While Johannesburg has solidified itself as an entertainment hotspot for people throughout Gauteng and beyond, the city hasn’t forgotten about our furry friends either. There are plenty of pet-friendly venues in Joburg, from markets to restaurants and parks alike.
But, as any pet owner knows, your furry pals also need to be kept in great health to be able to truly enjoy these wonderful pet-friendly offerings across the city, and for that, MedicalAid.com is here to help. This in-depth pet insurance aggregator and comparison tool gives you peace of mind when it comes to pet insurance and safety in South Africa.
Syringa Park
Leashes required: Yes
Syringa Park at Avianto Estate is a sprawling outdoor nature venue in Muldersdrift that comes packed with activities for all ages (and species!).
Bring your dogs along and take them on a walk or a run through the beautiful park venue. Visitors are kindly reminded to clean up after their pets.
When: Wednesday, 12pm to 7pm. Friday, 12pm to 9pm. Saturday, 9am to 9pm. Sunday, 9am to 7pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Where: Syringa Park, Avianto Estate, Muldersdrift
Website: syringapark.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 025 8956
The Whippet Coffee
Leashes required: Yes
Rated among the Top 100 Best Coffee Shops in the World in 2025, The Whippet is a must-visit spot for a warm cuppa paired with a delicious pastry or a light meal. The cosy cafe spot also encourages pet owners to bring their pets along, even offering them a complimentary biscuit.
When: Monday to Thursday from 7am to 4pm. Friday from 7am to 5pm. Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm
Where: The Whippet in Linden, 34 7th St, Linden, Randburg
Website: thewhippetcoffee.com | Tel: 079 711 5604
Ground Café
Leashes Required: Yes
Ground Café is one of the many offerings at GROUND The Venue, a natural scenic location in Muldersdrift that offers hiking and running trails, restaurants, spaces perfect for hosting your dream wedding, and more.
With a cosy indoor area that opens onto a veranda flowing into the greenery, Ground Café is a perfect spot to relax and enjoy with your loved ones. The cafe encourages pet owners to bring their fur babies along for a delicious beef mince or liver snack, and a pupp-acino.
When: Wednesday to Sunday. 8am to 4pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Where: Ground Café, Plot 19 Driefontein Road, Muldersdrift
Website: groundthevenue.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 063 296 2274
Walkhaven Dog Park
Leashes Required: No. Dogs can play freely within the fenced park area.
Just a tail’s wag from the Cradle of Humankind in beautiful Muldersdrift, Walkhaven sprawls across 22 hectares of rolling green grass, shady trees, and doggie dreams come true.
Bring your pets along to mingle with other pets, enjoy a picnic with their owners, swim in the lake, or, for the more active canine companions, enjoy a hiking trail.
Cost: R55pp | R40pp (children and pensioners)
When: Daily, 7am to 5.30pm
Where: Walkhaven Dog Park, Plot 77, Walkhaven Farm, M5, Zwartkop, Johannesburg
Website: walkhaven.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 071 212 9955
James and Ethel Gray Park
Leashes Required: Not always. There are off-leash areas in the park, but be prepared by bringing a leash along for other areas.
This park was named after former Johannesburg mayor in 1946, James Gray, and his wife Ethel, and is a 36-hectare former bird sanctuary with a lake, city views, and a large, grassy field for sports and dogs.
Kick back and spread out on the rolling hills, take in the stunning city views from a lookout point, or enjoy one of the many walkways with your pets.
Cost: Free entry
When: Open daily from 6am to 6pm
Where: James and Ethel Gray Park, Edgewood Avenue &, Melrose St, Melrose, Johannesburg
Website: jamesandethelgrayparkfoundation.org | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 435 4727
Delta Cafe and Don Quixote
Leashes required: Yes
Delta Cafe and Don Quixote is an upmarket, chilled dining hotspot in Craighall Park that offers famous pizzas, outdoor seating and a pet-friendly atmosphere with great views.
Four-legged friends are always welcome for a cuppa and to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor venue.
Cost: Free entry
When: Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm. Friday, 9am to 9pm. Saturday, 8am to 9pm. Sunday, 8am to 6pm. Closed on Monday.
Where: Delta Cafe and Don Quixote, 76 Marlborough Ave, Craighall Park, Randburg
Website: deltacafe.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 900 3850
Cowboy Town
Leashes required: Yes
A trip to Cowboy Town makes for a unique family outing that invites each and all to Go Back West and embrace their inner cowboy.
