My experiences with Yard Bar have been really hit or miss. Sometimes it's great and my dog gets a chance to practice her social skills for a bit. Other times, it's just too rowdy in there. At this point, I'll only go if I can make it on off times when I know it won't be too crowded. The big dog pen is definitely better than the small dog pen, and because of that, people bring their small dogs into the big dog pen and sometimes there is conflict there. I like that it's well fenced in with handlers helping to keep an eye on things. The handlers can affect the experience a lot and some of them are better than others. My advice is to avoid peak hours, and watch your dog closely there, especially your first few times going. Oh, also come prepared to get a muddy paw print or two on you and don't expect the tables to be off limits to playing pups. read more

Fantastic place! Our pitty is super energetic and playful and the staff handled it so well. We had to have a "time out" after our pup was running all over the place just to calm her down. The mediators talked to us and explained their reasoning and gave us some much needed tips! Fantastic vibe and such a great idea for a bar! read more

Great concept and the drink I had was delicious, however the lining of the floor in the dog park is wood. Not the wood chips in playgrounds, just chunks of wood. I could tell in the way my dog and other dogs were walking that it was unpleasant on their paws, I tested it out myself and, yep, easy way to get splinters. Also, when you go to clean up after your dog, you get wood chunks all with it. We love our dogs, and if you wouldn't walk barefoot on that floor, we wouldn't want them to either. Awful choice of lining material for the ground. read more

Yard Bar is wonderful! My husband and I bring our two dog babies pretty much every weekend. We have the monthly pass because we come so often--very worth it! It's like a regular dog park but much better because the bark rangers are there to monitor the park and they do a great job. We haven't had many occasions where there were aggressive dogs, but the couple times it has happened, the bark rangers did a great job handling it. Haven't had the food but the drinks are great. There's plenty of balls for the dogs and they have agility equipment out there if your dog is interested (ours loves the yellow tube). We often stay for as long as two hours. Really fun! My only critique would be that it'd be really nice if there was more shade, but I know that's tough and they try hard to keep it cool. Thanks for being awesome, Yard Bar! read more

Will never go back! Now, I know why they don't have any people all week. I had my dog meetup there today. Along with the huge list of requirements you have to meet before you even get in the door, I was greeted with, "no you cannot bring anyone in under 21". To a frick'n dog park? My little neice was with me who is visiting from out of town and loves dogs. Their answer was because they serve alcohol. What restaurant in Austin that serves food, has a dog friendly patio, serves drinks, uses that excuse? Then I made my neice wait outside with my brother and as I was going in, was told to take the clothes off my dogs. I have small 7 lb. dogs who have one coat and get cold so they wear sweaters all winter long! I told them I I had a group coming of which all will pay $5.00 per dog for only two hours (the $5.00 is for a day pass) and that didn't make any difference. We all left and went to the tent part to get warm and get a bite to eat (which doesn't allow for dogs off leash). Never have I been to a place that had so many rules. Post them on your website in Red so people don't dry all the way out there and find out these things. Its a joke! Our group watches our dogs better than their staff does. Not sure what the $5.00 is for. It must be their first time running a place like this. Its the first time I've ever been to one like this for sure and won't be back and will tell all my dog owner friends and my group (200 members). The manager didn't offer any alternatives either. My group was the only one in the small dog park so letting my neice sit on a chair and just watch the group would have been a nice gesture on her part since we were already there. But no, it was just no, no, no, to everything. read more

