Every year about 30,000 people decide to call Music City home. You’ll see plenty of country music hopefuls carrying their guitars and aspiring for a slot at the Bluebird Café. But there’s a lot more to Nashville than just country music. The city is also an amazing place to live in when you have pets!

No matter if you reside in Germantown, on Music Row, or in the suburbs, you’ll find an abundance of services, facilities, and venues that are dedicated to pets in every part of the town. The capital city is also chock-full of pet-friendly cultural activities, like Barktoberfest in the fall and DogFest Nashville in the spring. The annual Dog Day Festival supports the Nashville Humane Association as a fundraiser.

For residents and visitors alike, we’ve uncovered some of the best pet-friendly hotspots in Nashville to keep your furry pals happy, healthy, and entertained:  

Live: Pet-Friendly Apartment Communities in Nashville

Nashville’s laid-back, friendly vibe embraces four-legged residents, who are welcome at a remarkable number of rental establishments in town. There are thousands of pet-friendly apartments in Nashville boasting special amenities for cats and dogs. Each community requires certain pet fees and enforces regulations to ensure that all residents can safely enjoy social functions.

Dogs love meeting friends for a quick sniff at the dog park of the Rivertop community, which offers a stunning view of the downtown skyline less than ten miles away. If you’re looking for your next rental apartment, join the residents and their pets who love to explore the 50-acre property, boasting nearly two miles of paved nature trails. You’ll meet new friends along the boardwalk of the Cumberland River where you can dip in your paws with a kayak, paddleboard, or canoe. Afterward, treat your fluffy friend to a restorative bath and grooming session at the on-site pet spa while you enjoy the perks of living with community-wide WiFi access and integrated smart home technology.

Photos: @thegriffapartments

Artists and their animals will love how the industrial history of Nashville’s Germantown is preserved in the bold works of art and culture at The Griff. With amenities like an enclosed dog park and a paw spa, you’ll find a community of people passionate about their pets. Perched on a bluff alongside the Cumberland River, the apartments directly connect to the local greenway with miles of biking and jogging trails to explore. You’ll love the convenience of being close to the First Tennessee Park for the annual Bark in the Park where local doggos will have a field day cheering on the Nashville Sounds.

Work: Pet-Friendly Co-Working Spaces

Nashville is home to several spots that allow you to indulge your creative side without leaving your best furry friend behind. As the gig economy becomes more popular, co-working spaces are the place to go to meet other creative people and collaborate for better results. When you need a place to get some work done that is Fido-friendly, consider a space where you can indulge in some social time and join forces with others.

Photos: @forthouston

Bring your dog to work day is every day for sociable, friendly pets at Fort Houston. Makers of all ages and backgrounds can connect to spark creativity, learn from experts, and get affordable access to professional tools and equipment. Whether your passion is photography, metalworking, or woodworking, you’ll find other creative people here to boost your artistic spirit.

If a quiet space is more your thing, reserve a closed-door office big enough for two people at Launch Pad. You’ll enjoy this more private creative co-working space in a beautifully renovated building with views of historic downtown. Pets are welcome with a strictly enforced pet policy that keeps everyone friendly and healthy. As long as your companion is housebroken, reasonably quiet, clean and healthy and you’re a responsible owner, you’ll both be welcome.

Care: Pet Services

Are you looking for the perfect day-care, boutique, or spa for your four-pawed pal? Look no further. Nashville is chock-full of pet-pampering spots to fulfill every pet need they might have.

Photos: @wagsandwhiskersnashville

Get your pooch spruced up for a special occasion at Wags and Whiskers in the DIY dog wash stations. Grab a get-well package for a friend, or indulge in a new outfit, bed, or holistic treat while you’re there, and you’ll see why this local pet-shop has won the Nashville Scene Reader's Poll every year since 2008.

You’ll also love the pamper packages available at The Dog Spot where you can book a one-day playdate or an overnight stay. Hillcrest Kennel caters to the special needs of older, smaller dogs and those who need expert care and a tender touch.

