Dog lovers can finally dine out with their four-legged companions on Thursday, when a decades-old ban on canines in restaurants came to an end.

More than 940 restaurants and cafés have completed the necessary licensing procedures to become dog-friendly. Among them are several major restaurant chains, including select branches of Café de Coral and McDonald’s.

According to official data, Wan Chai boasts the highest concentration of approved establishments, while the North District has the fewest participating venues.

At one approved café in Hung Hom, the new rules are already visibly in effect. A large poster issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) greeted customers at the entrance, and a dedicated trash bin was in placed outside for the disposal of dog waste.

Inside, the café has sectioned off a pet area at the back, complete with pee pads and wet wipes for added convenience.

Fong, the owner of Badgers Café, said her team has taken extra steps to ensure a smooth transition, which includes bringing in an additional staff member to help manage the new seating arrangements.

Calling the new arrangement a triple win for restaurants, owners and their four-legged friends, Fong is optimistic about its commercial impact.

She predicts the policy could boost her business by 30 to 50 percent.

"Many people like to go to the mainland on the weekends, but if we let customers know that they can now bring their dogs [to restaurants], they might choose to stay in Hong Kong for one or two weekends each month," she said.

"They might take their dogs to licensed restaurants to eat together, which might help the economy a bit."

At a participating restaurant in the West Kowloon Cultural District, the mood was equally buoyant among diners.

Wu, accompanied by his two Italian Greyhounds, said the change has made venturing out with his pets significantly easier, especially given the city's sweltering summer heat.

"We can come in, enjoy the air conditioning and sit comfortably indoors. We've never been able to do this before – we could only stay outside in the open areas," he said.

Reflecting on past frustrations, he recalled being turned away from bars along the Wan Chai waterfront.

"I was hoping things would change to how they are now. I'm really happy pets are suddenly allowed in restaurants. If the dogs are happy, we're happy, and we can all enjoy the moment together."

Another patron, Cindy, who brought her large dog, expressed delight over the change, as its implementation date fell on her birthday. Hoping the scheme will foster a more inclusive environment citywide, she emphasised the need for mutual respect.

"I think [this scheme] requires mutual respect. For example, when I take my dog out, I will make sure its behaviour is good," she said.

"I also believe that parents taking their kids out will make sure their children don't disturb the dogs because sometimes things go both ways."

To support businesses adapting to the change, the FEHD has deployed designated officers to visit each approved restaurant individually to help operators swiftly adapt to the new measures.

In addition, the department has assembled a dedicated 90-person task force to ramp up inspections during this initial adaptation period.

The team will assist the trade in navigating the relevant regulations and address operational queries, reinforcing compliance while the new policy takes effect.
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Last updated: 2026-07-09 HKT 15:59


Edited by Aaron Tam