You’re always ahead of the game with dog-friendly dining in a sunny climate – so many more restaurants with patios – and Palm Springs is sunny virtually every day of the year! Here are our 4 FAVORITE PLACES CHOW DOWN:

CHEEKY’S

Love everything about this place except the (worth-it) wait-time, typically about half an hour though they’re courteous enough to provide shade and complimentary pink grapefruit-infused water while you swoon at the menu. Bacon Flight? Yes please! We opted to try all 5 flavors for $5 – I favored the sesame seed, Bodie the apple cinnamon but I was tentative about letting him try the jalapeno. I took the tiniest nibble and my tongue was enflamed. Keep that iced water coming!

Their croissant dough cinnamon rolls are equally infamous but otherwise the main menu changes weekly. I’m kicking myself for not trying the Breakfast Polenta with dried apricots, mascarpone and berry jam when I had the chance. And I long to see the return of the Red Flannel Hash…

The pressed green juice is a must: kale, apple, mint and celery, really light and zingy, and it pleases me that the organic coffee is served European-style in a squat glass. Another little detail that sets Cheeky’s apart!

Nice mix of people & dogs and a happy, sunny, clean, healthy, yummy vibe!

Website: www.cheekysps.com

Address: 622 North Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Tel: 760.327.7595

Hours: Closed Tuesday otherwise 8am-2pm.

BIRBA

B is for Birba – Italian for rascal or scoundrel. B is also for Bodie and Belinda so how could we not love this atmospheric joint with its pretty patio lighting and animated chatter? Especially when we learn that Birba is from the same stable as Cheeky’s and thus offers enticing menu twists – strawberry, goat cheese and balsamic pizza for example. Or how about the short rib & celery root ravioli? Too delicious! Plus on Thursday nights from January to May there’s live music – we enjoyed some mellow acoustic guitar with an Italian Sailor. (That’s a cocktail of Amaro, fresh lemon juice and ginger beer.)

Website: http://www.birbaps.com/

Address: 622 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (760) 327-5678

Hours: 5-11pm Wed, Thurs, Sun, 5-Midnight on Fri & Sat. Closed Mon & Tue.

JAKE’S

There are dog-friendly restaurants and there are restaurants named after dogs. Palm Springs has two – Jake’s and Spencer’s. Spencer was a Husky beauty and Jake is a well-traveled Westie. In the restroom you will find photos of Jake posing neatly in Lake Tahoe and Oregon’s Gold Beach. Such a cutie.

Returning to our courtyard table I find a bowl of water beside Bodie and a Milk Bone tucked under the menu. Having ordered the pineapple, watermelon & roasted chicken salad I get pasta envy as the man beside me hauls up his first forkful of creamy carbonara. Other menu temptations include Weekend Brunch’s lemon almond waffles and the BLT Mary – Bloody Mary made with bacon-infused vodka! Today I’m more than happy with my refreshing Perrier-POM combo as I check out the stacked wedge heels on the sheeny-legged women and the men with immaculately-cut blazers and expensive haircuts. It makes sense that Jake’s would have a fashionable flair as co-owners Chris and Bruce previously worked with the likes of Chanel, Terence Conran and Mumm Champagne!

All the while Bodie relaxes by my feet and accepts fond attention from the neighboring table who, having speculated on his breed, proceed to talk about dogs they have known and loved throughout their meal – eavesdropping heaven!

An upbeat, bijou eaterie with warm, attentive servers.

Website: http://www.jakespalmsprings.com

Address: 664 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 92262

Tel: (760) 327 4400

Hours: Lunch, dinner & weekend brunch. Closed all day Monday & Sunday evening.

COPLEY’s

You might be a little bewildered when you first glimpse the unassuming and frankly shack-like exterior of Copley’s – this is the former estate of Cary Grant? Surely not! But when you pass through the gate and enter the expansive courtyard the air becomes a little more rarified. The décor is still pared down – dark wrought iron chairs and tables set with plain white cloths – but then you have the magnificent backdrop of the mountains and the clientele themselves adding a certain heyday ritziness. The menu accents have a certain flair – cabernet butter, avocado mousse, basil ice-cream – and then you discover the restaurant is named for the chef. And, what’s more, he’s giving a live cooking demonstration the other side of the fire-pit! (Of course this won’t always be the case but I can vouch for his passion for cooking and, just like Cary Grant, he’s actually a Brit!)

I felt a tad conspicuous being the only Happy Hour diner seated outside on the patio furniture (the buzzy bar is a more popular choice) but the upside was plenty of space around us – none of the usual concerns of having to maneuver Bodie out of the way of passing waiters/patrons etc. Naturally this was the one day he decided to tuck himself under my chair with just his rear end sticking out.

Still he managed to prompt conversation, first with the Maitre D who had acquired a new puppy a day or two before and then diner Will who showed me pictures of his beloved Russian Blue cat. She died too soon, just one years-old, but was such an intriguing personality she has inspired him to begin work on a children’s book called MoonCats – what a magical title.

A very civilized experience all round!

Website: http://www.copleyspalmsprings.com

Address: 621 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262

Tel: 760-327-9555

CARY GRANT & MOVIE DOG TIDBIT:

Did you know that the plot of Grant’s 1937 movie THE AWFUL TRUTH revolves around a husband fighting a custody battle with his wife (Irene Dunne) over a dog named Mr Smith? This is the French version of the movie poster – avec chien!

A year later the same wire-haired terrier dog actor (Skippy) appeared alongside Grant and Katherine Hepburn in BRINGING UP BABY!

WANT TO DINE POOLSIDE WITH YOUR POOCH IN PALM SPRINGS?

We also taste-tested these 4 dog-friendly hotel restaurants – check out the EATING sections in BODIE’S GUIDE to HOTELS IN PALM SPRINGS:

CHI CHI at the AVALON HOTEL (pictured above)

CIRCA 59 at the RIVIERA HOTEL

KING’S HIGHWAY at the ACE HOTEL

TINTO at the SAGUARO HOTEL

ALSO: DOGS & RESTAURANTS – 7 TIPS FOR HAPPY DOG DINING

Have you experienced any great dog-friendly dining in Palm Springs? We’d love to hear your recommendations!