COWORKING SPACE AND DOG PARK THAT OPENED IN EAST LIBERTY ON JUNE 7, 2025. | PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GIANNI

Pittsburgh’s pup scene is off the leash.

Hound Haus opened in East Liberty earlier this month, bringing yet another space for brews and barks to Pittsburgh.

Stretching across more than 10,000 square feet at the former Zeke’s Coffee spot at 6314 Broad St., the venue offers a coffee shop and bar, coworking space and dog park, so you and your four-legged friends can fetch a drink together.

As Pittsburgh’s dog-friendly bar scene continues to grow, co-owner Tom Lafe says he opened Hound Haus with his wife, Danielle, to create a space that extends beyond just a bar.

“I love the idea of an all-day cafe and bar,” Tom says. “Personally, that’s kind of where I would want to hang out, to get a coffee in the morning and then get a beer in the afternoon or evening. I tried to create a place where I would like to spend time, I guess selfishly, and, you know, obviously bring my dog too.”

The all-day cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday serving cocktails, beer, wine, Commonplace Coffee and selection of snacks from local vendors.

Hound Haus’ ample seating and free Wi-Fi- turns every day into a take-your-dog-to-work day. And the couple’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dottie, serves as the unofficial mascot of the place.

THE OUTSIDE OF HOUND HAUS IN EAST LIBERTY | PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GIANNI

Along with their opening, Hound Haus is launching “Yappy Hour” with discounted sangria, drafts and cold brew on Saturdays and Sundays this June and July.

While Hound Haus is free and open for humans, dogs must have a membership and be up to date on their vaccinations for entry.

Hound Haus offers day passes for those who just want to sniff it out and both monthly and annual memberships for those who are paw-sitively sold on the concept. The day passes go for $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends. The monthly membership is $50 and the yearly pass is $350, with a 50% discount on a second dog if enrolled.

Dogs can roam free in the indoor and outdoor off-leash areas, and thanks to the employed “houndskeepers” who help look after the pups, pet owners can socialize or get some work done without having their eyes glued to their pooch.

Lafe added that anyone is welcome at Hound Haus, and it is not exclusive to people with dogs – he’d just recommend that visitors consider themselves to be dog lovers.

“We’re really just wanting to make sure that people and their dogs are having a safe place to interact,” said Barbara Moore, head of dog operations at Hound Haus. “I mean, everyone who brings their dog here wants the same thing, right? Safe and fun and clean, the whole nine yards.”

But Hound Haus isn’t the only option in Pittsburgh to get your fix of pups and pints. Last fall, Dog Penn opened with a similar concept in the Strip District. Owners Alissa and Travis May opened the bar to create a dog-friendly space in the ‘Burgh. They were living in Alaska and first started seeing them in Seattle on their drive to Pittsburgh, and realized that there were none in the Steel City.

Like Hound Haus, Dog Penn requires that pets are registered to confirm they have the appropriate vaccinations. It offers day passes and membership options for entry.

THE OUTSIDE YARD AT THE DOG PENN IN THE STRIP DISTRICT | PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GIANNI

The dog park and bar shares a menu of beer, wine and dog-themed cocktails so visitors can lap up their pick between options like the Frenchie 412 or Aperol Sniff. The Dog Penn also regularly hosts events including drag brunch, goat yoga and breed meetups, which have helped spread the word about the bar, Alissa says.

She explains that she has been able to create a community of people who come to hang out with their pups at the Dog Penn since their opening in October, and she hopes it will continue to grow.

“I think we have a solid dog foundation, but we want to get it out there too that we’re a bar, just to meet people and hang out,” Alissa says. “You definitely don’t need a dog. There’ll be dogs here, you know, but you can be inside too.”

Dog or no dog, the space is open to guests 21 and over and is closed on Tuesdays.

While Hound Haus and Dog Penn are the only private dog park-like spaces in Pittsburgh so far, here’s a sampling of other dog-friendly spots where your furry friend can join you for a drink:

Pub in the Park in Swissvale welcomes leashed dogs outside on their patio. The neighborhood Irish pub is located just outside of Swisshelm Park, so you and your pup can take a stroll through the park before setting up for brews and a bite.

Situated in the North Side, Allegheny City Brewing is not only dog-friendly, but it has a whole wall dedicated to photos of their four-legged patrons. Dogs are invited to hang out in their side yard, and owners are encouraged to bring along their favorite flick of their pup to hang up inside.

Trace Brewing is an ideal spot to visit when the weather’s unpredictable; the Bloomfield brewery allows leashed dogs in both their indoor taproom and outdoor beer garden.

Grist House Craft Brewery in Millvale welcomes everyone to their brewery – dogs included. With 13 craft beers rotating on tap and food trucks parked outside, you can bring along your pooch as you hang in the outdoor areas.

Acclamation Brewing in Verona similarly opens its outdoor spaces to furry friends. Pets can set up with you by the picnic tables along the Allegheny River while you take your pick of one of their 19 drafts.

With 11 dog-themed beers on tap, Leaning Cask Brewing Company in Springdale allows pups to hang out in their bar and outside on their patio – and it even has a restroom inside dedicated to dogs. Choose between drafts like the Goldendoodle British Golden Ale or the Double Chocolate Lab Stout

With the dog days of summer around the corner, consider grabbing Fido and checking out Pittsburgh’s ever-growing pet-friendly scene.