Our pick of London's best dog-friendly speciality coffee shops

Dogs are family and family means nobody gets left behind... or, as so often seems to happen these days, tied up outside while one half of the duo dips into a coffee shop to get their daily caffeine fix. Which, we're sure you'd agree, is always a sad sight. No one likes to see a poor pupper gazing through the window as its human orders a flat white and croissant and doesn't even consider hunting down a treat for the humble hound waiting ever so patiently for its walk to recommence.

We don't think any dog should be abandoned out in the cold – free to be petted by any old stranger walking by – which is why we've sniffed out some of London's best pro-pooch coffee spots and spilled the beans on where to go and what to order while you're there.

Of course, these aren't any old coffee shops. You're much better than that and we know it. These are speciality coffee shops where they care as much about the provenance and quality of their coffee as they'd care for your canine should it come snuffling through the door in search of a sunlit stretch of floor and cool water bowl. Now, what are you waiting for? Go and get it.

ABUELO

26 Southampton Street, WC2E 7RS

Originally hailing from Australia, Abuelo is the first London outpost of Zigolini's and of Trazini's, a series of coffee houses across Sydney and Melbourne. Run by mother and daughter duo Lynette and Cloe de la Vega, the family brought Abuelo to Covent Garden last year and their resident Groodle (or assistant brand manager) Annie made the move with them. This friendly golden retriever and poodle-cross can often be spotted hanging out at the Antipodean by-way-of South America café taking in the sights and smells of all the Aussie brunch dishes and freshly roasted, single origin South American arabica beans. Pats are encouraged and other dogs are, apparently, welcome to join in on the people watching, too.

020 7836 8476; abuelocafe.co.uk

Watch House Coffee

Various locations

You can always catch at least one or two good boys pottering around Watch House Coffee. This coffee house and café has welcomed dogs since day one and word on the street is that one of the staff members even brings their own pup into work sometimes, too. There's free dog biscuits for your furry friends and some of the best floofs make their way onto the Watch House Coffee Instagram, but to really get a feel for how lovely this pooch-friendly spot is then we'd thoroughly recommend popping down to one of Watch House Coffee's three central London cafés. If you're after a bite to eat, then the Tower Bridge café is your best bet. All polished concrete, carved wood and warm pendant lighting, Watch House Tower Bridge occupies the site of an old spice factory in the Cardamom Building on 31 Shad Thames. Order anything egg-related and you're on to a winner. Oh, and as for that coffee you are 100% going to enjoy alongside? Well, it's guaranteed to be pulled from beans roasted by fellow pro-pup people Ozone Coffee. High-paw to that.

020 7407 6431; thewatchhouse.com

Ozone Coffee

11 Leonard Street, EC2A 4AQ

Dogs are a human's best friend and this East London roastery and coffee bar has been making friends since 2018 (or 1998 for those familiar with its sister brand in New Zealand). Ozone can't claim to have a resident doggo, but Pushkin the basset hound has visited most days since he was a pupper and that's close enough. But it's not all about the dog-spotting opportunities. Ozone also roasts all its own coffee and its food menus are curated with sustainability in mind – think seasonal ingredients, fermented veg and produce sourced from social enterprises such as Foodism 100 shortlisters The Dusty Knuckle Bakery.

020 7490 1039; ozonecoffee.co.uk

Burr & Co

Corner of Russell Square and Bernard Street, WC1B 5BE

Burr & Co. might be part of the landmark Kimpton Fitzroy hotel, but that doesn't mean those who can only dream of one day spending the night at this 19th century beauty aren't welcome. Oh no. The doors of this bright and breezy sun-drenched café are open to all – even your furry friends. With Caravan Coffee behind the bar and wine on tap, this Bloomsbury café makes the transition from weekday work space (with free wifi, nonetheless) to late night small plate spot seem effortless. Plus, should your pup need to stretch its legs, the grassy expanse of Russell Square is just a short trot over the road.

020 7520 1808; theburrandco.co.uk

Wired Co. London

194 Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 3AY

West Hampstead is practically canine central. There are so many pretty pooches pottering around, your risk of whiplash from spinning left to right to try to take them all in basically doubles (or so we guess). Unfortunately, a cricked neck makes bowing your head to your cup of java pretty tricky, so avoid injuring yourself by settling for a seat at Wired Co. where there's seasonal single-origin coffee from East London artisan roasters Climpson & Sons and plenty of dog-spotting opportunities to get you through the day. N.B. Its sister café, Cable Co. in Kensal Rise, is equally well stocked on the quality coffee and pupper front, too. Thank us later, yeah?

07444 421087; wiredco.london

Gentlemen Baristas

Various Locations

Some people are cat people, some people are dog people, and some people – like Gentlemen Baristas – are both. The Gentlemen Baristas' roastery in Shadwell is home to Beanie the cat, a well-mannered puss who lends a helping hand with operations by taking long naps on the empty burlap sacks and keeping owners Ed Parkes and Henry Ayers company while they call in their beans from as far and wide as Honduras and Nicaragua. But head out to one of their many cafés and you'll spot many a friendly dog hanging around, too.

@thegentlemenbaristas; thegentlemenbaristas.com

Jonestown Coffee

215 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6BS

While you might spot a pug or two snuffling around, you certainly won't find any pug-kin spiced lattes at this canine-friendly spot in Bethnal Green. Like any speciality coffee shop worth its weight in beans, Jonestown Coffee takes its coffee extremely seriously. Forget about the hipster, caffeine-fuelled Google trends list you might find around town, this is coffee done simple and coffee done well. Jonestown's single origin, organic arabica beans are grown in volcanic soils under the shady rainforest canopy of the Purosa region in eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea and sourced solely from Fair Trade growers owner Adrian Jones has visited himself. The result is a well-balanced shot that's bright and delicately sweet – perfect fuel for a day of dog walking (or spotting), if you ask us.

020 7739 7476; jonestown.co.uk