April is one of the best times for being outdoors in the desert. With sun-warmed days and blue velvet nights, people en masse — often with their four-footed family members — dine alfresco. Across the valley, dozens of dog-friendly patio restaurants offer water bowls, doggie treats, and other amenities for patrons with pooches.
In recognition of this month’s tribute to the natural world (Earth Day, April 22), we sniffed out several places that embrace humans and canines alike.
LEGEND
Allows Only Service Animals
Allows Dogs
Allows Dogs, Offers Water Bowl
Welcomes Dogs, Offers Water Bowl & Treats
Welcomes Dogs, Offers Water, Treats, & Other Amenities
Blue Coyote Bar & Grill 
This Southwestern-Mexican restaurant has a lively, dog-friendly, outdoor patio scene, where strolling guitarists serenade the crowd. The restaurant allows pooches on both the front and back patio, depending on how busy it is. Blue Coyote offers dogs water (iced during summer), as well as treats.
445 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-327-1196;
www.buecoyote-grill.com
Citron at Viceroy Palm Springs 
Citron regularly provides dog bowls for all of their four-legged diners. Whether accompanying resort guests or locals, dogs are welcome poolside. Wait staff presents them with ice water “on the rocks” in dog bowls adorned with Viceroy’s whippet insignia. Citron also offers a “pooch” menu for optimum dining pleasure.
415 S. Belardo Rd., Palm Springs.
760-320-4117;
www.viceroypalmsprings.com
Copley’s on Palm Canyon 
Copley’s patio offers dining with mountain views and cozy places by the fire pit. At this restaurant, canine diners are not uncommon. “We have one regular pooch named Farnsworth that frequents our restaurant,” Juliana Copley says. Copley’s provides water for Farnsworth and his four-legged buddies.
621 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-327-9555;
www.copleyspalmsprings.com
Ernie’s at PGA West
Ernie’s Bar & Grill, located at the Tournament Clubhouse at PGA West, offers alfresco dining with cozy seating around two fire pits and fabulous views of TPC Stadium and Nicklaus tournament courses. Dogs are allowed on the patio, where they have easy access to water bowls.
56150 PGA Blvd, La Quinta.
760-564-7125;
www.pgawest.com
LuLu California Bistro
Dog owners dine comfortably with their furry friends on LuLu California Bistro’s terrace that abuts the sidewalk on Palm Canyon Drive. Offering fresh California fare and a water bowl for Spot, LuLu is a happy place for both dog and human.
200 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-327-5858;
www.luluspalmsprings.com
Old Town Coffee Company
Old Town Coffee Company, a quaint coffeehouse with a strong sense of community, features patio areas that flow from arched covered areas to the sidewalk with colorful umbrellas. People with pooches are seen daily. The cafe provides water bowls and dog treats.
78100 Main St., Ste. 102, La Quinta.
760-564-5233
Pastry Swan’s Fix, A Dessert House
Walk your dog along El Paseo and stop at Pastry Swan’s Fix. The patio features a large fountain, umbrellas, and café tables. For the furry ones, Fix sets out water bowls daily and makes their own dog treats that pups love.
73580 El Paseo, Palm Desert.
760-34-3040;
www.pastryswan.com
ROC’s Firehouse Grill at the Cantina
Roc’s Firehouse Grill at Eldorado Polo Club puts you right on the sidelines of the polo fields with full view of horses, riders, palms, and mountains. Water bowls and doggie cookies are available for furry guests.
50950 Madison Ave., Indio.
760-342-2223;
www.rocsfirehouse.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Named after the owner’s late Siberian husky Spencer, this elegant restaurant allows dogs on the outdoor patio. A doggie etiquette card reads: “Only two dogs per table. Dogs must remain on the floor and not fed from the table. They may drink only from the designated pet water bowl, remain leashed, be attended, and well behaved.” It works.
701 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs.
760-327-3446;
www.spencersrestaurant.com
Twenty6 & Adobe Grill
(La Quinta Resort & Club)
Twenty6 and Adobe Grill allow pooches on their restaurant patios and provide water bowls, as well as tasty treats for dogs. The outdoor patios are located in La Quinta Resort’s lushly landscaped multilevel plaza, with nearby access to verdant lawns and beautiful views of the Santa Rosa Mountains — a perfect setting to enjoy a meal with the entire family.
49499 Eisenhower Dr., La Quinta.
760-564-5720 for Twenty6,
760-564-5725 for Adobe Grill;
www.laquintaresort.com
Zin American Bistro & Zini Café Mediterrano
The renovated Zin American Bistro, a modern version of the traditional French eatery, offers an inviting patio in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. A few steps down the street, Zini Café Med is a casual, European-style sidewalk café. Both restaurant patios welcome dogs and offer water bowls.
Zin American Bistro
198 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-322-6300;
www.pszin.com
Zini Café Mediterrano
140 S. Palm Canyon, Dr., Palm Springs.
760-325-9464;
www.zinicafe.com