The 9 July 2026 update
Dogs are allowed
in HK restaurants now.
Here's how that actually works.
On 9 July 2026, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) flipped the switch: 1,000 restaurants across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the NT are now officially allowed to welcome dogs. We've read all three of the government's official guides so you don't have to — this is the friendly, shorter version, with the bits you actually need to know.
The 30-second version
- 🐾 1,000 spots get to welcome dogs from 9 July 2026. They picked them by lottery from 1,616 valid applications — the rest are on a waiting list.
- 🐾 Restaurants that win the ballot get an A3 sign and put it on the door. If you don't see the sign, the spot is not officially dog-friendly — even if the staff smile and say "sure".
- 🐾 As a dog owner: keep your dog on a leash under 1.5 m, max two dogs per adult, never on a dining table, and bring your own food & bowl.
- 🐾 As a non-dog diner: read this before you next-door a table with a pup — there's a short etiquette section for you at the end.
Sources: FEHD press release (12 June 2026), the "Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour" full text, and the customer guide. Plain-English summary below.
So, what actually changed?
Quick background, in case you missed the news.
Hong Kong used to ban dogs from food premises (unless they were guide dogs in training). In mid-2026 the Food Business Regulation was amended and the government ran a formal application window. Restaurants that wanted to admit dogs had to apply, pay a small fee and pass a cleanliness/training check.
A lot of them applied — 2,205 in total. After taking out the duplicates and the obvious no-gos (places without a valid restaurant licence, hotpot / BBQ spots where it's just unsafe), 1,616 stayed in the running. There were only 1,000 spots, so on 12 June 2026 FEHD ran a public computer lottery. The first 1,000 in the drawn sequence won; the rest join the waitlist in order.
Winners got visited by a FEHD officer between 16 and 17 June, paid $140, signed their updated licence, and from 9 July 2026 they can legally let dogs walk through the door — as long as they put up the official A3 sign at the entrance (you'll recognise it: a friendly paw-print design with the FEHD mark).
The full directory — names, addresses, and any "Notes to Customers" the restaurants themselves wrote — went live on the FEHD's dog-restaurants page the same month. That's the list our directory refreshes from every week.
What restaurants have to do
If you ever wondered why your favourite café can or can't host your dog — this is the rulebook in human form.
🪧 The sign on the door
Even on days when they're not letting dogs in, approved restaurants must keep the A3 sign up at all times. It looks official — it is official. If a restaurant is on FEHD's list but doesn't have the sign, ring FEHD: 2867 5912 or 2867 2836.
🚫🚪 The food room is sacred
No dogs past the kitchen door, no matter what. Staff who handle food can't touch dogs and have to wash/disinfect before going back to cooking. Tables, chair backs and door handles — especially in the dog zone — get wiped more often than you'd think.
📋 House rules are king
Each restaurant writes its own "Notes to Customers". Things like: dogs on seats or just on the floor? Outdoor seating only? Cleaning fee? Some are doggo discos, some are "small dog, floor only" cafés. Read the notes before you go — that's why this whole site exists.
🐕🐕 Two dogs per adult, max
For everyone's sanity, no more than two dogs per adult diner. The restaurant can also cap the total in the room based on its size and how busy it is.
🍖 Food & bowls
Restaurants cannot cook or heat dog food, and dogs can't use the reusable tableware. Some restaurants sell pre-packaged dry food or single-use wooden bowls — that's allowed. Otherwise, bring your own.
🧑🍳 Staff training
Staff have to know what counts as a "known dangerous dog" or "fighting dog", how to ask for a licence, what to do if a dog gets snappy, and where the cleaning supplies are. Restaurants are also encouraged to let any staff who are scared of dogs opt out of the dog zone.
🤝 Nice extras (recommended)
- Water bowls at the entrance or outside.
- A dedicated dog bin (with a foot pedal & tight lid) — not the regular food bin.
- A tie-down hook near the table so you can free up both hands for your char siu.
- Pet-friendly disinfectant in the dog zone.
- Reservations for dog tables so you don't queue on the pavement with three excited beagles.
🚨 If something goes wrong
A dog bites someone → call the Police, isolate the dog, and the restaurant has to file a report with FEHD within two working days. Continuous barking or aggressive behaviour → the staff may politely ask you to take your dog outside, and they may even box up your food as takeaway so the meal isn't lost.
What dog parents need to know
The real reason you're reading this.
📜 The licences your dog needs
Hong Kong requires every dog over 5 months old to be vaccinated against rabies, microchipped and licensed. Staff can — and will — ask you to show it. The digital version is on your phone via iAM Smart → the AFCD dog licence page. No licence = door shut, sorry.
🦮 The leash rule
A leash under 1.5 m. Held by an adult, never by a kid. If your dog is in a carrier or stroller, it still has to be leashed at the same time (it's the law, not a vibe). If you need both hands for the camera, ask staff for a tie-down spot — most dog-friendly restaurants have hooks for exactly this.
🛋️ Where your dog sits
Never on the dining table. Never on bar seats next to an open kitchen. Floor by default; some spots let small dogs on the chair or your lap, but if a neighbour at the next table goes "uh, can you…", you bring the dog down. Easy. Polite.
🧻 Mess happens — be ready
Bring wipes, poo bags, and ideally a pet pad. If your dog has an accident, bag it, bin it in the dog bin (not the regular trash), wash your hands, and tell staff so they can disinfect. Some restaurants publish a cleaning fee in their notes — read before you go.
🤒 Not today, buddy
Skip the brunch if your dog is sick, anxious, snapping at other dogs, or hasn't been vaccinated yet. Keep up the flea & worm treatments — your dog might meet a cat, a child or someone's birthday cake in there.
🐕 Barking or overexcited
If your pup won't settle, take them outside for a mini walk, calm them down, come back. If it keeps happening, that's your sign the dog isn't up for restaurant outings today. Don't push it — it makes everyone tense.
🚨 Bite incident
If your dog bites a person, you have to report it to the Police immediately, keep the dog securely away from other animals, and help with the follow-up. Not reporting is a criminal offence under the Rabies Ordinance.
And if you don't have a dog with you?
Yes, there's a guide for you too. The whole point is "mutual respect", which goes both ways.
The sign on the door is your signal — dogs may be present. If that's not for you, the spot next door probably is.
Ask before you pet. A Pekingese stranger is not a Pekingese friend until the owner says so.
Don't feed other people's dogs, even from your chopsticks. Tempting a dog with steak at the next table is a great way to ruin dinner for everyone.
No loud noises, no shooing. Dogs react. Keep your voice down and your hands to yourself.
A dog's being a nuisance? Tell the staff — don't handle it yourself. They have procedures for exactly this.
Bag lady / bag man? Keep your handbag, backpack or shopping bag out of tail-reach (or under the table). Dogs chew things.
If a dog bites you — stay calm, tell the staff, and call the Police. The owner is legally required to report it.
Where this came from
- · Press release — "Dogs allowed to enter permitted food premises from July 9",info.gov.hk, 12 June 2026
- · Full guidelines for restaurants and customers — FEHD "Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour" (full text)
- · Customer-specific guide — FEHD "Customers Bringing Dogs" guide
Anything here is a friendly paraphrase. For the legal text, always read the source. dogdoghk is not affiliated with FEHD — we summarise to help dogs and humans eat together, safely.