Jet Set: Dog-Friendly Denver
By Jennifer K. McGlincy, Co-Founder www.dandizettemagazine.com
Photos Courtesy of The Crawford Hotel, The Curtis Hotel Goldyn, and J.W. Marriot Cherry Creek
When I moved to Denver from Pittsburgh almost four years ago, I was thrilled at the prospect of living an elevated lifestyle. Situated at 5280 feet above sea level (yes, that’s a mile high) and boasting over 300 days of sunshine per year, Denverites spend the majority of their time outdoors exercising, shopping, eating and socializing. It should come as no surprise that because of this welcoming climate most people chose to do all of the above with their best friends: their dogs. Everyone has a dog. No seriously. Whether you’re thinking of moving to Denver with your furry babies or just taking them with you for a long weekend, here are some of my favorite Fido-friendly spots around the city.
WHERE TO STAY
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The Crawford Hotel
In the old offices of Denver’s Union Station, the 112-room Crawford Hotel provides an opportunity to experience Denver’s Western heritage while enjoying modern amenities. The Crawford Hotel has a unique vibe with three different styles of rooms; including “Pullman” rooms modeled after the luxury private railroad sleeping cars, the “classic” rooms with tall ceilings and large windows, as well as “loft” rooms with exposed wood timbers and contemporary designs.
The Curtis Hotel
The Curtis—a Doubletree by Hilton—is Denver’s only pop culture themed hotel. The Curtis charges a $25 pet fee per day but has no size restrictions. They also provide complimentary water and food dishes. One really cute thing that the Curtis does is take a polaroid of all visiting pets at check-in (if the guests want to participate) and then they post all of the pictures on the K–9 Club sandwich board, which sits prominently in the lobby.
J.W. Marriott Cherry Creek
In Denver’s Cherry Creek North shopping district, the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek is very dog-friendly. They don’t charge any extra pet fees and offer sheepskin dog beds, stainless steel food & water bowls and special treats. The JW Denver’s concierge also recommends local walks, hikes, dog-friendly parks.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
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Though most restaurants won’t allow your furry friend to join you inside, almost all Denver restaurants, bars and breweries welcome dogs on their patios and some even have a dedicated dog play space.
Forest Room 5
Located in Denver’s trendy Highlands neighborhood, Forest Room 5 serves up American cuisine and has a dog-friendly patio that evokes the great outdoors complete with tree trunks and campfires.
Z Cuisine
Z Cuisine is an authentic Parisian Bistro also located in the historic Highlands neighborhood. Z Cuisine offers a daily ‘Farm to Fork’ blackboard menu of Cuisine du Terroir following the whispers of the seasons.
Denver Beer Company
Offering flavorfully crafted beer and the belief that the best pints are those shared with good company, Denver Beer Co. draws inspiration from the beer gardens of Bavaria. Pooches are permitted on the patio and on-leash inside.
WHERE TO SHOP
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Most neighborhoods are walkable in Denver which lends itself to the perfect atmosphere for shopping with your dog. From the bustling Highlands to Cherry Creek North and Platt Park’s Old South Pearl Street, visitors and locals alike have access to international brands and style.
GOLDYN
Founded in 2007 by Vanessa Barcus, Goldyn began as a fully online boutique, offering a curated mix of iconic brands as well as progressive, emerging designers. The well-edited shop, which also stocks jewelry, shoes, books, art prints and other curiosities, is strongly enmeshed in the local Denver fashion scene. “All dogs are welcome and encouraged at Goldyn. My Maltese/Shih Tzu, Zoe, is actually the unofficial Goldyn shop dog and mascot. Zoe has her own fan base and we have customers who come by on the regular just to see her,” commented Vanessa Barcus, Owner/Founder of Goldyn
MELROSE & MADISON
Melrose & Madison is a contemporary women’s boutique that brings the styles of LA and New York to the laid back atmosphere of Denver. If you’re looking to add something unique to your wardrobe, look no further than this chic boutique.
KIT AND ACE
The feel-good brand, Kit and Ace, has recently opened shop in Denver’s River North Art District, better known as RiNo. This community is full of creatives and is the go-to place to emerge yourself in Denver’s art scene. Kit and Ace carries comfortable, contemporary, luxury apparel and is best known for their Technical Cashmere™ designs. The shop supports local artists by featuring their work and is also, of course, dog friendly.
If your pooch has been looking a little blue and could use a change of scene, why not pay Denver a visit? Between the nightlife, natural beauty and dog friendly businesses, there’s something for every fur child and pet parent out there.