Trade modernity for nostalgia, and don’t forget to bring your furry friends along. Some of the vendors also sell goods specifically tailored for pets, including toys and beds, so get your pet the perfect gift or accessory whilst you’re there!
Cost: Free entry
When: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Saturday to Sunday from 8am to 3pm
Where: 1 Mclean St, West Village, Krugersdorp, Johannesburg
Website: instagram.com/cowboytownsa | Tel: 082 923 2275
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Leashes required: Yes, while roaming the estate.
Have you ever wanted to take a much-needed vacation but didn’t want to leave your pet behind? Four Seasons Hotel is the perfect place for you, offering a luxury escape in Joburg with your furry friends.
The hotel offers pet-friendly rooms; however, specifying that you will be bringing a pet along when booking is essential. Dog bowls and plush beds are readily available, and both Apres Spa and The Deli onsite are pet-friendly.
Walks around the hotel estate and through the nearby Zoo Lake are perfect opportunities for pets and pet owners to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. Note that weight policies for pets might apply, and some cats may be permitted.
Cost: Make a reservation by calling 011 481 6000
When: By availability
Where: Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, 67 Jan Smuts Ave, Johannesburg
Website: fourseasons.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 481 6000
Goddess Cafe
Leashes Required: Yes
The Goddess Cafes in Johannesburg and Pretoria are buzzy hotspots filled with pink colourways in a range of hues, pretty florals, and hanging plant baskets, making for a calming and cute oasis to drink and dine.
Your canine friends are welcome to experience these chic locations, with some locations only allowing pets and their pet owners in the outside seating area. Your pets will be well taken care of with water and snacks too.
As there are several cafe locations, be sure to call in ahead to get each location’s specific pet policies.
When: Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm. Saturday, 8am to 5pm. Sunday, 8.30am to 3pm
Where: Linden – 44, 1st Ave, Linden, Johannesburg | Waterkloof – Shop 6, Waterkloof Corner Shopping Centre, Corner Main and Crown Avenue, Waterkloof, Pretoria | Southdowns – Shop 15, Southdowns Shopping Centre, Cnr John Vorster and Karee, Irene, Centurion | Rietondale – 217, Soutpansberg Road, CNR Belrene street, Rietondale, Pretoria
Website: goddesscafe.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 087 138 3388
Bryanston Market
Leashes required: Yes
Running for almost 50 years, Bryanston Market has remained committed to offering a safe, welcoming, and pet-friendly space for all.
With over 50 stalls, the market is a vibrant showcase of fresh produce, artisanal delicatessen items, unique arts and crafts, health and wellness products, textiles, and more, making it a true haven for wholesome living and authentic craftsmanship.
The market often also hosts pet charity stalls where attendees can offer aid or adopt/rescue their own pets.
Cost: Free
When: Every Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 3pm
Where: Bryanston Market, 40 Culross Rd, Bryanston, Sandton
Website: instagram.com/bryanstonmarket | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 706 3671
Fourways Farmers Market
Leashes required: Yes
Not only is Fourways Farmers Market one of Joburg’s most popular weekend markets, boasting a vast selection of locally made products in a lavender-filled haven of natural beauty, but it is dog-friendly too. So, bring along your canine pals next time you’re there.
Bringing your pets along requires that you follow Fourways Farmers Market’s etiquette guidelines, which ask that:
- All dog owners be responsible and clean up after their pets. Bring along waste bags.
- For the safety and comfort of all visitors, please keep your furry friends on a leash at all times.
- Explore the market stalls, grab some treats, and make it a tail-wagging day out for your pups.
Cost: R25pp, pay at entrance
When: Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 7pm
Where: Taroko Farm Modderfontein Reserve, Norfolk Ln, Klipfontein View, Lethabong
Website: ffmarket.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 064 870 4116
Avianto Estate Hiking Trails
Leashes required: Yes
Tucked away in the scenic surroundings of Muldersdrift, Avianto Estate offers peaceful and accessible hiking trails for visitors. The estate’s dedicated walking trails provide a delightful escape into nature, with two well-marked routes of approximately 2.5km, 5km, 8km, and 10km.
These trails feature gentle terrain and modest elevation, making them ideal for families, casual walkers, and dog owners.
Cost: Free entry
When: Daily from 7am to 5pm
Where: Avianto Estate, Plot 69, R114 Driefontein Road, Muldersdrift
Website: syringapark.co.za/activities/ | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 078 871 3943
Salvation Cafe
Leashes required: Yes
The Salvation Cafe offers a light, contemporary, restful brunch spot for a quick solo break from work or a lingering social chat over great coffee. The outdoor and veranda seating make for a lovely casual dining atmosphere, perfect for a pet to tag along for.
