I would give it 4 stars for the concept. However.... I used to bring my dog here often to play while I enjoyed an adult beverage with a friend who lives in the area. At first, this was a cool place with a chill vibe. The Bark Rangers were trained to break up fights when they started, and knew how to keep up with cleanliness of the yard (ie. picking up poop in a timely fashion). Six months ago, even though they started to slack on the dog poop side of things, I would have recommended this place to a fellow dog owner. Now, not so much... The "service" provided by the Bark Rangers on duty today was nothing less than atrocious. One Bark Ranger in particular (she was a short haired brunette with nose piercing) was passive aggressive and spoke to us as if our presence was not welcome. While exiting the fenced area, she spoke down to us and would not allow us to reinforce training for our dog (making him sit before we open the gate). They don't let the dogs play for fear that the "pack mentality" will cause other dogs to join in on the fun. Instead, they break up any chase scenarios that involved more than 3 dogs. Seriously?! I question whether they have ever owned a dog, much less observed them in play. If the owner/manager of this establishment is reading, rest assured I will not be returning. As mentioned above, the customer service from the Bark Rangers is deplorable. To prospective visitors/dog owners, save yourselves the $5.50 "day pass" and opt for a better place (or even a trip to a real dog park). Yard Bar, you have lost a fan today, and more importantly, you have lost my business. read more

For my dog, anything. Is it crazy that I used to not be able to breathe in a doggy room? Now I can't help but giggle to myself and laugh out loud, over there at the corner table, as my puppy gets sniffed around and rumples and tackles other dogs? Stop living for yourself, share the love with other doggy owners here at yard bar. Lemonade is good. Coffee is good. Beer is beer. Get a day pass. read more

Great place for groups to meet up with dogs and humans! - Large dog park and small dog park, all are gated. - Double doors when entering and exiting to keep your dogs safe. - $5 dog cover (daily pass) - Park rules including spayed/neutering, up to date shots, at least 4 months age, must have collar (no harness or any other type). - Bags and water bowls available - If you want to eat, then you have to leave the gated area to go to the food area. Food available for humans and dogs. Drinks available inside dog park area. - Lots of agility equipment, benches/tables/chairs around the whole area. - Not super well lit at night. Have fun! read more

Yay it's open at last! Beautiful dog park, great food, and super nice staff. It was pretty hot when we arrived so not many people were out, but as soon as the sun went down it started filling up. My dog and I both had a great time. We'll be back! read more

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Had a membership for quite a while, cancelled it over lunch today. Used to LOVE this place. It was the one place I could count on to bring Digby to burn off his energy. My dog simply can't enjoy himself here any more. Other dogs can act aggressive, wrestle, run around and the bark rangers just watch, when my dog tries to get involved he's IMMEDIATELY disciplined because he's a barker. Now he's afraid to try to play with the other dogs because he's gonna get yelled at, and just sits there why they try to play with him. I'll try to get him to go play and when he does BAM one of the bark rangers is getting involved, shushing him out of the way. The bark rangers used to be better in HOW they intervened too; before they'd just rattle a can of rocks; worked great. Last couple times I've been there this one lady is shouting, waving her arms about whooping "EY-YA!"like a cowboy. Plus we've had some issues of dogs being overly aggressive to Digby and no one does anything because the aggressor is doing it 'quietly'. Tried to bring him here last night and this one husky would NOT leave us alone no matter how many times we moved tables. Digby was obviously distraught so we left. He likes to play; but having a dog snarl at him and snap at his face over and over was just too much. Guess this just isn't the place for us anymore. read more

It's a dog park bar! What could be better? The drinks are expensive and the food is bad, but you can hang out while your dog is off leash! There are people who watch after the dogs so inattentive owners don't ruin things for everyone. The grounds are always clean and there's plenty of seating. They have fans and heaters. It's great. read more

I love this dog park! They have a great beer selection, and my pup always has a ton of fun there. It's a very casual environment and everybody is super nice. They will host a lot of fundraisers for rescue dogs, so sometimes there will be additional activities you can do with your dog. read more

I was looking forward to bringing my dog here for weeks. Food and a dog park? Who could ask for more?? However, they won't even let you in or you're between the ages of 18-20. Don't waste your time. It's a ridiculous policy. You're not gonna bring your dog to a dog park to drink, it's to socialize with other dogs. Mark hands with X's or something. This has been an extremely disappointing outing. Side note: While this not the fault of the business, most of the customers seem to have a rude or entitled attitude. Do yourself a favor and don't come here even if you are 21+. read more