Updating my review after having frequented this place the past couple months...my first review was 2 stars and I had no choice but to reduce it down to 1star now simply due to my experience with the management & the owner. I had (awhile back) the displeasure of running into the owner of this place coming through the gate once. There were people in front of me going through the second gate (without dogs; just 2 humans) entering the park and I waited on the other side. And 1/2 a second before the gate closed, I opened my gate to enter the 'off-leash zone' - again, I didn't have my dog, I was by myself returning from the restroom - and the owner who happened to be standing there immediately said to me, VERBATIM, "You DO realize you need to wait until the gate fully closes, right?". Yes, I should've waited until the gate fully closes even though there was no dog on either party and Yes, it's the rule to which I should've obliged and Yes, I admit I was impatient. But is that really how you want to treat your customer in such a condescending manner? Was sarcasm and passive-aggressiveness really necessary? I've witnessed other occasions where she talks to other people like that multiple times and I simply cannot respect a business where an owner, not a staff, treats her customers in such a condescending manner. You know it's pretty terrible when other guests discuss the owner's standoffish mannerism among themselves. I don't know what she did in her past career but she clearly seems to have no etiquette, talent, or ability in running a friendly business. I feel bad for the employees having to work with her because most of them are really great. I have another important question to the management, which I brought up in my first review few months ago but never been answered. What exactly is the 'members only discounts' that is advertised on your official website? It says if we pay $150 for the annual membership we get 'Members Only Discounts on Events, Food and Drink'. Has there been a secret discount that I kept missing all along cus I haven't heard a single word about any discount. Is it just a false advertisement so you coax people into paying more bucks? Please do correct me if I've been missing on something or if I misunderstood the context. When I read that, I thought it meant if I pay more money than other people I would get discounts that are exclusive - which the word ONLY means - to the people who paid $150 and not to the others who didn't. I know I'm not the only person who has this big question mark because I've talked with other guests in the park couple times about this issue so please do specify what this exactly means. Honestly, I expect the owner to leave a comment explaining this discount situation here so everybody can see. Unless a new management jumps in, takes over the management part and leaves the owner to the funding part, and hopefully out of the park, I will not be renewing my membership. In fact, if this kinda issue is never answered and rather ignored by the owner and the management, I will be glad to never come back to this place. I can't support a business where they have no respect for their customers. read more

Well after 8 months of coming here regularly I had to cancel. They have decided to pull all of the tennis balls from the park to try to cut down on fighting. There are a lot of fights and issues here - so maybe you are thinking great! one less issue! While I was there last weekend with no balls there were literally constant fights breaking out. You want to know why? There is NO owner accountability - people coming here think the bark rangers are their personal dog watchers and they don't have to pay attention. The bark rangers do not enforce Yard Bar's #1 rule which is owner accountability. I saw one of the rangers try once - there was a very aggressive dog - the bark ranger approached the owner and very politely told them she thought their dog looked like it needed a break...a break outside the park. The people just blew her off and she gave up. I mean I understand its a business and you don't want to throw your customers out - but I'm telling you - you need to throw your customers out! After watching my 15 year old lab desperately try to find a ball on our last visit - I just had to leave and go elsewhere. Let us know when you get your act together - Bandit will definitely miss his play sessions. read more

This place is my life! I come here multiple times a week (or try to) with my corgi Xena. The bark rangers know my pups by name. I try to bring all my friends here and try to attend all the events they have. Some drinks are pretty strong and others are sweet so they got stuff for everyone! Cute little dog punnie names for drinks. There food is so good and lots of choices for vegetarians! I've made friends with strangers here. Xena makes new puppy friends. I work on homework here. I would rather be here with my pup everyday than go to disneyland. Only criticism, the food service can be a tad bit slow. I notice the servers are usually not just only a server but also the bartender for the park side sometimes. Having 1 person make drinks, run out to tables for orders, check on those tables, get food to those table, make more drinks, etc. It understandable that the wait might take a little extra time. The solution could be to hire more people to do those extra jobs but that's more money.From the business stand point, if the traffic isn't there or weren't expected I understand using 1 person for more than 1 station. If you do go eat on the patio side just expect to be dining for a good 30-45 min and order a drink when you order your food :) Only other thing, sometimes the bark rangers can pick on certain dogs. I believe these are just the new ones trying to show they know their dog knowledge and can do the job. Once they become a little more seasoned I think they start to soften up. Example: One bark ranger told my friend to leave because his dog was being too rough due to the full moon. I still give this place 5 stars even after my dog got attacked. I used to take my corgi and my bull terrier Ophie all the time. Ophie did get attacked here by another dog with toy aggression (there are tennis balls everywhere in the play yard). She got a little piece of her ear taken out and there was blood everywhere. However, that is something coming here knowing there is a possibility of. The manager took very good care of me and my pup. He ban the other dog and owner (which I thought was a little excessive but it might be there policy). He offered the other owners info so I could get in contact with him for medical bills but I declined it. Ophie breed is meant to take a hit so when it all happened she just wanted to keep playing and kept trying to get back into the park. Her positive attitude kept me in a good mood about the whole situation too. I did have to take her to the vet and had a bill for a little over $100 but, like I said before, I fully expected these possibilities when coming to (this or any) dog parks. I've tried to bring Ophie back but she gets WAY to crazy the moment she see's the park. The manager that took care of us still works there. He will ask where she is (which I love that he remembers us) when i'm there with Xena and I always have to say at home. Ophie is now getting trained at Leaps N Hounds at next to the patio so she will soon be able to return. read more

