The wait is over: Hong Kong dog owners can finally bring their pets out for a meal! The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has announced that from 9 July 2026, dogs will be allowed into 1,000 approved restaurants (946 for the time being). This article rounds up the latest list of Hong Kong restaurants that allow dogs, the key points of the new arrangement, what you need to know when dining with your dog, and the outing supplies to prepare beforehand, so that your first restaurant date with your pet is relaxed and worry-free.
1. The new arrangement at a glance: when does it start? How many restaurants?
On 9 July 2026 the FEHD announced the quota of restaurants allowed to admit dogs, covering all districts across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Here are the points dog owners care about most:
- Effective date: from 9 July 2026, approved restaurants may begin admitting dogs.
- Quota: 1,000 restaurants drawn in the ballot, with the remaining applications placed on a waiting list.
- Background to the ballot: the FEHD accepted applications from 18 May to 8 June and received 2,205 in total. After verification, an open ballot was held for the remaining 1,616 eligible applications.
Tip: restaurants operating mainly as hot pot or barbecue venues are not eligible, so these will not appear on the list for now.
2. How do you spot a “dog-friendly restaurant”?
Once an applicant has completed the procedures and been formally approved, it will be issued a designated A3-sized notice. From 9 July, approved restaurants must display this notice at all times in a conspicuous spot at the main entrance, so that the public can identify them easily.
In other words, next time you pass a restaurant and see the official FEHD notice, you will know you can bring your dog inside. If you are not sure, you can also check the official list section below.
3. Approved restaurant list section
📋 The official list is coming soon. The list below has been compiled by BC Pets from the FEHD ballot results of 9 July 2026 and publicly available online information. The FEHD’s official list of approved restaurants always prevails. Some details may change, so please confirm with the restaurant before you visit:
Dog-Friendly Restaurant Finder
FEHD list of food premises permitted to allow dogs | Filter by region or district, or search by restaurant name or address. Names and addresses are shown in Chinese exactly as published by the FEHD, so you can show them to a driver.
| Region | District | Restaurant | Address |
|---|
Disclaimer: this list has been compiled from publicly available online information from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) dated 9 July 2026. It is for reference only and may not be completely accurate. The final list of approved restaurants is subject to the FEHD’s official announcement, so please confirm again with the restaurant before you visit.
👉 You can also visit the FEHD’s dedicated web page directly:
FEHD “Permission for Dogs to be Kept in Food Business Premises” web page
4. Dining with your dog: be a considerate owner
The FEHD has published the Good Practice and Behaviour Guidelines for Dog-Friendly Restaurants (Customers with Dogs). Below we have summarised the most important points, because good preparation is what makes “mutual respect and harmony between people and pets” possible.
1. Before you leave home
- Make sure your dog meets the legal requirements: vaccinated and microchipped in accordance with the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421), and holding a valid dog licence. Owners can log in to the AFCD website with iAM Smart to view and show the electronic licence.
- Health comes first: deworming and flea prevention done, coat clean. If your dog is unwell or you suspect an infectious disease, do not take it to a restaurant.
- Assess its mood: if your dog is clearly aggressive or anxious, do not force it to go out that day.
- Bring your own items: dog food, bowls and utensils, cleaning supplies, plus a pet mat or pee pad.
2. Keeping proper control inside the restaurant
- Your dog must be kept on a leash no longer than 1.5 metres, held securely by an adult or firmly tied to a fixed attachment. Under no circumstances may the leash be handed to a minor.
- Even if your dog is placed in a pet carrier bag or a pet stroller, it still has to be on a leash.
- Restaurants must not let dogs onto the dining tables or allow them to use the restaurant’s reusable tableware. If you want to feed your dog, bring its own food, drinks and bowls.
- Settle your dog in a suitable spot where it does not block aisles, fire escape routes or emergency exits, and keep it out of the kitchen and food preparation areas.
- Be mindful of the diners around you. If people at your table or nearby are uneasy about where the dog is, move it back down to the floor.
3. Keeping the place clean
- If your dog relieves itself or makes a mess inside the premises, you should clean it up immediately and dispose of the waste properly, then inform staff so they can check and disinfect the area. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Some restaurants may charge a cleaning fee, so it is best to read the venue’s customer notice before you visit.
4. Respect each restaurant’s own house rules
Restaurants may set their own rules based on their layout and staffing, including whether dogs may sit on chairs and whether a muzzle is required. Diners with dogs should understand and respect these rules, and restaurants have the right to refuse entry to dogs that do not comply.
▶ Read the FEHD’s full Good Behaviour Guidelines for Customers with Dogs
5. Your first restaurant date: the outing checklist
To make sure you and your pet enjoy the meal and stay within the rules, get your gear ready before you head out. BC Pets has put together a “dining-out kit for dogs“, all available in our shops and online store. Spend HK$350 or more and enjoy free delivery across Hong Kong, with genuine Hong Kong retail products guaranteed.
- Leash (within 1.5 m): meets the legal requirement and is easy for an adult to control. ▶ Shop leashes
- Pet carrier bag / backpack: handy for small dogs on public transport and before and after entering a shop. ▶ Shop carrier bags
- Pet stroller: a great help for longer outings and senior dogs (remember to keep the leash on too). ▶ Shop strollers
- Pet mat / pee pad: lay it where your dog sits or lies down to keep things hygienic and easy to clean. ▶ Shop mats and pee pads
- Travel water bottle / collapsible bowl: top up water any time, and bringing your own bowls is more hygienic. ▶ Shop bottles and bowls
- Muzzle: to be worn depending on your dog’s temperament and the restaurant’s requirements.
- Cleaning supplies (poop bags / wet wipes / disinfectant): clean up waste straight away and be a responsible owner. ▶ Shop cleaning supplies
🐾 One-stop shopping for BC Pets outing supplies
From leashes and carrier bags to cleaning supplies, get all your pet’s outing gear in one go.
▶ Browse the BC Pets outing supplies section now
Free delivery across Hong Kong on orders over HK$350 | Genuine Hong Kong retail products guaranteed
6. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q1: When can dogs start going into restaurants?
From 9 July 2026. Before that date, restaurants still cannot admit dogs apart from guide dogs and working dogs.
Q2: How many dog-friendly restaurants are there in Hong Kong?
There are 1,000 restaurants drawn in the ballot, covering all districts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The full list was published on the FEHD’s dedicated web page in July.
Q3: How can I tell whether a restaurant is dog-friendly?
Look for the designated A3 notice issued by the FEHD at the restaurant’s main entrance. You can also check the official list of approved restaurants.
Q4: Can every dog go into a restaurant?
Dogs must meet the requirements of the Rabies Ordinance (vaccinated, microchipped and holding a valid licence). Restaurants have the right to ask to see the licence for verification, and may also ask whether the dog is a “known dangerous dog” or a “fighting dog”. If the licence cannot be produced, the restaurant has the right to refuse entry.
Q5: What should I bring when taking my dog to a restaurant?
A leash within 1.5 m, a valid licence, dog food and bowls, a pet mat or pee pad, and cleaning supplies. Depending on your dog and the restaurant’s requirements, you may also need a muzzle.
Welcoming a new era of harmony between people and pets
This measure is an important step towards “harmony between people and pets” in Hong Kong. As long as owners prepare properly and respect restaurant rules and other diners, they can enjoy many more good times with their pets. Do bookmark this page: we will update it as soon as the list of approved restaurants is published. Stay tuned!
Source: press releases and dedicated web pages of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), information as at 12 July 2026. Actual arrangements are subject to the FEHD’s official announcements.
