If you’re bringing your dog to Las Vegas and planning to do a little shopping while you’re here, one question is bound to come up: can you bring your dog into stores with you? Vegas is known for being flashy, fun, and full of surprises, but when it comes to pet policies—especially inside retail spaces and restaurants—things get surprisingly strict.

Nevada has specific laws that determine where pets are legally allowed, and most stores and restaurants have their own policies layered on top. That means what looks like a dog-friendly place from the outside might actually be off-limits once you’re through the door. So before you head out with your pup in tow, it’s worth understanding how store policies work in Las Vegas, what the laws say, and where you actually can go.

What Nevada Law Says About Dogs in Stores

Let’s start with the rules. In the state of Nevada, dogs are not legally allowed inside most indoor stores or restaurants unless they are trained service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Southern Nevada Health District enforces food safety rules that ban animals from any space where food is prepared or served. That includes grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, bakeries, and even food counters inside stores like Target or Walgreens. The only exception is for service animals—which must be trained to perform a specific task related to a person’s disability. Emotional support animals and therapy dogs don’t qualify.

Service dogs are legally protected and must be allowed into any store, hotel, or restaurant. Staff are only allowed to ask two questions: whether the dog is a service animal required due to a disability, and what task the dog is trained to perform. They can’t ask for paperwork, proof, or any details about the person’s medical condition. However, if the dog is out of control or not housebroken, the business does have the right to remove it, even if it’s a service animal.

So if your dog is a pet—even the best-behaved, friendliest, most purse-sized dog around—they can’t go into a store or restaurant unless the business has chosen to allow it and the location isn’t handling food.

Where Regular Dogs Are Welcome

While the law is firm about restaurants and food areas, many stores that don’t serve food do have more freedom—and some choose to welcome dogs. This is most common in outdoor shopping centers, where dogs are allowed in the open-air common areas and individual retailers make their own decisions about whether dogs can enter. You might see a water bowl near the entrance or a paw-print decal on the door. Staff are usually happy to give you a quick yes or no at the threshold, and more often than not, if your dog is calm and leashed, they’ll be invited in.

Las Vegas has a few standout shopping centers where this is the norm. Downtown Summerlin is one of the most dog-welcoming shopping centers in the city, with wide shaded walkways, outdoor seating areas, and a surprising number of retailers that allow dogs inside. You’ll often see locals walking their pups in the early morning or evening hours, browsing home goods or fashion stores that explicitly allow dogs. Town Square, located just south of the Strip, is another excellent option. It’s built more like a small town than a mall, and dogs are a regular sight in the common areas. Many of the independent shops and salons are pet-friendly, and the whole space has a laid-back, casual vibe that works well for both people and dogs.

Tivoli Village, with its cobblestone walkways and boutique storefronts, offers a more upscale version of the same experience. The outdoor setting and European feel make it a pleasant spot to bring a leashed dog, especially when the weather cooperates. While not every shop permits pets, quite a few do, and the outdoor seating areas at restaurants make it easy to include your dog in your outing.

What About on the Las Vegas Strip?

If you’re hoping to do a bit of shopping with your dog right on the Las Vegas Strip, you’ll quickly find that most indoor malls and casinos are off-limits to pets. Places like the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, or the Shops at Crystals all fall under casino or resort management, and unless your dog is a trained service animal, they won’t be allowed inside.

However, there is one major exception: Fashion Show Mall. Located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard across from Resorts World and next to the Wynn, Fashion Show Mall is one of the only large shopping centers on the Strip where leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed in the common areas—and in many of the stores as well. Some of the larger retailers like Dillard’s and Nordstrom allow dogs, as do several boutiques throughout the mall, though individual store policies can vary. It’s one of the few climate-controlled indoor spaces where you can actually browse with your dog in the heart of the Strip. Just remember to be respectful, ask before entering each store, and keep your dog close on a short leash.

Where You Can’t Go With Your Dog

Anywhere that serves food indoors is off-limits to non-service dogs. This includes not only sit-down restaurants but also smoothie bars, coffee shops, ice cream counters, and even bakeries. You might be able to walk with your dog through an outdoor food court area, but the moment food service moves indoors, the law steps in. And while many visitors don’t realize it, this includes hotel lobbies with cafés or markets inside them—even if you’re just passing through. Unless your dog is a qualified service animal, you’ll need to avoid these areas or keep your visit strictly to outdoor zones.

Dining Out With Your Dog in Las Vegas

Fortunately, if you want to grab a meal or coffee with your dog, patios are your best friend—and there are a lot of them in Las Vegas. The Southern Nevada Health District allows restaurants to welcome dogs on patios as long as there’s a separate entrance and staff follow basic sanitation procedures. So while you can’t go inside to order, many restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are happy to serve you and your dog outdoors.

You’ll find some of the best pet-friendly patios at places like Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at Town Square, where dogs are part of the brand’s identity, or Park on Fremont downtown, which offers a garden-style outdoor area where dogs are regular guests. At Downtown Summerlin, spots like Grape Street Café or Public School 702 have shaded patios where dogs are always welcome. Even some neighborhood coffee shops, like Mothership Coffee Roasters or Makers & Finders, offer comfortable, dog-welcoming outdoor tables where you can enjoy your drink without needing to leave your pup behind.