Yomiko Café in Coleraine is now officially dog friendly and we’re proud to say we played a small part in the decision.
After getting asked time and time again if pups were allowed inside, Lee from Yomiko decided it was time to say yes. The final nudge came when their social media manager came across Best Bark and suggested tagging us.
“I’m a dog owner myself,” Lee told us. “We were getting loads of questions about it. When our social media manager found Best Bark and said we should tag them, I had a look and just thought, ‘Yeah, go for it…it looks great.’”
And it turns out, saying yes to dogs was a brilliant move. Within days of the announcement, a bunch of happy pups had already popped in for a visit, each one treated to a free puppuccino (now a permanent fixture on the menu).
“The response has been lovely, especially online,” Lee told us. “We’ve already had a few dogs in, and everyone’s loving the puppuccinos.”
Yomiko’s decision is part of a growing shift we’re seeing across Northern Ireland. More cafés, pubs, and local spots are realising that making space for dogs doesn’t just bring in new faces — it helps create a relaxed, welcoming place where everyone feels at home.
That’s what Best Bark is all about. We’re here to spotlight and support dog-friendly businesses, and to give owners an easy way to find them.
“We’re buzzing to see Yomiko join the Best Bark community,” said Courtney. “They’ve got such a warm vibe, and it’s clear they genuinely want to make both people and pets feel welcome.”
To help spread the word, we’ll be sending Yomiko one of our official Best Bark window stickers so dog owners know they’re welcome as soon as they walk past.
“At the end of the day, dogs are part of the family,” Lee told us. “As long as they’re well-behaved and under control, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be welcome. It’s honestly been a brilliant decision.”
Yomiko is one of many cafés, restaurants, and hotels across Northern Ireland now opening their doors to dogs and we love to see it. Hopefully, even more follow their lead in the months to come.
If you’re a dog owner looking for places to visit, or a business thinking about making the switch, you’ll find plenty of info and listings over on bestbark.co.