Wonderful spot for people and dogs -- great beer selection, and tasty food. There are a few mature trees that provide ample shade if you can find a premium spot (and lots of water for the dogs). The owner thought out every detail--from (natural) insect repellent on the picnic tables to mist fans throughout. Unlike many dog parks, it's mulch instead of dirt/grass, so dust isn't a problem. The food area is separate from the dog park, and you'll need to anchor your dogs to the tables. The bar is open to the park, though, so you can enjoy a brew while you spend time in the park. One thing to be aware of: dogs must have collars, not harnesses. They were kind enough to provide us a loaner collar, but it's best to not depend on those being available and come with the right equipment. read more

Visited last night for the first time and really enjoyed it. Food is surprisingly good--the deviled eggs were excellent, and our waitress was very friendly. Our dog is quite shy, being a rescue, so she mostly hid under the table, but this will be perfect for her to gradually become more social. Really glad Yard Bar has opened up in the neighborhood and I look forward to checking it out more often. One tip: During hot summer days, go after sundown to keep it cool. They have spray misters as well. read more

Pretty ridiculous pricing and the hostility of workers and "bark rangers" is not worth going here more than once maybe twice. Also keep in mind if you're not a member here, it doesn't matter if you spend $50 on food or drinks on the outside park of the bar, you still have to pay to get into the actually dog read more

Our first experience here was so awesome. Our pup has been really socialized and Loves other dogs so he had a blast and we did too! So we bought a monthly pass. Our next visit was very different. We decided to go mid day when it was mellow. As we were checking in there were 3 huge dogs that were together that were trying to attack our dog through the gate. But you know, dogs usually just need to say hi. So we were careful and brought our dog in. All 3 dogs went after my dog full on attacking him. I had to yell at the dogs and get them off my dog. He was scared and upset. He's never been attatcked. The owner of the dogs did nothing! We took my dog to the other side of the place and her dogs kept coming over to attack my dog. No one would do anything about it. My dog got too scared to leave our side so we left. We talked to the Check in people and they were aloof and weird about it, saying she comes all the time. They seemed to protect her for some reason. I felt like the woman was breaking 2 rules- having 3 dogs and them being aggressive. But we were the ones that had to leave. It was such an odd situation! Who lets dogs stay that full on attack another dog?! Then we tried again. Turns out that the same Lady was there again with her 3 dogs. Again, they went after my dog even with me trying to protect him. One bit him really hard and he screamed. The woman said it was my fault (um wtf?!?) and I should let them work it out! It wasn't a casual encounter, it was an insanely aggressive attack! Meanwhile my dog is running away as hers are attacking my dog in a pack with my husband running after trying to save and grab our dog. We left immediately. Obviously, my sweet little 50 pound fluff ball had been bit! The staff would do nothing. One apologized and said it clearly wasn't our fault but offered no help. I asked for a manager to call me. They did the next day and once they found out who I was talking about- this person that has 3 dogs there all the time, they said there was nothing they could do but offer me a free day pass. (I still do not understand this and don't know who this person is that they were so protective over her) I told them I just wanted a safe place for my dog and we would not be back. I also mentioned maybe if dogs are allowed to be there every day that they are perhaps getting territorial, he said dogs don't behave that way. Um ok. But look, if dogs are clearly attacking another dog that has done absolutely nothing to warrant it, then they should be removed. That's it that's all. Since then, my dog has been terrified of big dogs and dog parks. He gets scared whenever a dog runs towards him and we can't take him places like that anymore b/c of his nervousness. I realize that things happen and some dogs just don't like other dogs. But the lack of care when 3 giant dogs, acting in a pack, full on attack and bite your dog is just not ok. The rules should be enforced!! You don't have to remove a dog forever but You should ask aggressive dogs to leave immediately for the safety of other dogs. read more

Great space for food drinks and the best part.... Hang out with Mans best friend! Dog park was huge! Two areas for the dogs to play depending on size. Small dog area and large dog area. Let's not forget sausage paddies or ice cream for dogs! read more

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disregard any bad reviews about this place ! I laughed at a review that said how upset she was at the bark rangers for correcting her dogs behavior. Obviously, she is one of those dog owners who can't read dog behaviors and don't believe in correction when needed. Outstanding staff, and delicious beverages and food here! It can get a bit overwhelming when there is too many dogs in the park and not enough trained pets. I feel like at any dog park , at least one dog is trying to be a bully or just won't shut up ... but eh.. dog parks. Its a great place to socialize your dog and be able to get some work done.. Remember to tip the staff and pick up your shit... well.. your dogs shit. please don't poop in the park.. Thanks guys! _annabelle and batman loves you! read more