The service is terrible took way to long to get anything. Does not ask for proof of vaccines. Let's way to many dogs in to an area.

I had come here once before, and decided to take a friend who came to visit from out of town here with our dogs. We first ate in the picnic area and had some snacks and a few drinks, and decided to let our dogs play. We had a lot of fun, no problems arose until we left. A dog came in between the two gates that you go through to exit the dog park, we patiently waited to try and shoo the dog away from The exit gate before we open the second gate that open up to the outside. A woman who was standing on the other side was very rude, saying we were basically stupid and how bad of a dog owner we were, saying we should have grabbed the dog and put it back in the dog area. She stormed up to the front window to tell the employee that they needed to teach us a lesson. Even after we got the point from her rude remarks, she was still yelling at us from behind our back. The employee who informed us on the rules was not very nice either. I was really unhappy with the experience, considering we had a great time up until the moment we left. What had happened was simply a mistake and the employee and the customer was extremely rude to us. I couldn't even believe it. Must've been having a bad day, but still the employee should not have handled it the way she did. read more

When our dog gets out of the car here, she starts doing what we've nicknamed, The Yard Bar Dance. Truly, I think she is happiest here than anywhere else. There are pros and cons however. The Bark Rangers originally were on top of keeping the water dishes filled and now i see more customers than BR's filling them. Originally they were pro-active about cleaning up after a dog cause hey you may not have seen your pooch go while your back was turned ordering a drink, or they ran to the opposite side of the yard and were out of site. I always clean up after my dog, most people do, but there are times when you just won't see them doing it. The other day, I cleaned up after my pooch and noticed I was in a mine field of poop confirming what I had started to believe,they're not picking up after dogs as much as when they first opened. They've seemed to have sped up the check-in process with people just giving verbal "yes's" to signing up. It was a bit tedious trying to check-in and stuck behind a first timer with a lot of questions and paper-work to fill out. It definitely cut down wait time but I can't help but feel there may be issues overlooked in the process. This past week I had a first: As I was walking across the yard to the bar, 2 large (tall) Labradors started barking as they approached me. I knew it wasn't aggression but it was aggressive and they both jumped on me. I quickly turned my back. Unfortunately I was on my way to a party that afternoon but had to go home and change due to the muddy paw prints up and down my back and side. Muddy due to the kiddie pool they played in. Word to the wise girls,unless you're on the prowl for a SMWD, don't bother wearing your nicer clothes. Haven't eaten there so won't comment on the food. Pros Even in the hot weather there's shade to be found and there are a few misters in certain places that don't have as much shade. Dogs are having a blast. Bark Rangers on top of any aggressive behavior between dogs. Employees are nice and amiable. Small kiddie pool for the dogs to play in. Rinse station at the entrance for when you're leaving. Cons Small kiddie pool where dogs get soaked and then seem to find someone(s) to rub up against or stand next to while shaking their fur. Bark mulch is same color as the feces. Their specialty cocktails prices don't quite jive with the setting. Dogs are required to wear collars with tags, but lately I've seen dogs in there not wearing collars. Bark Rangers seem a bit disengaged at times, seemingly doing more socializing than patrolling. read more

