The Warwick Denver Hotel welcomes guests of all kinds, including the furry, four-legged ones. Dogs are welcome, and because our canine friends are family, the hotel’s restaurant has a special Paw-tio Happy Hour. Locals don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy the Paw-tio during the mild fall weather, though.

The Warwick Denver Hotel, home to the Denver Playboy Club back in the 60s and 70s (if these walls could talk!), is located on the border of the Uptown and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. This historic building is now filled with Warwick International Hotels’ luxury and charm. That charm extends to the hotel’s restaurant, Randolph’s.

Randolph’s Restaurant & Bar has an upscale, yet local flair with its creative dishes and drinks. The patio is exceptional, lined with tall shade trees and made with natural stone and brick. It is a little oasis in the city. As one enters the Paw-tio, they meet Wags, a friendly dog statue that keeps an eye on the large dog water bowl at the entrance. Staff always keep it filled so our companions stay hydrated. While the traffic on the corner of 18th and Grant goes by, one hardly notices while sipping a glass of chardonnay as your best friend chows down on locally made “Pupcakes.” The pupcakes come from downtown dog bakery Biscotti Hound. The complementary pupcakes are for every dog who visits the Paw-tio while the humans get to enjoy some treats of their own.

The Happy Hour menu features $6 appetizers with generous portions, such as the house-made Truffle Fries topped with white truffle oil, fresh herbs, and parmesan served with a Tapenade that has Kalamata olives and cayenne pepper. While not hot, this spicy dip will complement the savory fries. Also on the menu is a crab cake served with a roasted lemon, fried jalapeno, and tiny sour pickles. Dip it in the Cajun Remoulade for an extra kick. Other human treats on the menu include Fish and Chips, Hot Wings, and Calamari.

Guests can fill their glasses with these happy hour specials: House wines for $6 a glass, well drinks for $5, and draft beers for only $4. Guests can also test their palates with several unique cocktails. The Lavender Honey Bee is made with Seagram’s gin, house lavender honey, lemon, and soda and server Katie says many guests order it as a dessert. The scent is all lavender and honey, a little like soap, but the taste is more gin mixed with lemon and just a hint of the lavender on the finish. This pale golden cocktail is slightly frothy on top and looks gorgeous with its curly lemon peel garnish. Other tasty cocktails include the Cucumber Paloma, Blackberry Sour, Acai Mojito, Green Apple Cosmopolitan, and a traditional Dark n’ Stormy. All happy hour cocktails are $7 each.

The bar’s Signature Cocktails are Colorado twists on old favorites. The Snowmelt uses Colorado-made Montanya Rum, agave, tamarind, vanilla, soda, and rosemary and has the perfect flavors for fall. The drink has a light brown color and looks warm and inviting, but is actually cool and refreshing with a hint of orange and vanilla up front and rum and caramel on the finish, reminiscent of a Colorado Bulldog. Other signature cocktails are the Colorado Mule made with Breckenridge Vodka, the Blackhawk made with Breckenridge Bitters, the Old Fashioned 14er made with Breckenridge Bourbon, the Mountain Ute Margarita, and the Centennial. Signature Cocktails run $11 to $14. The main menu also features a six-page wine list and rotating craft beers.

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 PM every day, and with outdoor heaters all around, the Paw-tio is open year-round, weather permitting. Dogs must be on a leash in all common areas of the hotel including the Paw-tio. Randolph’s is located 1776 Grant Street.

Photos by Carrie Dow