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Jul 14, 2023

10 of the Best Dog

Raise a glass to your BFF (best friend furever) at these welcoming outdoor dining and drinking spaces. The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign

Raise a glass to your BFF (best friend furever) at these welcoming outdoor dining and drinking spaces.

The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!

Dogs are our best friends, and many of us became even more bonded to our pets during the pandemic. So it’s only natural that you want your BFF (best friend furever) to tag along with you when you go out for a bite to eat or to grab a beer. Unfortunately, my bowtie-wearing Boston terrier was expelled from doggy daycare, so I can’t even begin to imagine how he’d behave at a bar. But should you have a well-behaved pup who likes to collect behind-the-ear scratches while you’re out and about, then there’s plenty of dog-friendly patios in and around Denver for you to enjoy together. Read on to learn about 10 of our favorites.

If dogs could talk, this is surely the kind of spot they’d suggest for a post-hike hangout or night out with their humans. Located in downtown Lafayette, Romero’s K9 Club and Taphouse features a biergarten that doubles as an off-leash dog park for well-socialized pups that are spayed or neutered and current on their rabies vaccinations. (First-time visitors need to fill out a registration form; day pass fees are $5 for one dog, $8 for two dogs, and $10 for three dogs). The space also has an indoor bar reserved for humans, and an enclosed, temperature-controlled pavilion where four-legged friends are welcome, too. The taphouse features a deep beer list, plus cider, wines, kombucha, and frequent appearances by the Waggin’, a food truck slinging gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. 985 S. Public Rd., Lafayette

Do you ever feel a tiny bit bad that you’re enjoying a tasty kölsch while your dog slurps up plain old water? Resolve your guilt at Rhein Haus, a Bavarian-themed restaurant that will soon offer nonalcoholic suds for canines through a partnership with Tailwagger Dog Beer. The N/A dog beer varieties include beefy brown ale, chicken porter, and veggie blonde. Go ahead: Toast your pup on the LoDo spot’s Market Street patio under the awnings and string lights. 1415 Market St.

Circus-themed Luki Brewery welcomes dogs under its big top (i.e., indoor space) and on the patio. The brewery occasionally hosts “Paint Your Pet” events, so you can bring home some artwork featuring the love of your life, and is also known to have dog biscuits made of spent grain. In fact, canine bar-goers are so loved here, there’s a wall of photos showcasing local pups, and Barley, Luki co-owner Camy Smith’s chiweenie, is a taproom regular. 14715 W. 64th Ave, Units A and B, Arvada

We’re not through the dog days of summer just yet, and if you’re panting for some relief, head to Mercantile. The Union Station restaurant’s new pergola offers lots of shade and space and is equipped with water misters to keep everyone cool on hot days. Snack on lamb meatballs and shishito peppers while your furry friend takes a nap, then take a jaunt together through the nearby pop jets to cool off even more. 1701 Wynkoop St., Unit 155

LoDo’s Dairy Block is lined with convivial bars and eateries, and the whole alleyway is dog friendly. That means you could do a patio bar crawl with your canine companion, sipping whiskey at Seven Grand, grabbing an espresso martini at Poka Lola, and popping by Deviation Distllery’s tasting room for something savory like a bacon-churro old fashioned. 1800 Wazee St.

Regulars at Highlands Cork & Cafe refer to sunny afternoons as “puppy hour” as there’s usually a nice crowd of canine customers splayed out on this peaceful patio. The cozy cafe, which is in a century-old converted home, sells paninis named after local dogs in addition to breakfast sammies, coffee, kombucha, wine, and cocktails. Dog treats and water bowls are available to esteemed four-legged guests. 3701 W. 32nd Ave.

With water bowls and ample picnic tables, the patio at Call to Arms Brewing Company is undoubtedly a dog-friendly hangout. But what’s more: This Berkeley neighborhood brewery partners with iResQ and hosts puppy yoga sessions with snuggly rescue puppies that are up for adoption. Or, come for the “puppies and pajamas” movie nights. Keep up with all the happenings on Call to Arms’ busy events calendar. 4526 Tennyson St.

Your dog will feel in her element at Forest Room 5, which has a sprawling outdoors space shaded by mature trees. The eclectic bar is camping themed, and with a bridge traversing over a babbling brook, fire pits, and picnic tables, it’s hard to believe that I-25 is just a block away. Enjoy a round of cocktails seated on a tree stump amid the national forest signs with your furry friend. 2532 15th St.

Swiss-inspired Waldschänke Ciders + Coffee recently made the cut as one of Yelp’s top dog-friendly places to eat in the country. Friendly, well-behaved dogs are allowed in the cidergarten and patio area, and the Waldschänke puts out water bowls and has treats stashed behind the bar. For humans, the EuroWagen food truck serves Bavarian pretzels, a Swiss Rosti Plate with crispy hashbrowns and a grilled bratwurst and cornichons (mini pickles), plus spicy stone-ground mustard. 4100 Jason St.

Your dog has accompanied you through the drive-thru for Starbucks’ Puppuccinos and been treated to Dairy Queen’s peanut butter-drizzled Pup Cups, but to truly spoil your canine companion, head to Little Man’s LoHi location. Dogs eagerly wait in line alongside their humans at the towering milk jug, where their patience is rewarded with petite cones of vanilla ice cream for just $2.99. Over the years, Little Man has hosted a myriad of dog-friendly events, including August’s Dog Days of Summer with pet adoptions, puppy splash pools, a doggy fashion show, silly pet tricks, and canine “paw-dicures.” 2620 16th St.