When: Daily, 8am to 5pm
Where: Salvation Cafe, 44 Stanely, Milpark | 167 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Randburg
Website: salvationcafe.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 482 7795
Riversands Farm Village
Leashes required: Yes
This regular Sunday market houses stalls for all sorts of interesting local crafters. From funky African art to delicious homemade goods.
Situated in the Riversand Farm Village, the market serves as a fun-filled destination for families with kids, or pet-owning patrons. With an array of craft beers, food stalls and shopping goods, Riversand Farm Village Market is an easy way to keep busy on a slow Sunday.
Cost: Free entry
When: Every Friday, 8am to 4pm. Saturday, 7am to 4pm. Sunday, 7am to 5pm
Where: Riversands Farm Village, Rose Rd, Midrand
Website: riversandsfarm.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 083 663 5115
Delta Park
Leashes required: Yes
One of Johannesburg’s biggest green lungs and an ambler’s paradise, Delta Park offers 104 hectares of grassland and woodland for you and your furry friends to explore.
The park boasts various trails, bird-viewing hides and sanctuaries, an environmental centre, a dam, scout-training grounds, and more.
Cost: Free entry
When: Daily, 6am to 6pm
Where: Delta Park, 77 Craighall Road, Victory Park, Randburg
Tel: 011 888 4831
Abour Cafe
Leashes required: Yes
The Arbour Cafe & Courtyard is hidden behind the stylish shops of Wrenrose Court. Find an enchanting leaf-dappled alcove, aptly named ‘Arbour Café and Courtyard’. Arbour is a French-inspired café and crêperie. It is a whimsical and elegant space that nourishes the soul as well as the stomach.
For those with pure food indulgence in mind, Arbour is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with gluten-free, buckwheat galettes (savoury French pancakes) taking centre stage. The menu itself is an orchard of fresh, free-range and seasonal ingredients.
Spoil yourself with an intimate and relaxed dining experience that offers something different to local and foreign patrons and ensures you enjoy a memorable food experience every time.
When: Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm. Saturday, 7.30am to 3pm. Sunday, 8am to 3pm
Where: Arbour Cafe, Shop 6, Wrenrose Court, 64 St Andrew, Birdhaven, Johannesburg
Website: arbourcafe.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 753 2007
The Green Room
Leashes required: Yes
The Green Room is a family-style restaurant open for breakfast and lunch, offering simple, great food and excellent coffee in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the bowling greens.
The Green Room has a beautiful indoor and garden seating area, a jungle gym, a jumping castle and a kids’ fun corner with colouring-in books to keep the children occupied whilst the adults sit and relax.
This establishment is also dog-friendly.
When: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm. Saturday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm
Where: The Green Room, 4 Cruden Bay Rd, Greenside
Website: thegreenroom.joburg | Tel: 067 392 4357
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Leashes required: Yes. Dogs must be kept on a leash and under control at all times in designated areas. Dogs are strictly prohibited from entering dams, water fountains, or certain sensitive theme gardens.
The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, situated in the suburb of Emmarentia, spans 125 hectares, making it one of the largest urban green spaces in South Africa.
Visitors can explore themed gardens that include a succulent garden, a Shakespeare garden and a medicinal garden, each offering insights into different aspects of botany. The Rose Garden is a notable highlight, showcasing a variety of rose cultivars. The park is a popular picnicking site and you can take a break from the city to take a walk, jog or ride a bike.
Guests can enjoy various activities for free! Birdwatchers will find a variety of avian species to sight and guests can also enjoy the Emmarentia Dam for water sports such as canoeing, fishing and sailing small boats. The Johannesburg Botanical Garden also hosts educational programs, workshops, and events focused on horticulture and conservation.
Cost: Free entrance
When: Daily, from 6am to 6pm
Where: Olifants Rd, Emmarentia, Randburg
Website: jhbcityparksandzoo.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 646 2000
Zoo Lake
Leashes required: Yes. Dogs and pets are allowed at the public park, but they are not permitted inside the adjacent Johannesburg Zoo.
Opposite the Johannesburg Zoo, there is an enormous man-made lake surrounded by a stunning park. The park, Zoo Lake, is the perfect answer to city dwellers needing to escape the concrete jungle without trekking too far out. A simple 15-minute drive will guarantee you the opportunity to unwind in the quintessential picnic format.
