Cadiz restaurant’s extra dog-friendly welcome raises eyebrows, should dogs sit at the table?

A recent social media post from a local Cadiz restaurant has got customers talking and tails wagging.

Doggy dining

Video footage from El Faro de Cadiz shows a couple arriving at the restaurant with their dog before taking a seat in the dining room. A member of staff welcomes the animal, asks for its paw and places a bowl of water beside the table.

El Faro’s message to customers is “Here, the whole family sits at the table.” Guests visiting with a dog are asked to provide its weight when booking, allowing the restaurant to decide where the party can be seated. The Cadiz establishment describes itself as pet friendly and says the policy has been in place for four years.

The video below got social media users tongues wagging, many praising the restaurant for recognising that pets are part of many families. Others appalled that dogs should be allowed inside a restaurant, especially not at the table where customers are eating.

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A post shared by Restaurante El Faro de Cádiz (@elfarodecadiz)

Supporters show their enthusiasm for pet policy

Supporters described the policy as a thoughtful decision that allows owners to share meals and special occasions with their companions. One commenter wrote that a meal or an afternoon is even more enjoyable when four-legged family members can be included, adding: “Thank you for opening your doors to them.”

Another customer said their family had spent 25 summers in Cadiz and usually left their dogs at home during the hottest days. They promised to visit El Faro with their pet the following July, saying they would be dining at the restaurant “with or without our furry friend”.

Regular customers also welcomed the decision. One called El Faro their favourite restaurant and said it was a pleasure to continue visiting with their dog. Another added: “More restaurants like this, please.”

Several supporters argued that a quiet, well-controlled dog can cause less disruption than badly behaved children. One person said their own pet remained in its carrier without making a sound, while they had endured children running and shouting around a restaurant.

Eyebrows raise at the hygiene issue

Critics focused mainly on hygiene, allergies and personal comfort. One diner said allowing dogs would be the only thing they disliked about El Faro, although they had never personally shared the restaurant with one.

Another customer said they regularly ate at the Cadiz restaurant but felt that dining beside animals was not hygienic. Respecting the business’s decision, they said they would no longer return. A further comment questioned whether a restaurant’s quality should be judged by its willingness to accept dogs. One critic also said they found it unpleasant to think of a waiter serving food after touching an animal.

El Faro said customers with an allergy, a phobia or another special requirement should mention it when booking. Several dining rooms and an experienced team allow staff to place different groups in suitable areas. Restaurant management also clarified that the video was filmed while the premises were closed to the public. After touching the dog, the employee followed the relevant hygiene procedures, the business said, adding that it applies food-safety measures from the arrival of ingredients through to cleaning.

What Spanish law says

Spain’s national Animal Welfare Law, which came into force in September 2023, does not force every bar or restaurant to accept dogs. Article 29 says restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses serving food or drink may allow companion animals into areas that are not used to prepare, store or handle food. The animal must not pose a risk to people, other animals or property, and public-health rules, local regulations and specific industry rules still apply.

Businesses that do not permit animals must display a clearly visible notice at the entrance. A restaurant can therefore decide how it operates, but customers should be able to see its pet policy before entering. Assistance dogs are subject to different access rights and cannot simply be treated as ordinary pets. Their access to public-use premises is protected under Spanish regulations.

El Faro has set out its stall loud and clear, well-behaved dogs are welcome at the family table, but what do you think, is it a paws-itively brilliant idea or have restaurants that allow pets at the table bitten off more than they can chew?