The luxury travel guide for small dogs and their humans.
Cheerio Checks In separates places that simply allow dogs from hotels, restaurants, patios, and destinations that truly welcome them — practical, independent, transparent travel intelligence for small dogs.
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The Cheerio Paw Rating System
Allowed is policy. Welcomed is experience.
The Cheerio Paw Rating measures how genuinely a place welcomes a small dog — not just whether it's allowed.
Pet-Tolerant Only
Dogs are technically allowed, but the experience is limited or inconvenient — not worth planning a luxury dog trip around.
Dog-Friendly With Caveats
Dog-friendly with caveats. Workable for experienced small-dog travelers, but with meaningful limitations.
Truly Dog-Welcoming
Genuinely dog-welcoming. A strong luxury experience with good logistics, service, and comfort.
Worth Planning Around
Exceptional. Best-in-class for small dogs and their humans, whether you're staying or dining. Worth planning a trip around.
We look past the written policy to the actual stay or meal: how warmly dogs are received, how easy the logistics are, and whether it feels seamless for both the dog and the human. Ratings appear in elegant paws, never stars — and only where they're truly earned. Four paws is our highest mark.
Luxury Hotel Guide
Featured check ins.
From grand city hotels to countryside retreats, Cheerio Checks In looks past the pet policy to how warmly luxury properties actually welcome small dogs.
Fairmont Château Laurier
Ottawa, Ontario
A genuinely dog-welcoming grand château in downtown Ottawa where staff warm to your dog and you can dine together on the canal-view Émilie's Terrace — held to three paws by a no-left-alone rule, a dog-excluded Fairmont Gold lounge, and a pet fee that's really per night, not per stay.
Policy status: Verified
View Hotel Notes →
Park Hyatt Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
A genuinely dog-welcoming Yorkville hotel where the staff sincerely like your dog and you can leave him in the room — held to three paws by dog exclusions from its best spaces (the rooftop bar and Joni) and a dog program that trails its warmth.
Policy status: Verified
View Hotel Notes →
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Cats and dogs to 13.6 kg per room, two maximum, on a $150 non-refundable fee plus a $150–450 cleaning charge set by room type — and the hotel runs two separate patios, LANO's small one at the front and EPOCH's large one at the back. It publishes nothing about leaving a dog alone, so confirm that directly.
Policy status: To be verified
View Hotel Notes →
The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
Montreal, Quebec
Two pets per room, each to 22.6 kg, on a flat $150 non-refundable fee per stay — no cleaning charge published, where the Toronto Ritz-Carlton lists $150–450. Quebec closes every indoor dining room to pet dogs, so Maison Boulud and tea at the Palm Court are out, and nothing is published about leaving a dog alone.
Policy status: To be verified
View Hotel Notes →Restaurants & Patios
Upscale places to eat with a small dog.
From elegant hotel patios to charming neighborhood dining, Cheerio Checks In identifies places that are comfortable, polished, and practical for small-dog travelers.
Émilie's Terrace
ByWard Market, Ottawa · Hotel garden terrace (seasonal)
A genuinely dog-welcoming summer terrace above the Rideau Canal — beautiful, calm, and easy for a small dog — with one honest limit: dogs are confined to the outer, umbrella-only edge high-tops and can't be seated past the central kitchen to the awning-shaded, canal-view main area. Three paws — Truly Dog-Welcoming.
Policy status: Verified
View Patio Notes →
Sassafraz
Yorkville, Toronto · Landmark Yorkville patio
A genuinely dog-welcoming Yorkville patio: Cheerio got his own seat and an unprompted bowl of iced water, and we rode out a downpour dry under the awnings. Four paws — patio-only, warm months, with the busy streetside setting the honest caveat.
Policy status: Verified
View Patio Notes →
Alobar Yorkville
Yorkville, Toronto · Fine dining, courtyard patio
One of Toronto's most genuinely dog-welcoming patios: Cheerio got his own chair and a branded water bowl. Four paws — patio-only, warm months.
Policy status: Verified
View Patio Notes →
LANO
Entertainment District, Toronto · Hotel café and wine bar
LANO has its own small patio at the front of the Ritz-Carlton, separate from EPOCH's larger one at the back. Dogs were welcomed there on a personal visit in 2025, before this guide was founded, but the venue publishes no dog policy — so confirm directly.
Policy status: To be verified
View Patio Notes →Destination Intelligence
Where small dogs travel beautifully.
Toronto
Ontario, Canada
Canada's largest city pairs a dense cluster of luxury hotels with walkable, leafy neighborhoods — a promising base for a small-dog city stay.
Explore Toronto →
Montreal
Quebec, Canada
European charm, cobbled streets, and grand historic hotels make Montreal an evocative base — with logistics worth understanding before you travel with a small dog.
Explore Montreal →
Whistler
British Columbia, Canada
A mountain resort town with a walkable, pedestrian village and grand resorts — appealing for small-dog travelers who want nature and luxury together.
Explore Whistler →
Ontario Countryside
Ontario, Canada
Country house hotels and quiet grounds make the Ontario countryside an inviting, low-stress setting for a small-dog escape.
Explore Ontario Countryside →Reader Reports
Stayed somewhere memorable with your small dog?
Submit a reader report. Reader reports help identify what deserves verification next, but do not automatically determine Cheerio Paw ratings.