I was really nervous about bring my super hyper active boundaries challenged boxer puppy here. The staff at the entrance assured me all would be good and it was even better thank good! The bark monitors are such a huge help. My puppy had a blast and we look forward to coming back!!! read more

This was my first visit here (even though I am not a dog owner) and I loved it! Why not enjoy a beer while I watch cute puppies play!? The bar is set up in an epic fashion with the dog run fenced in with a small bar and then a larger bar and eating area on the outside in a still dog-friendly space. I really enjoy the setup and I think this bar has a lot of potential. Dig the vibe and will definitely be coming back to check out the food/snack situation the next time I go! read more

This is the kind of place that makes you love Austin even more. Such a great idea and so well executed. Our dog is typically mopey or at least very chilled. At Yard Bar he just was so excited! It made us feel good to see him having so much fun. It should be noted that only people over 21 are allowed in the dog area. Younger people are allowed in the restaurant area. This is also a great idea to cut back on the chaos! We love that they have a nice selection of beer on tap! We didn't eat anything, but I can tell this will be the first of many more visits. We're so lucky to live so close to this great addition to the burgeoning Burnet Road scene. read more

Great place, the dog has good fun. However the internet leaves much to be desired, I would not recommend Yard Bar if you need to do any work. Here's a report at 2pm during non-peak times http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/4937151697. AT&T GigaPower is available at this location, but they are still using Time Warner. My dog is going to be very sad because this really limits my ability to spend much time here. Update 8/4/2016 Different day, same story. The internet here is still very slow despite the strong WiFi signal: http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/5529303566 Update 3/2/2017 Still terrible internet, I couldn't even post this review with the guest wifi: http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/6098036126 At least the beer is up to speed. Congestion is getting worse now that the apartment across the street is setup. I'm picking up dozens of default configured ATT routers probably a few Gigapower subscribers. read more

I've been dying to try a place like Yard Bar since another dog bar popped up in Cedar Park about a year ago. Unfortunately, Cedar Park is just too far. Thank goodness the wait is over--- Austin has Yard Bar, the dog park/bar/restaurant on Burnet. The place used to be a putt putt place and is now and outdoor hangout with oodles of tree shade, large and small dog fenced in areas, water bowls a plently, agility equiptment, quality beer selection (drafts, cans, bottles), Bark Rangers (to police and keep the peace), and picnic tables galore. You pay $5 to bring your dog in--- people enter for free. They offer 5 visit passes for $20 (buy 4 entrances and get 1 free) and an annual membership (check the website). When you're in the off-leash large or small dog areas, you can wander with your dog or find a picnic table to enjoy your beer at. While they offer a full menu, you can't eat in the large and small dog areas (though there are tables). When you want to order food, you go to the open area with tons of picnic tables (not fenced in). There's even a host/hostess out there to seat you before your waiter or waitress comes to help you like at any other restaurant. Very cool place. Cocktails: There are about 10 cocktails on the menu--- not sure if they'll make you something standard that's not on the menu, like a manhattan. I tried the Blue Lacy. It's a bourbon cocktail with blueberry something and lemon juice. It was nice and refreshing, but I ordered a bourbon drink wanting something a bit more bold and boozy, the Lacy was on the daintier sweet side. The beer selection was fun. Had a can of Santa Fe's Java Stout (never heard of it or seen it--- great coffee flavor). They keep 8 beers on tap and 4 wines on tap (not sure how the wine tap works). There are plenty of non-alcoholic options as well. Haven't tried the food yet, but I look forward to it. read more

The dog park section at Yard Bar is five stars on its own. Came here for a pug meet up. Imagine a grumble of pugs wandering around. Cutest thing ever. You can have your dog in the small dog section, or big dog. The big dog section is a lot more active, so high energy dogs can still hang out there if they're smaller. So, why the three stars? We decided to get food after the pugs romped around for a good hour. First of all, it took a good ten minutes before we even got a waitress to give us menus. Another ten or so minutes go by before our order is taken. When we get our food we asked for ketchup and refills on our drinks...they never show up. I'll definitely be back for the dog to have a good time, but we can eat and drink elsewhere. Edited to add that our pup gobbled up the dog-friendly slider, so maybe that's the one thing I'd get here again. read more

The best place to bring your pup or just have a beer! Also this guy up there Carter is a super awesome part of their team! He's always super quick and helps people almost right away! read more

