Pet-friendly hotels in Miami, and the rules for bringing a dog to the beach, the train and dinner

More hotels on the tourism board's list

Greater Miami's tourism board keeps a pet-friendly hotel list, last updated January 26, 2026. It adds options we could not open on the hotels' own sites, so treat these as leads and confirm when you book.

On that list, the Fontainebleau takes nonaggressive pets up to 50 lbs for a $100 one-time cleaning fee. The Standard Spa in Miami Beach welcomes pets of all types for free. Kimpton's Surfcomber and Palomar South Beach follow the same no-fee, no-limit policy as EPIC. Aloft Miami Brickell takes up to two dogs under 40 lbs for free, but they cannot be left alone in the room. The Hyatt Centric South Beach is the strictest: dogs under 20 lbs, $175 per pet.

Kimpton Angler's Hotel in South Beach also says, on its IHG page as shown in search results, that pets of any size, weight or breed stay at no extra charge. IHG refused our fetch, so call the hotel to confirm.

The beach: mostly no

This is the rule that surprises dog owners. The City of Miami Beach prohibits dogs on its beaches, except in the designated Bark Beach areas, and requires dogs to be leashed at all times everywhere else. The Animal Care page names the Bark Beach at 80th and 81st streets, east of North Beach Oceanside Park, with the entrance at Collins Avenue and 81st Street. The city's parks page counts three Bark Beaches and 11 fenced Bark Parks, all free, with water fountains, benches and waste disposal.

The two city pages do not agree on how many Bark Beaches there are, and neither lists their hours, so call Miami Beach Parks and Recreation or check our dog beach guide, which covers each Bark Beach plus Haulover and Hobie Beach, before you plan a beach day with the dog.

Trains, buses, patios and the airport

On Metrorail, Metromover and Metrobus, a pet must ride in a closed carrier, such as a kennel, a bag or a backpack, kept out of the aisles and stairwells. A carrier too big to let passengers get out safely is not allowed. Service animals are exempt from the carrier rule.

Restaurant patios work differently than in many cities. Florida law lets dogs into outdoor dining areas only where the local government has adopted an ordinance and the restaurant holds a permit for its designated area. Where it is allowed, the dog stays leashed, off the chairs and tables, and never walks through the indoor dining room. Ask before you sit down.

At MIA, the animal relief rooms past security are near gate D34, gate F7, gate G11 and in the H-J connector across from the InMotion store. Outside, there are relief areas on the arrivals level across from Door 5 near the North garage and across from Door 15; the one across from Door 28 was marked temporarily closed for construction.