Best Place To Wine And Dine Your Dog - Dream Dog
Feel like doing something special for Tinkerbell? Take her to the Dream Dog spa at the Benjamin Hotel. Inside the suite, a stuffed-animal dog toy and a welcome card with Tinkerbell’s name on it await. If you go out on the town, Tinkerbell can just lounge about in the room in her terrycloth bathrobe with “Dream Dog” embroidered near the gold hemline. If you’re too tired to walk her, just slip on the complimentary Dog on Television DVD, and Tinkerbell will be absorbed in a virtual dog run. When you finally return, you can enjoy a feast together: Scooter Foods delivers hand-prepared gourmet dog food to the Benjamin’s canine guests—and don’t worry, if Tinkerbell’s a vegetarian, they also make a tofu version. The Benjamin offers other pet services on demand as well: pet spas like Pup Culture and Biscuits and Bath, a pet psychic, behaviorists, and pet sitters. One time they were even asked for a dog Reiki session; the practitioner arrived at the suite within a half hour. It’s a doggy dream come true.

125 East 50th Street
Phone: 212-715-2500

Best Café To Write In - Doma
OK, it’s cramped. You’ll only get a seat by sheer aggression, and an electrical outlet by the grace of God. You’re guaranteed to bump your neighbor’s elbow or accidentally whack her with your shoulder bag. But in the rustic, Czech-flavored café and art gallery Doma, the music’s always low and never obnoxiously “lite.” They place serves tasty, inexpensive all-day fare, and no one ever chases you out. Despite the high number of hip, attractive patrons, everyone quietly focuses on writing their book, dissertation, or (in the case of frequent visitor John Cameron Mitchell) screenplay. The social interactions get more relaxed the longer you stay. Plus Doma’s huge windows, overlooking the quaint bustle of Seventh Avenue South and Perry Street, make you feel as if writing doesn’t have to mean missing the day after all.

17 Perry Street
Phone: 212-929-4339

See all the Village Voice Best of 2007 listings