Dine With Your Dog

Some businesses are taking the phrase “the dog days of summer” literally. Across the country, restaurants and bars are designating pet-friendly hours during which both dogs and their owners are welcome to relax, chow down or have a drink.

Starting June 24, 2007, every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the Catalina Hotel and Beach Club in South Beach, Fla., will host a “Must Love Dogs” brunch at Maxine’s Restaurant. The brunch costs $20 and includes gourmet doggie treats and personal water bowls for canine attendees, as well as a cocktail, main course and beverage for their owners.

Atlanta’s Hotel Indigo provides a Canine Cocktail Hour every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dogs receive complimentary treats and water, and items such as grilled chicken and sirloin steak may be ordered from the doggie menu. For pooches who love to strike a pose, Hotel Indigo offers a pet photo op in its signature chair. The hotel’s full-service restaurant, Golden Bean, provides pet owners with their own style of refreshments.

Several bars in the Washington D.C. area also cater to dog lovers. Union Pub has “Pooches on the Patio,” held Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Food specials include $5 Corn Dog Bite Buckets and $5 Flying Dog Golden Ale. On Wednesdays at the Helix Lounge in Dupont, dogs can lounge on the patio with their owners, who can select various specialty cocktails, including “Pooch Hooch” and “Pet Peeve.” A portion of the proceeds goes to the Washington Humane Society, and every Wednesday the organization brings a different dog seeking adoption to the lounge.