This place was incredible! Lots of people bring their pets and the establishment does a good job managing it so everyone feels comfortable. There's no odor in the eating areas despite the large number of pets that roll through. The food was spectacular. I got the chicken sandwich, and deviled eggs. The food was absolutely excellent and the atmosphere was a huge plus too. I'd definitely go again. read more

My dog loves it here. I think it is a great concept. The staff is very friendly. I like how there's a separate area for small dogs. The food is decent. read more

I wanted to like this place. And at first, I did! The drinks are way overpriced and it's normally overcrowded, but it's a dog park. And this area needs it. However, my hopes were crushed after having dealt with a horrible employee there. I was returning from the restroom and started to enter the first gate. There was a lady leashing her dog there, so I waited. She looked as if she was ready to leave, so I opened the door for her. As it turned out, her dog wasn't leashed. I entered the gate and quickly shut it. Another employee asked that I not open the door and wait for the person to leave. I apologized, said 'yes ma'am' and waited for the dog to get leashed. After the dog was ready, I was able to go through the other gate. Outside the gate was an employee who started to yell at me (everyone was staring) about how the rules were there for a reason and meant to be followed. He said I was rude to the lady (I wasn't) and I kept apologizing just trying to get away from the situation. After this happened for what felt like forever, I grabbed my dog and left, never to return to this nightmare of a place again. His unprofessional aggression sealed the deal for my never returning to Yard Bar. I've been going to Dog House Drinkery Dog Park in Leander. It's completely worth the drive! The people there are kind, the prices are great, and the atmosphere is so much better! I can tell my little buddy likes it there much better there anyway. It's not as crowded and the people are so much more responsible with their dogs and make their dogs the purpose for the visit as it should be! read more

I love Yardbar! And so does my dog. Well, maybe not as much as I do. My dog just kind of hangs out next to me and watches me drink beer. But if you have a dog, this is a must-do place. The drink are cheap by Austin standards, and there is plenty of seating. Just be prepared for a lot of dogs and a little bit of dog chaos. Smile and enjoy dogs being dogs :) read more

Yesterday was my first time to visit Yard Bar, and I am so very happy that I did. Although I was saddened by the events that took place, I have to commend the staff and Bark Rangers there. It seems that the somewhat inevitable happened, and a dog fight broke out. While it was a very scary situation and sight to see, it was diminished in no time by the wonderful staff here. Within seconds of the fight happening, atleast 5 staff members took over the situation using air horns and other loud noises to break up the fight. And both dogs involved received immediate medical attention from a very large first aid kit. It really brought some peace of mind that you can take your beloved dogs to this establishment, and they have constant eyes watching over there well being. As I was there, I also witnessed the many Bark Rangers patrolling the area making sure all of the dogs were playing gently with eachother and showing no aggression. I have a small Shi Tzu pup and felt completely at ease with him running around with many other large dogs. This is a place I will most definitely be back to again soon. Bravo to the owners and staff at Yard Bar!! read more

Fun place for a dog owner looking to get a drink and a good bite to eat. Only complaint would be the prices. The food is a little too expensive for what it is. read more

This place is the fucking bomb. Seriously, $5 for a day pass, dogs have a safe place to run around, there's a full bar and menu, tennis balls galore, and awesome people. What more could you ask for in the middle of a city?? read more

I wish I could support places like Yard Bar, but charging a cover just to walk in the door and then the not-so-cheap food and drink prices? Come on guys... way to ruin a concept. Plenty of other bars and restaurants that cater to dog owners. Very disappointing. read more

I was in town from Dallas and I took my pups here and loved it! Everyone who worked here was so nice and very attentive to make sure all the dogs were safe! They don't allow harnesses, but will let you borrow a flat collar. Also, the Mac and Cheese is amazing. read more