If you need after-hours emergency vet care, look no further than the original emergency vet in town. Nashville Pet Emergency was founded in 1976 and continues to provide the best urgent care services in town for sick or injured animals.  

Play Indoors: Pet-Friendly Coffee Shops and Restaurants

If you love to kick off your weekend with a hot cup of coffee, you don’t have to leave your furry friends at home! Nashville is thriving with pooch-friendly patios that will welcome you and Duke for a cup of Joe.

Indulge your caffeine fix on your way to throw a Frisbee with Coco at Riverfront Park. Stop in for a treat at Crema for a light and airy atmosphere with really good coffee. Afterward, enjoy a stroll down the Nashville Riverfront with your pawed pal as you pass fountains, piers, and play spaces with great views of the Cumberland River, the Adelphia Coliseum, and Fort Nashborough.

Photos: @fidonashville

You won’t want to miss a leashed stroll down the streets of Music Row with a chance for your pooch to see RCA’s mascot, Nipper. And what better place to take your puppy pal than one called Fido for a treat? If the name wasn’t enough of a clue, the popular coffeehouse and casual restaurant is a big supporter of the man’s best friend, even donating a portion of their proceeds to dogs in need. You can’t go wrong choosing from the full menu of regionally produced food and a variety of coffee drinks – it’s all good.

If you don’t have a pet but love animal company, you should pay a visit to Mewsic Kitty Café. Cats are king in this fun cat café, where you can enjoy a delicious hot or cold beverage and indulge your sweet tooth in a pastry while meeting some “mew” friends. You can’t bring your own kitty even if you have one, though, but there are plenty of others here to keep you entertained.  

Play Outdoors: Dog Parks

Every public park in metro Nashville allows leashed pets, but there are also several off-leash dog parks with agility courses where your active animal will have a doggone good time. City regulations apply to aggressive animals, dogs in heat, and bar children under the age of 10 from entering the fenced area.  

Hang up your leash on a handy hook and enjoy a little freedom with your fluffy friend at Shelby Dog Park. The fenced-in area allows your pup to run about and make new friends. A basket of tennis balls is usually fully stocked for a great game of fetch with Fido. Just outside the fenced-in leash-free area, connect with the Shelby Park Greenway and take a splash in Lake Sevier or continue down the path to the shores of the Cumberland River.

Two Rivers Dog Park is also a popular pup destination on the weekends for Nashville residents. Covered picnic tables are the perfect place for you to rest while your doggo runs free in the fenced-in area and burns off the extra energy. A paved path circles the entire park when the stimulation of puppy pals becomes too much. Thirsty pups will be grateful for the paw-level drinking fountains inside the fenced park.

Visit: Pet-Friendly Hotels

No need for a cat-sitter or a dog-kennel for your four-legged friend. Enjoy upscale accommodations for you and your pooch when you visit Nashville.

Loews Hotels treat your pet like royalty with their Loews Loves Pets program. The service staff arranges for treats, bowls, and placemats for your critters. You can also get all the pet comforts of home by requesting beds, litter boxes, scratching posts, and toys for your pawed pals. Even the concierge will hook you up with the best routes for dog walking, gourmet room service for cats and dogs, and recommendations for local pet services. Check the hotel web page for details on policies and fees.

The Hermitage Hotel near the Capitol, convenient to downtown and the Riverfront, extends their five-star service to every guest with the Pampered Paws Program. The hotel staff showers your pet with all kinds of comforts. Amenities like specialty bed treats, and an in-room dining menu takes you beyond pet-friendly, while the pet-walking services put you in nirvana.

Now that you took a glimpse through the kaleidoscope of pet-friendly hotspots in town, make sure to bring your furry friends with you, wherever you go. Life is so much better with a pet by your side!

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Nicky Ludean, guest writer
Nicky is a Communications Specialist for RENTCafé.com, where she researches and writes about real estate, interior design, and all things that spark renters’ interests. She also handles content collaborations. When off work, Nicky keeps busy raising two tiny humans and day-dreaming about traveling the world.

Interested in being a guest writer? Please email us at info@thenashvilleguide.com.