New York City: Bring Your Pets!

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Where to Stay

An amazing array of hotels at multiple price points accept animals. Many properties maintain a weight or size limit, have rules on whether a pet can be left alone in the room, and charge a fee so be sure to check before booking.

• Classic grand hotels such as the Peninsula, the Pierre and Essex House as well as boutique properties like the Tribeca Grand, Royalton and all WHotels welcome pets.

• Many of the large chains like Hilton, Sheraton and Embassy Suites also allow animals, some with deposit only.

In true New York style, some hotels present over-the-top amenities and services to ensure your four-legged traveling companion gets as papered as you do.

• The Soho Grand, which has no size restrictions or additional charges, features a doggie room service menu, daycare and even an ‘surrogate animal companion’ goldfish if you had to leave Fido home this trip.

• Upon arrival at the über-chic Hotel Gansevoort you’ll find a comfy dog bed covered in an embroidered sheet with your beloved’s name and treat-laden welcome basket in the room.

• I recommend staying near a park so your pooch gets some daily green. The Ritz-Carlton Central Park with their Very Important Pooch program is the perfect choice. 22-Karat gold plated ID tags, de-frizz and massage treatments, homemade gourmet treats and bone-shaped pet pillows are but a few of the luxurious perks. A variety of up-to-date dog fashions can be requested from the concierge, from a straight-off-the-runway trench to a smart leather jacket, depending on the weather (and dog’s mood).

Where to Eat

With so many fabulous cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating, Manhattan is the ideal place to bring your pet during the spring and summer. Three favorites are:

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• Bubby’s – This brunch and comfort-food institution in Tribeca offers al fresco dining, just be prepared to wait
• Pastis – Hip meatpacking district bistro (sister restaurant to the famed Balthazar in Soho) with outdoor tables is great for smaller dogs

• Boat Basin Café – Upper West Side spot at 79^th Street on the Hudson River welcomes dogs of any size and is a lively summer venue

What to Do

Parks & Dog Runs

• There are an estimated 49 dog runs and at least five main leash-required parks in Manhattan. Urban Hound is a fantastic resource; www.ny.urbanhound.com: you can search dog runs with detailed reviews by neighborhood.

• Battery Park and Riverside Park are both lovely and welcome dogs on leashes.

• Central Park, while officially leash-only, is a pooch haven, with numerous breeds meeting at Dog Hill on particular days. Pug people are especially exuberant.

• Canine Court, as the name suggests, is a dog-friendly venue, touted as the first public dog playground and agility course in the country. Unfortunately it is located way up in the Bronx but is worth a stop if nearby

Pampering

There are too many pet spas and grooming centers to list, but two superlative examples are:

• Woofspa & Resort – At this sleek ‘resort’ in the Meatpacking District, massages, oatmeal baths, ‘peticures’ and car service are de rigueur.

• Canine Ranch – A full-service animal heaven on the Upper West Side comprising a day-care center, boutique, groomer and ‘barkery’ turning out custom dog birthday cakes. Party hats, costumes and favors are also available for an impromptu fiesta with all the new friends from the dog run.

Swimming

• Swimming isn’t recommended in most spots as it’s prohibited in public parks, the water at many beaches is contaminated and the local swans are just plain mean. The best spot is The Dog Run NYC, in way-west Chelsea, offering canine hydrotherapy and recreational aquatics.

Shopping – Four Legs

The plethora of pet boutiques (Petco? Heavens no!) is unique for volume as well as variety.

• Whiskers Holistic Petcare in the East Village sells homeopathic remedies, all-natural foods and raw meat

• Canine Styles has a downtown location in the West Village that stocks hip designer merchandise. Their uptown store gives a new meaning to extravagant with Swarovski-studded and crocodile-skin collars, and hand-knit sweaters

Shopping – Two Legs

Luckily many of New York’s top boutiques and department stores allow pets

• Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales and Saks all permit well-behaved dogs on leashes

• Same goes for chain stores such as Banana Republic and The Gap

• Surprisingly, many high-end jewelry stores welcome dogs, most notably Tourneau and Tiffany

• And for the preppy shopper, all Ralph Lauren stores are pro-pet

Dog Walking Tours

• Many companies offer guided or mapped dog walking tours of the city

Doga

• Doga, or dog yoga, was pioneered in New York (not ancient India) by the owner of East Yoga in the East Village. This tiny studio offers 45-minute classes a few times a week, a great way to spend some quality time with your buddy.

Partying

• And luckily if you want to go out sans chien in the evening (even though you did buy those pooch party hats at Canine Ranch), there are numerous pet-sitting and dog-walking services, on a private or group basis.

• Again try Urban Hound; you can search by borough, zip code or neighborhood.

Getting Around

It is amazingly easy to traverse the city with a pet.

• It isn’t easy to hail a yellow cab that takes pets. There are dedicated pet taxi services (one inventively named ‘Pet Taxi’) that can be pre-arranged.

• The Pet Chauffeur will take even your animal solo (perhaps he’s needing some ‘alone time’) to the requisite spa treatment or doggie play date.

• Many modes of public transportation allow small pets in carries, including buses & subways and the Long Island and Metro-North Railroads.

• Craving a sightseeing adventure? Take your small animal in a carrier on the Staten Island Ferry for a view of the NY Harbor, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

• For a real New York moment, treat your furry friend to a horse-and-carriage ride in Central Park. Just be sure s/he doesn’t antagonize the steed.

Great Resources

As so many travelers are bringing their pets these days (undoubtedly encouraged by the ‘teacup’ breeds that so easily fit in a Chloé purse) there are numerous websites with pet-friendly hotel, restaurant, park and attractions listings throughout the US and world as well as general tips and blog postings. Three helpful sites are:

www.petsonthego.com

www.dogfriendly.com

www.ny.urbanhound.com

Your Next Stop

While Manhattan has always been a very pro-pet metropolis, it’s remarkable to see the trend gaining popularity.

• The Beverly Hills Hotel has signature pink food bowls, washable pet beds with the hotels monogram and the ultimate dessert: bone-shaped cookies with junior’s name written in frosting.

• Not to be outdone, the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota Florida offers four types of pet massages (at a mere $130/hour), Las Ventanas resort in Cabo San Lucas has poolside dog cabanas and Loews Coronado Bay Resort near San Diego offers dog surfing lessons.