Quintessential Austin. Food was really good and well executed. Just great menu to be eating outside. Get the Hush Puppies Loaded. I had Yardbird and wife did BLT w/ avo, both really good. Blondie at the end was delish! Best part was staff. Inside the dog park was really relaxed and good atmosphere. Thank you Yardbar for making it happen in Austin!!! read more

We're down from Dallas for a few days with our dog. This was a pretty cool place to go because it's a dog park that serves alcohol and food. With picnic tables and lawn chairs around the enclosed area. Super clean and the staff was very friendly. They had "Rangers" out watching the dogs and calming the area if needed. Would recommend if you are visiting with your pup. read more

Love the concept. The yard bird sandwich is really good. But $5 can beer is not going to make me want to stay and hang out. Two of us had a sandwich and 2 beers and our tab was $50. And that's not even paying $5 to let our dog in the play area. I can't do that very often. read more

Was very excited to check out the yard bar as was my doggie.. we had a lovely lunch and we're looking forward to having a cocktail after and watch the dogs play . Was very disappointed to find that we had to pay an entrance fee to get in after spending $75.00 on lunch... looked like a cool place but did not end up going in ... they should let you go in for free with a lunch voucher. The Web site never mentioned an extra fee .it was very misleading .probably will not go back .. read more

The only problem with Yard Bar is that there isn't more locations!!! I love YB and it saves me! I have a 1year old and she loves to run and play no matter the weather!. YB helps exhaust her while I get to chill and have a beverage! Great bartenders, great food, great bark rangers....I could go on all day! read more

PETER was so awesome. Very helpful and friendly. My dogs love him!!!! Thanks Yard Bar!

This is a really cool place! Super laid back vibe that you would expect at a dog park. The beer selection is pretty solid, and the prices arent bad! Also, the Bark rangers are on top of all the dogs, so you dont need to be super adamant about watching your dog. read more

I rarely rate places poorly but the experience we had was absolutely awful. 1 star is spot on. While the bartender was awesome and engaging - he even imparted some wisdom on this self-proclaimed IPA connoisseur - one of the outdoor staff members forcefully restrained my dog on multiple occasions for engaging in play with her four-legged friends. I've been to many dog parks and I've never encountered a staff member that physically restrained my dog instead of using of using vocal commands which she responds to - because she's trained - without regard for the dog's well-being. I'm extremely disappointed because I had heard great things but it's obvious that 1) they don't want dogs to actually play and 2) are reckless in their "discipline" of the dogs engaging in play. I came to Yard Bar hoping my four-legged child would have some fun, but couldn't wait to leave after this experience. I can't believe we paid an entry fee for our dog to be scolded and restrained while playing, but at least the beers and bartender were good. read more

This place was awesome! It was huge and they had lots of obstacle course type toys for the pups to play with. Employees kept the peace when pups got too rowdy, but that didn't happen often. Plenty of chairs, drinks, fans, and such! They even a dog washing station to rinse off the inevitable slobber and urine before you put your dogs back in the car. (Rinse off the dogs, not the people). The employees were all very friendly, and the human bathrooms were clean. My dogs had a great time and left exhausted, which was awesome! The only downside was that all the drinks were about a dollar more expensive than my regular bar, but it was cheaper than Rainey Street ($20 for three drinks). I'll take that though- leaving with some exhausted dogs is worth it!! read more

Typically the bar is good, however today for 4th of July there is a dog that has attacked 10 dogs and instead of kicking the dog and there owner out the dog is still here. Not sure if they know the owner of the dog and they are getting special treatment but You are causing the good dog owners to not want to bring there dogs here again for one bad apple that needs to leave. In the past they have done that. So you are willing to lose $100-250 vs. the $5 for the one dog to not allow him in. The owners of that dog is not even being accountable for there dogs and these are the dog owners who should not be allows at dog parks until they can play well with others read more