The vibe here is amazing! I came in Sunday around Noon to get a quick bite. Sweet dog park. My server, Paul, pretty much did the ordering for me. Badass! I went with the chicken tenders and potato salad. Couldn't decide between ranch or creamy mustard. He hooked me up with both! Awesome. The potato salad is fresh. Garnished with a generous sprinkling of paprika and laden with strings of dill, it's almost like my Polish grandmother rose out of the grave and put her heart and soul in this side dish. Chicken was on point. I was expecting frozen Ben E Keith stuff. NO it was hand battered breast with a savory blend of seasoning. Rockin'! Went with local beer and then a Bloody with some sweet BnB pix. Groovy! Can't beat it. read more

The food was great, we had the yard burger, chips appetizer and of course for the pups had the hippie ice, unsweetened coconut ice cream but ask them to put it in a water bowl or something because it just ends up getting gravel on it and you having to hold the ice cream while the pups eat it haha. For drinks the boom strawberry and phils lemonade very refreshing. The pups had a lot of fun playing and the people were nice. We are glad we went and found a nice place to eat and relax. read more

This is quickly becoming my new favorite place. I live in an apartment with a high energy dog- so lots of playtime is a must. Yard bar is perfect for us because there are always plenty of dogs to play with for my pup, and drinks and food and plenty of places to sit for me. The entry fee is well worth it because the staff makes sure the park remains clean and friendly. They are quick to redirect any negative behavior. This is truly an oasis for dogs and owners alike. read more

I've been going to Yard Bar consistently for the past couple years. It's become one of my favorite North Austin spots to sit outside and grab a beer. Staff has always been incredibly friendly and welcoming, despite me not having a dog. Never have I seen them discriminate against a dog's breed or owner. Thank you Yard Bar! read more

Love this place. Great establishment and well ran. Will be coming back again with our pack of dogs in the future.

Dogs and drinks! For those reasons alone, we find ourselves here at least once or twice a month. The "bark rangers" have been good in my experience. When two grumpy dogs ganged up on mine, the employees swarmed to help in the situation, which was appreciated. Also they have a good amount of beers on tap. It'd be nice if they had more lights to see at night (I've stepped in poop... don't wear flip flops at night!). Also, I've had the burger a couple times and it was delicious, but the chicken tenders left a lot to be desired. They also don't serve fries, just chips. I'm a French fry fiend so that's a little disappointing. read more

Pro: Dog park looked nice. Attractive decor. Pleasant waitstaff. Cons: Charged our credit card 3 times. Chicken sandwich pieces too tough to bite through the meat. Deviled eggs not even as good as the prepackaged kind from Walmart. Overfried the hush puppies- so dark they were nearly black. Watered down drinks. Overall verdict: Just take your dogs here. Don't eat or drink anything. read more

DISCRIMINATION! I accepted the $5.50 to bring my dog in...accepted the high priced beers...but couldn't bring my dog in because he isn't neutered...DENIED ENTRY BECAUSE MY 6 MONTH OLD DOG ISN'T NEUTERED! And received an unwanted and ridiculous lesson on what testicles do to a dog's mannerisms....insinuating that my dog was aggressive and can't control himself because he has testicles. What a joke. Place was tiny too. Take your pup somewhere spacious...free...and accepting of all dogs regardless of testicles. read more

Super cool spot for the parents and the pooch. I would recommend the food for parents and pooch alike. Great food. The only reason for the missing star is that the tables at the dog park could use a good pressure washing. The furry kids like to chill on them as well they should however it would be a nice touch. Thanks for the hospitality! read more

This concept is just what Austin needed. Dogs+Play+ Beer... Yee-haw! My Puppy plays 5 days a week at an indoor daycare, but loves to play outdoors. The Yard Bar is a much better and safer interactive setting than Auditorium shores or any other dog park. The place is well staffed and has an impressive libation selection for a "dog bar". Fun, fun , fun.... what can I say. Plenty of water, a shady side in the late afternoon, and a hose your dog off area. The restaurant is good too... though I have only had appetizers, we intend to have the full meal deal next week. read more

Just spent damn near 4 hours at Yard Bar.... The dog park is spacious and there are fun agility props set up for the pups. There are dog bowls full of water everywhere and tennis balls all over the park. Most importantly, misters (thank god for misters). It was hot when we arrived and we were the only ones there for a little while which was fine by me; I got to enjoy my drink in peace and play with my pup. The drinks are tasty and not as expensive as I expected. The food is good. Limited menu, but everything I saw come out looked good and what I ordered was great (and came out correctly.) I'm a fairly picky eater and made some mods to my meal. The only reason I don't give yard bar 5 stars is because it seemed a little disorganized. I totally understand because it's a new place and they're still working out the kinks. But being in the service industry, it's plainly obvious when no one is on the same page. I asked a few questions on the menu, and our waitress didn't really know the answers, but we figured it out. I asked about some beer, same thing- couldn't really answer. Like I said, I get it. The girls working in the dog park seemed a little... Eh..... Not the biggest dog people. Kind of like they applied for a random job, got offered one and accepted it because it was the first one that came around. Not "I love dogs and would love to work here." Overall, my pup and I both enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed hours past what I had planned to stay. It was a lot of fun, doggy loved it and is now passed out for the night :) my meal was tasty and I came home satisfied. The service staff and bartenders are very friendly and made us feel welcome. I had 3 drinks, split an app and got a meal all for $24. Nice! read more

