Take Your Best Friend to This Dog-Park Bar

Dog owners are often faced with a tough question in their free time: Do I stay in with my pup or go out with my friends? At Taps & Tails, you don’t have to make that choice. 

Nestled in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, this dog-park bar offers an opportunity to socialize your dog and yourself. The spot has a total of 9,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for pets and includes a full-service bar for owners. 

Co-owners Eric and Lisa Hollender were raising their high-energy puppy in the winter of 2017 and saw the need for a space that dogs and owners alike could interact in, especially for those living in the city. 

“I tell people: Think of this as your yard,” Eric says.

The outdoor area is fenced in and turfed, providing plenty of space for play. An outdoor patio deck connects to the bar, and seats with tables and umbrellas line the yard. 

For the Hollanders, safety is a top priority. To visit Taps & Tails, dogs must be registered in advance with records of their vaccines. All dogs six months or older must be spayed or neutered prior to visiting. 

“We want to make sure that our reputation is upheld as far as safety, moreso than anything else,” Eric says. 

Whether patrons are sitting in the indoor or outdoor areas, a server stops by to take their order and deliver drinks, so dog owners can focus on their pups.

The drink menu changes four times a year and presents dog-themed cocktails like the floral and refreshing Frenchie 75 (gin, lavender, lemon and champagne). Or try the bar’s twist on the classic Old Fashioned with the Old Dog, New Trick, which combines Bulleit Bourbon with smoked brown sugar and bitters. 

Wines and beer in cans or bottles are available, as are a selection of draft beers that includes a collaboration between Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Taps & Tails called No Dog Left Behind IPA. A portion of proceeds from the sales of this beer goes toward supporting local dog shelters. 

Taps & Tails also offers a small menu of classic bar snacks like fried pickles, tater tots and pretzel bites. Don’t have a dog? Don’t worry, you are still welcome to stop by.  

“If you love dogs, if you love the company of dogs, you can come and still hang out and just enjoy watching them play,” Eric says. “And you get to know them. It’s fun.”  

1901 Train Ave., Cleveland 44113, 216/417-7384, tapsandtailsdogbar.com

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