Tulips

Dog-Friendly Restaurant in Dupont Circle

We finally had some weather below 90 degrees and what better way to spend it than brunching al fresco with the pup! Tulips in Dupont Circle offers a great dog-friendly brunch that is phenomenal on several fronts: dog-friendly, service, food and drink.

First Things First: Dog Friendly

There is no shortage of great food options in DC, but not all make it easy or enjoyable to dine with your dog. Tulips is fantastic. There are about half a dozen tables outside and the only improvement we could find would be more shade. They have one large umbrella that provides shade for the two larger tables in the center, and we lucked out in getting one.

As soon as the server saw Rummy she brought a bowl of ice water for her. We often have to ask for water, so receiving it automatically was great. And with ice to boot! Rummy LOVES ice water. She had room to stretch her legs and moved around and under the table. It was really nice that she wasn’t limited. And I’m pretty sure every single person on that patio, customers and staff, greeted her. She was a happy girl! We also ordered a side of sausage for her, which was promptly brought out.

The Rest: People Friendly

As much as we love dining out with Rummy, brunch is an event we look forward to all week and we don’t want to sacrifice food and service for an accessible patio. We didn’t have to at Tulips. For $32 you can order an entree and enjoy unlimited mimosas, bellinis, bloody marys, oysters and beignets. We’ve enjoyed a number of bottomless brunches in the District but this is the first with unlimited oysters.

Once we received Rummy’s water, the server took our drink order. We started with bellinis and received our first round along with a full bottle of sparkling wine. It’s always a good day when the bottomless drinks are actually good, even better when you don’t have to wait for them. By leaving a bottle on the table, we were able to mix them to our liking, and refill them ourselves. No frustrating wait for refills!

We started with a dozen oysters and expected them to be tiny and were pleasantly surprised when they arrived. We were also pleasantly surprised when the staff didn’t rush us to order. After finishing the oysters, the servers asked us if we’d like more before even discussing entrees. They also brought out beignets which were a nice, sweet complement to the bellinis.

The entree list consists of standard, hardy breakfast selections–bagel and lox, Belgian waffle, breakfast sandwich on brioche bun, omelette, cheddar burger and benedict. The hollandaise on the benedict was some of the best we’ve had. Serious standout.

The staff is one of the most easy-going and friendly we’ve experienced. Brunch service can be hectic but each of the staff members kept a smile on their face and seemed genuinely happy to accommodate requests. We also appreciated the clean bathrooms.

Safety First

If you’re going to enjoy brunch cocktails, especially bottomless, be safe and take a ride. Most Ubers are actually dog friendly. As soon as the ride is confirmed, we call and ask the driver before it’s too late to cancel. We’ve only had one tell us they would not allow a dog to ride. Keep it safe for you, your pet and others on the road!

We’ll be back!

Overall, the brunch was phenomenal. We give it 4 pups simply for the lack of shade. The food and service definitely deserve 5, but we rate locations on how accessible they are for dogs (not how much fun we had!), and more shade is needed to accommodate more dogs. We’ll definitely return, especially for Bouquets and Bubbles. It’s not a dog-friendly event, but each Tuesday they have a class where you create a floral arrangement while sipping unlimited champagne. How awesome does that sound?! Flowers and vases are provided and you take your arrangement home with you! Cheers!

For more dog-friendly patios, check out our Dining & Drinks page.