The Avenue Viera: Dog-friendly outdoor mall review
From the owner of a nervous blue heeler
I love taking Scout with me out in public — but I have pretty high standards for the dog-friendly places we go. When we moved to Florida, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that a cute outdoor mall was within walking distance of our apartment!
Here’s our full review of what it’s like to take our Australian cattle dog to The Avenue Viera.
The Avenue at a glance
In short: I couldn’t love The Avenue Viera more. It’s the perfect place to practice impulse control and environmental neutrality out in public.
Our favorite things about The Avenue Viera dog-friendly mall:
Dogs are allowed in all outdoor common areas — and many stores!
Walkways are wide enough to get space from other people and dogs
There is a wide variety of shops and restaurants
The central park fountain area is breathtaking
Leashes are required at all times
It offers fabulous socialization and exposure opportunities
Our least favorite things:
The air and pavement can get extremely hot during the day
It can be rather crowded at peak times
If you go, make sure you bring:
A collar and leash
Waste disposal bags
Food or another reward for good behavior
Drinking water
The least busy times are:
Early mornings on both weekdays and weekends
During working hours
The details of The Avenue Viera
Where are dogs allowed? Dogs are allowed in all outdoor common areas of the mall, on most restaurant patios, and in many stores. Each individual business has their own specific rules for dog owners.
When are dogs allowed? Dogs are allowed at all times the mall is open!
What restrictions are there for dogs? Dogs must be leashed at all times, and owners need to clean up after them.
More information, including any timely updates, can be found on The Avenue Viera’s website!
Getting to The Avenue Viera
The Avenue Viera is located in Viera, Florida, not far from Melbourne, Rockledge, Cocoa Beach, and other surrounding towns. It’s just a few minutes away from Viera Regional Park, which makes it a popular place to grab a bite after sports games!
The mall is surrounded by a large parking lot. Even at busy times, we always see at least a handful of open spaces.
Sit and relax by the fountain
I love to sit on one of the benches near The Avenue Viera’s beautiful central fountain in the morning. The sculpture is surrounded by a range of seating on all four sides, making it the perfect place to camp out for a while!
There’s also free wifi, so I can take care of some work while Scout practices being calm in public.
Browse the stores with your dog
Many of The Avenue’s stores are dog-friendly just like the common areas, as long your pets is well behaved and on a short leash.
This is a fabulous opportunity to practice good manners while out and about. Several shops even store treats specifically for the dogs that come through.
Enjoy a meal together
Most of the restaurants at The Avenue have some sort of patio. We particularly love 28 North Gastropub, which has the largest outdoor seating area!
Not all businesses allow dogs — it’s a good idea to call ahead first — but the ones that do usually provide drinking water (and plenty of kind compliments).
All in all: one of our favorite places!
At the end of the day, I feel utterly spoiled to live within walking distance of The Avenue Viera. We’ve had countless great experiences there — I highly recommend it! It’s the perfect spot for a training outing, confidence building, passive socialization, or to just enjoy a relaxing afternoon with your already well-behaved dog.