Depending on the route one chooses to take, the average time a walker spends around the lake is an estimated two hours at most. This can then be followed by a quaint picnic or row on the lake. Or, if you prefer the classic modern-day method of consuming food whilst sitting at a table, then there is a restaurant on the premises as well.
Being one of Joburg’s most popular and, most importantly, safest parks, we would recommend that you attend this green gem during the weekends to fully experience what Zoo Lake has to offer.
Cost: Free entrance
When: All Hours
Where: Parkview, Randburg
Website: jhbcityparksandzoo.com
Modderfontein Bird and Sculpture Park
Leashes required: Yes. The the separate Modderfontein Reserve has a strict no-pets-allowed policy.
Modderfontein Bird and Sculpture Park is one of the busiest family parks in Johannesburg. You’ll find the space in the heart of Modderfontein, opposite the Flamingo Shopping Centre on the banks of the Flamingo Dam.
The local community and visitors from all over Johannesburg (and beyond) enjoy visiting the park to connect with friends and family in a safe environment. Resident flocks of flamingos, ducks, geese and more provide both a picturesque and educational environment.
The Doggy Park section allows pups to enjoy off-leash fun, obstacle courses and more.
Cost: R20pp and children aged under 6 years can enter for free
When: Tuesday to Sunday, from 8am to 6pm | Open on public holidays
Where: Cnr Queens St and Valley Rd, Modderfontein, Sandton
Website: theflamingo.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 907 1700
The Wilds Nature Reserve
Leashes required: Yes.
The Wilds Nature Reserve is an inner-city park in Houghton where members of the public can relax, enjoy nature and experience the great outdoors. Dogs are welcome in the park, as long as their owner cleans up after them.
The park consists of 16 hectares of indigenous vegetation on the sides of two rocky koppies or hills with views of the city of Johannesburg and its suburbs. The land was donated to the City of Johannesburg by the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company in 1924 with the condition that it remains in its natural state and open to the public.
The space opened to the public in 1938 with lawns, ponds and waterfalls with paths through the park laid out in stone. The park is found on both sides of Houghton Drive and was connected by a footbridge in 1965. The Wilds was declared a national monument on 20 February 1981 and a conservation area in 2006.
Cost: Free entrance
When: Daily, from 6am to 6pm
Where: The Wilds Nature Reserve, Houghton Dr, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg
Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 643 2313
PLTFRM Wolwespruit
Leashes Required: Yes
PLTFRM in Wolwespruit offers a little bit of everything from food to social experiences, kids’ and outdoor activities and playgrounds, and, of course, a pet-friendly atmosphere.
The venue happily accommodates pets, welcoming pet owners to take their furballs on a Sunday breakfast or lunch run. Plus, they also have some pet-friendly snacks on the menu.
When: Sunday to Thursday, 7am to 9pm. Friday to Saturday, 7am to 10pm
Where: PLTFRM Wolwespruit, 501 Jochemus St, Erasmuskloof, Pretoria
Website: pltfrmwolwespruit.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 778 1839
Linton’s Corner Night Market
Leashes Required: Yes
The Linton’s Corner Night Market is full of flavour, vibes, and fun for the whole family!
From 4pm, you can bring your crew (including the furry ones) and enjoy delicious gourmet street food, refreshing drinks and sweet treats, locally made crafts, gifts & goodies, live music to set the vibe, and a lively, festive market atmosphere.
Cost: R20pp entry. Kids u/12 enter free
When: Every second Friday of the month from 4pm
Where: Linton’s Corner, Lynnwood Rd &, Solomon Mahlangu Dr, Equestria, Pretoria
Busstop7 Open Air Market
Leashes Required: Yes
BusStop7 in Pretoria East is a great way to spend weekends with the family, including leashed pets. You’ll find over 150 stalls selling everything from local cheese, raw honey, organic fruit & veg, and unique lifestyle apparel for gifting.
Cost: R25pp, kids u/12 enter free
When: Every Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 4pm
Where: Cnr Duiker and Foxtrot Street, Pretoria
Website: busstop7.co.za
Huckleberry’s Restaurant at Magnolia Dell Park
Leashes required: Yes. Pets must remain on-leash at the restaurant but may roam off-leash in other areas of the park.
Located in a park, this is the perfect spot for pets to roam around in a beautiful outdoor venue. Pet owners can dine in nature with outdoor seating and a spacious exercise area. And the best part: pets dine for free!
When: Daily, 7.30am to 7pm
Where: Huckleberry’s Cafe, Magnolia Dell Park c/o Florence Ribeiro and Nicolson, Brooklyn, Pretoria
Website: huckleberrys.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 012 346 4588