I love coming here with my pup. It's a fun experience for both of us, and it's really well-managed. I have a month-to-month membership, which is pretty reasonable. They have a great beer selection and some pretty good wines. The fans and mist help to keep things cool in the summer, and there is lots of water available for the dogs. I just have two complaints. I wish their beer were a little less expensive, and I wish they were open earlier in the day. In the summer, by 11:00, it's already too hot to be outside. Other than that, great place! read more

Absolutely love this place. I go about once a week and let my dog run around for a few hours. People there are very friendly and if your new to Austin it's a great place to meet new people. read more

This is my favorite place to bring our dog! I've never tried the food, however it's wonderful being able to have a drink while my dog lets out all of his energy. The staff does a wonderful job making sure any issues don't escalate and it is always very clean. I've already recommended this bar to other dog owners I know and have brought friends without dogs here, I love it so much! read more

I love yard bar. Very nice selection of drinks and they have high quality food. The staff is extremely helpful and kind. One suggestion. Drinks here are over priced. People are already paying membership dues. $5 for 12oz of beer seems pricey.. read more

We hit the yard bar last night...a bit chilly but a good drink and furry dogs help with this. Sort of a scene, I have a puppy and he gets rolled a bit but the Bark Ranger was great, got us some ice to help with a paw down incident. We were actually planning on dinning somewhere else but decided to stay...glad we did, the food was very good and the waitress was excellent. We will eat there again for sure..and dog play for double sure... read more

Awesome! Great food, excellent beer selections and creative cocktails, all while your pup gets some well-needed socialization and exercise. Love having it down the road- We'll be back for sure. read more

I had high hopes for the Yard Bar, having been to bar/dog park combinations in other cities across the country (as well as the Doghouse Drinkery in Leander. But I live in Central Austin and thus was excited when I heard about the more conveniently located Yard Bar). After going for the first time today, my hopes were dashed, and I won't return. There was poop everywhere -- neither dog owners nor, oddly enough, the staff, were cleaning up after the dogs. But worse was the pit bull mix that kept showing aggression to our dogs (all extremely docile). We complained and were told by staff that that is just how bully breeds act. We should have left then before that same dog pinned down my friend's very submissive dachshund, terrifying the poor little thing, AND snapped at one of my other friends. We complained again. Instead of asking the dog's guardian to remove the dog, she was allowed to simply keep it on a leash (bad idea at a dog park and I am pretty sure against their own policy). So in spite of the long drive up to Leander, I will go to the Doghouse Drinkery instead, where they are meticulous in cleaning the park and have a zero tolerance policy regarding aggression. read more

As you can see in my previous review, I used to LOVE this place. This updated review is not based on a single experience, but my 1-4 time/week patronage over the past 3 months. I have three dogs and I have an annual pass. I have eaten the food here (very good) and the drinks are great. The thing that has changed is the staff. The owner can't seem to keep her good people on board. I pay to come here for the peace of mind that bark rangers give me, and unfortunately, that's gone. I have seen aggressive dogs allowed to stay in the park after multiple incidents, dogs allowed to walk around on leashes (which is clearly against the rules), and handle fights completely ineffectively. This is not to say that they are bad people; in fact, most are wonderful. They just don't have the right experience or training, and that comes down to management. Yard bar has gone from a well-run place of solace to a small, overcrowded dog park with drunk people. The location is so convenient for me, but I can't say I'll be renewing my membership. read more

I have a very similar story to Michael P. My dog was attacked while visiting Yard Bar back in October and she had to have emergency surgery on her leg to repair the damage to her muscle. My husband was also bitten by the attacking dog and he has scars and pain in both of his hands. It was a traumatizing incident with both my husband and my dog in a pool of blood by the tables. I will say that the staff was extremely helpful when they drove us to the animal hospital but this place is just not worth the risk. The owner of the dog is not taking any responsibility for his dogs actions and we are stuck with $1,800 in vet bills and $1,000 in medical bills. My dog is sweet and very friendly and she had made lots of dog friends prior to this dog arriving. Unless Yard Bar changes their policies and makes the owners responsible for the actions of their dogs (the way it should be!!) then I would suggest not going there. read more