For the last three years, I’ve had the pleasure of attending an extraordinary French Bulldog Meetup in dog friendly Long Beach, California. The party takes place at Rosie’s Dog Beach, LA County’s ONLY beach where dogs are allowed off leash! The 3 acre stretch of white sand runs between Argonne and Roycroft Avenues in the Belmont Shore neighborhood. It is officially open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. There is ample metered parking in the lot located just off Ocean Boulevard.
Where to Eat
Long Beach has no shortage of restaurants that allow dogs on their patios. It is quite a bit more challenging to find one that will allow 20 dogs at once. After this year’s meetup, we gathered for lunch at Pier 76 Fish Grill. The downtown location has a large gated patio. Unfortunately, dogs have to be left outside while going inside to place and collect your order. It wasn’t a problem with a group, but, it would keep me from eating there without someone to sit with Louis.
The first two years I attended the California meetup we all went to lunch at dog friendly Claire’s at the Museum afterward. As you might have guessed Claire’s is located on the grounds of the Long Beach Museum of Art. Dogs are not allowed inside the Long Beach Museum but are welcome at Claire’s outdoor seating. The tables are in a large outdoor area with spectacular views of Catalina Island and the Queen Mary. It’s a lot slower than Pier 76 but, in my opinion, it’s worth the wait.
Where to Stay
Speaking of the Queen Mary, did you know that small dogs are allowed to spend the night in her historic staterooms? When I visited Long Beach in 2015, I stayed there with my 14-year-old Frenchie, Tara. The dog friendly Hotel Queen Mary – Long Beach, allows one pet per room for an additional charge of $75. I recommend asking for a room near the elevator, so it’s easier to bring your pup outside. The halls are very long!
This year Louis and I chose to stay at the Long Beach Hotel Current, a motel style property with dog friendly rooms on the ground floor. They allow two pups per room for an additional charge of $50 per pet, per stay. Behind the hotel, there is a pleasant residential neighborhood for short walks. A fenced dog park can is within the vast “Recreation Park” located on the other side of Pacific Coast Highway.
Dog Friendly Shopping
We spent several nights at the Hotel Current while we visited with local friends. One of our favorite activities was going to the dog friendly Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach. Many of the stores and restaurant patios welcome dogs. We enjoyed a healthy (and surprisingly delicious) lunch at True Food Kitchen.
For more dog friendly shopping and dining in Long Beach, Louis recommends 2nd Street in the Belmont Shores. There is a lot for a dog to love in Long Beach. Â We’ll be back next year for sure!
More California Posts:
- LA County – Sunset Tower Hotel, Chateau Marmont, Santa Monica & Venice, Long Beach
- Orange County – Huntington Beach, Newport Beach & Balboa Island
- Riverside County – Palm Springs
- San Diego County – Hotel Del Coronado
- Humboldt County – Redwoods
- Transportation: CA Highway 1, JSX Airlines