Great place to live vicariously through dog owners. Really fun weekend activity to do with friends. Lots of space for dogs. There's a cover only for dog owners (~$5) and you can stay as long as you'd like. Really fun to just grab a beer here. read more

Last night was our first experience at the Yard Bar and it is a definitely a fun place to bring your pooch and have a beer. Not only was it cleaner than you'd expect from a dog park but the dogs were all well behaved and monitored. I'd prefer not to pay the $5 dog-cover charge and I think perhaps a better way would be to waive the fee for anyone who buys a $6 beer. But I guess you expect that from Austin these days, especially from a place with $12 chicken sandwiches (which was really good by the way). So while I felt the prices were a little on the high side it did not impact the overall experience. It will however diminish the frequency of our visits. But every time I drive by it seems to be pretty busy so I doubt our minimal patronage will be of much concern to the Yard Bar. read more

This place is a great concept! Alcohol, food, dogs everywhere - honestly my dream come true! The frozen mimosas are fantastic and the food is pretty damn good. Service was good as well! Truthfully though, this place had so many dogs that there were constant fights, dogs pissing everywhere, no ability to control the amount of poop and urine that was happening considering they clearly didn't have regulations with how many dogs could be there at one time. All I could think about was how many animals were gonna leave there with kennel cough, the dog flu or some sort of eColi issue considering 50% of those people there were letting their dogs crap everywhere and not pick it up. Seems to me they got to popular for their own good and stopped caring about quality vs quantity read more

I was hopeful when I purchased my yearly membership prior to opening. I attended the other evening and was disappointed in the ground cover. It was Not mulch-it was large wood chips and half the dogs did not like it-mine included. The trees are in dire need of attention; they did not provide much shade at all. There was no shade cover for standing at the bar waiting in line. The misters were nice but only half the park had them. I was pleased to see they served Maine Root but was disappointed when I got the cup filled to the brim with ice and only had a few good sips of the Root Beer. I'm hoping this feedback helps the owners make improvements so their business will thrive as it is a nice addition to the neighborhood. But if no improvements are made it will not be worth the price to enter for me and my fur baby. I did like the friendly staff and one of the Bark Rangers attempted to stop one misbehaving dog. I liked that no food/treats were allowed in the dog area and water was readily available. I liked that poop bags were available. read more

This is hand's down my dog's favorite place ever. I can't say "Yard Bar" without her going crazy, barking and jumping all over the place. The food is yummy, Muffins loves the dog park and all the dogs and owners are extremely friendly and well behaved. My dog is only about 7 lbs and is under a year so she tends to be very excitable and jump all over other dogs, yet despite this we haven't had any real issues even in the main dog area. I think the best thing about this place is the bark rangers. They are very friendly and get to know the regular dogs really well. I love that I see the same rangers every time and can walk in to the dog park area and feel comfortable for my dog's safety because I know each of the rangers are great at their jobs and truly love dogs. They do a great job of keeping watch over the dog park and ensuring everyone is having fun and is safe. The only tiny negatives I can think of is sometimes the service can be slow on the food side. Also the small dog area is a tad bit too small a space for active small dogs to really get their energy out. Also, some additional non-alcoholic drink options would be nice. read more

The food is very surprisingly delicious. Hard to picture food surrounded by dogs would be this delicious. The fried chicken is off the charts. The drink prices should be a little more friendly but it is Austin and on Burnet Road. read more

I have been to yard bar pretty regularly since they have opened, I like the idea and having a place for my dog to run and socialize while I grab a beer. The service on the food serving side seems to have taken a slide. After sitting at a picnic table for 26 minutes and unsuccessfully waving our arms to flag down 2 waitresses who ran out past us a total of 3 times, we had to leave and grab a bite somewhere else.. read more

The drinks are few bucks more expensive than usual bars, but it's a great place for dogs to hangout! Plus, the dog food is nice, my puppy inhaled it right away. read more

Yard Bar - Delicious dog food! - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas