Taking your dog out for food or a drink should feel like a day out, not a hunt for the one spare corner by the door.

In Cambridge, the better question isn’t simply “Are dogs allowed?” It’s where can you and your dog actually settle, eat or drink, and enjoy the setting?

These four places are a strong starting shortlist not a league table  because each suits a different kind of outing.

The Mill, Mill Lane: best for a riverside stop

The Mill at 14 Mill Lane sits beside the River Cam, overlooking Laundress Green.

 It welcomes dogs, serves food and drink, and has a real-ale focus.

That location gives the visit a bit more purpose than a quick pint.

 You can walk along the river, then stop for food or a drink with your dog close by.

Check the current opening and service times before setting off, especially if you’re planning around a particular meal.

Fort St George, Midsummer Common: best after a walk

Fort St George is right on Midsummer Common, making it a natural choice after stretching your dog’s legs.

The pub says it provides water bowls, treats and space for dogs to settle, and accepts table bookings.

There are rules to know before you go.

 Dogs must stay on leads, off the furniture and in designated dog-friendly or bar areas.

They aren’t allowed in the restaurant area, so make sure your booking is in the right part of the pub.

The Panton Arms, Panton Street: best for an indoor pub visit

At 43 Panton Street, The Panton Arms allows dogs inside the pub as well as in its courtyard garden. It serves beer, wine and spirits, and says it provides water and treats.

That indoor welcome makes it one to consider on a cold or wet Cambridge day.

 The pub also advises booking ahead because it can get busy. For a nervous dog, that’s worth bearing in mind before choosing a peak-time visit.

Madingley Hall Café and Terrace Bar: best for a quieter daytime outing

Happy to go beyond Cambridge city centre?

Madingley Hall Café and Terrace Bar, at Madingley Hall in Madingley, welcomes dogs and serves coffee, cakes, light bites, lunches, craft beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.

It’s open daily from 9.30am to 4pm, so this is a daytime café and terrace stop rather than an evening pub option.

The setting may suit owners who’d rather avoid a packed city room.

The small print is the point.

Dog-friendly rules can differ between a bar, restaurant, garden and terrace.

Check the current hours, booking arrangements and seating rules before travelling.

These Cambridge-area venues aren’t being crowned winners.

They’re starting points for different plans: riverside food at The Mill, a common-side pub at Fort St George, indoor space at The Panton Arms or a daytime visit to Madingley Hall.

Which Cambridge pub, café or restaurant has given you the best combination of welcome, food and room for your dog?

 Tell us the venue and what made the visit work or what you’d change and we’ll look at building a bigger local shortlist.