Jose, Bermondsey

When the Bougie Staffy was almost a year old, I started taking him into central London for outings to get him accustomed to busy streets and the hustle and bustle of London life. On this occassion it was for lunch with a good friend to celebrate another year of becoming wiser.

Having only had my boy for less than a year, I hadn’t really researched any bougie places that were pet friendly so the challenge was initiated. My friend who was celebrating with me, is connoisseur of fine dining, I had to find the right balance of Michelin quality dining, with a central meeting place (as we were travelling in from different parts of London) and the restaurant being dog friendly. In terms of location London Bridge was the most convenient for us both.

Scouring the internet for dog friendly blogs and restaurants in the London Bridge area, I came across Jose, a spanish tapas bar which was highly rated and glowing reviews (Michelin Guide, The Good Food Guide, 4.5 Google rating to name a few). The pinnacle was the walk in service, ie you couldn’t pre book this place, which says it all! Thankfully it was a sunny spring day and there was a table outside when we arrived.

The menu is in the window making it easy to order. The “no frills” approach to this restaurant exuberates the focus on exquisite dishes and food quality. The tapas are to die for and pairing with a bottle of fizz made the bright sunny day one of the best celebrations I’ve had in London, with exceptional company too.

The added bonus was the park across the road which is fab for a post meal wander and socialisation with the many pet owners out and about on a sunny day.

I’d recommend getting to Jose’s after the lunch time rush mid week so you can enjoy the afternoon there and relish each dish.

Visited: Spring 2023

Website: Jose

Enjoying the warm sunshine and pavement out the front of Jose

The Bougie Staffy under the table