If you’re moving out of Philadelphia (or anywhere else) and your dog is basically your decision-making partner, there’s one South Jersey zipcode that consistently tops the list of dog-friendly towns: Collingswood.
Collingswood isn’t just a great commuter town, nor just an artsy town—it’s a dog town. Between its welcoming community, walkable neighborhoods, and endless options for dog-friendly dining, shopping, and parks, it’s no wonder our four-legged friends give this place two paws up. 🐾 Here’s why Collingswood is the best South Jersey town for dog people:
Dog-Friendly Dining
Collingswood is packed with restaurants and cafés, and plenty of them have patios where pups are welcome to lounge under the table while you eat. Among our favorites:
- Sabrina’s Café. Perfect for brunch with your pup curled up at your feet on their deck out back.
- Villa Barone. Italian comfort food, street-side dining.
- Revolution Coffee Roasters. Grab a latte and sip street-side with your sidekick. (They allow you to bring your dog in to order at the counter, in our experience!).
- Bistro Di Marino. A cozy dinner option with a pet-friendly patio.
- Hearthside. Upscale dining with outdoor seating that welcomes dogs.
- Haddon Culinary. This grocery shop/café has picnic tables out front, so while you cannot take your dog inside the store, you can eat streetside with your pup and watch the world go by.
Dog-Friendly Shopping
One of the things that makes Collingswood truly unique is that some stores even allow well-behaved dogs inside. We can’t guarantee it’s always the case (every business sets its own rules), but our experience has been very positive. Shops that have welcomed our well-behaved dogs inside include:
- Occasionette. Gifts, home goods, and seasonal finds, with a beautiful selection of greeting cards.
- Upcycle Fitness & Social Club. The front of their shopfront is a delicious coffee shop, that allows well-behaved dogs to sit in while you sip. This is a high-traffic zone due to people constantly coming and going from yoga & spin classes, so be mindful of where you dog's tail is!
- House Finch Suburban Nature Store. Perfect if you’re into nature-inspired finds. They sell plenty of bird food and feeders, and tons of cute gifts. The store did just introduce a shop cat 🐱 so ask staff if it's ok to bring Fido in first!
- Mercantile 1888 Gift Store and Zero-Proof Bar. One of our favorite dog-friendly businesses in town! This one is a must-visit for creative gifts and vintage finds. Their zero-proof bar resembles a real bar, with the most incredible non-alcohol beverages. A great place to socialize with friends and pups.
- The Principled Pet. This natural pet food and toy store is basically a heaven for dogs, and you can almost guarantee they'll give your pup a treat!
- Scissors & Suds Groomers. Bring your pup in for a fresh look, and shop their small section of supplies while there.
- BESPOKE Home + Life. An incredibly stylish home and lifestyle goods store along Haddon Ave. Be mindful of their store dog, Griffin, who's usually snoozing in the shop window. Also be mindful this store contains a lot of breakable homeware, so keep those waggy tails in check!
The Farmers Market
Collingswood’s Farmers Market, that usually runs from May to November, is a true dog-lover’s event. Well-behaved pups are welcome, and many vendors keep water bowls handy or offer dog treats. Strolling the market with your dog is practically a Saturday morning tradition.
Be mindful the Collingswood Farmers Market gets very busy. While the sniffs are everything, you may want to aim to bring your dog around opening time (8am), rather than later in the day, before the crowds surge in.
Parks & Outdoor Spaces
Collingswood has no shortage of green space for walks, jogs, or squirrel-chasing adventures. Here is what you can find within town:
- Knight Park. This sprawling, shady park has 70 acres of trails and fields, with plenty of parking in the park and on the surrounding streets.
- Cooper River Park. Ideal for longer walks, the immediate loop of Cooper River above Collingswood (from S Crescent Blvd to E Cuthbert Bridge) is a little under 4 miles, meaning you can really get in the steps with Fido. But if you keep heading east you can actually get in a much longer walk. Complete with river views and skyline backdrops, this is a dog lover's favorite place to be, and the county even introduced a dog park on the Cherry Hill side of the river!
- Newton Lake Park. Newton Lake is nestled between Haddon Township, Collingswood, and Oaklyn, and offers multiple lengths of trails to keep that tail wagging.
- Neighborhood sidewalks. Yes, even the neighborhoods themselves are walkable, with sidewalks lining nearly every street, making daily super easy!
Not only this, but surrounding towns like Haddon Township, Audubon, and Haddonfield offer many more parks, meaning Fido will never be bored. Check out Haddon Lake Park, Saddler's Woods, Crow's Woods, Pennypacker Park, and Croft Farm.
Wrapping It Up
For dog people, Collingswood is more than just a place to live—it’s a lifestyle. From sipping coffee on a dog-friendly patio, to browsing shops with your pup by your side, to weekend mornings at the farmers market or long walks through leafy parks, Collingswood is a town that makes both humans and their dogs feel at home.
If your move to South Jersey is being guided by a wagging tail, Collingswood should absolutely be on your radar. Start your househunt with one of South Jersey's best real estate agent's by filling out the form below.
