Restaurant week season touches nearly every major city in the country, and for good reason. It gives guests a reason to try somewhere new and gives you a reason to fill tables during what's often a slower stretch of the year. Whether you're a business owner planning your menu and staffing for the rush, or a guest mapping out where to eat next, here's what you need to know about restaurant week 2026.
Restaurants everywhere have leaned into the moment this year. Many are refreshing their menus and leaning on their point-of-sale platform to keep service smooth when the reservation book fills up fast. Even with rising food costs, the restaurant industry still has plenty of room to grow, and a well-run restaurant week is one of the more reliable ways to bring in new guests and get them to come back.
Below, you'll find the dates for restaurant week in eight major cities, plus a few tips if you're the one running the kitchen. If you want a deeper playbook, check out our 5 tips to shine during restaurant week.
What is restaurant week, exactly?
Restaurant week is a citywide celebration of local dining, usually run once or twice a year in cities like Chicago, Denver, New York, and Washington, D.C. Participating restaurants offer prix-fixe menus at a discounted price, giving guests an easy, low-risk way to try a new spot and come back for a full-price visit later.
You'll find every kind of restaurant on these lists, from fine dining rooms with multi-course tasting menus to casual spots serving up a great plate of nigiri. Guests can usually find something for brunch, a wine-paired dinner, or even a quick lunch. It's also a chance for restaurants to show off why they've earned the awards and reviews they have. If you're dining out, book ahead. Reservations fill up fast. If you're running the restaurant, an online reservation and waitlist system makes it a lot easier to manage the extra volume.
Many cities run a winter edition and a summer or fall edition, which lets restaurants build different menus around the season. Nobody wants a bowl of green chili in July when a chilled soup would hit better. Dates and rules shift from year to year, so always double-check your city's official restaurant week site before you plan around it.
Discover your city's official Restaurant Week
When is NYC Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the NYC Tourism + Conventions website, NYC Restaurant Week runs twice a year:
- Winter: January 20 – February 12, 2026
- Summer: July 20 – August 16, 2026, with a number of restaurants extending their menus through Labor Day weekend
NYC Restaurant Week has run since 1992 and is one of the largest in the country, with well over 500 restaurants offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners at $30, $45, or $60 across all five boroughs. If you missed the winter dates, the summer edition is your next shot, and reservations tend to go fast once the full restaurant list drops.
When is Dine Out Boston Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the Meet Boston website, Dine Out Boston runs on these dates:
- Winter: February 22 – March 7, 2026
- Summer: August 1 – 15, 2026
Dine Out Boston, formerly known as Boston Restaurant Week, runs for about two weeks each season across Boston, Cambridge, and nearby suburbs. Restaurants offer prix-fixe lunch menus at $27, $32, or $36 and dinner menus at $38, $46, or $55. If you're planning to dine out this summer, book early. Popular spots in the North End and Seaport fill up quickly once the season kicks off.
When is Washington DC Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), D.C.'s Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week takes place over these dates:
- Winter: January 19 – 25, 2026, with many restaurants extending their menus through early February
- Summer: August 24 – 30, 2026
RAMW has run this event since 1992, and it remains one of the region's most reliable ways to bring guests in during January and August, historically the two slowest months for D.C. restaurants. Brunch and lunch menus typically run $25 or $35, while dinner runs $40, $55, or $65. If you're planning a visit this August, check RAMW's site as the season approaches, since the official restaurant list usually goes live in early summer.
When is Denver Restaurant Week 2026?
Denver Restaurant Week runs March 6 – 15, 2026, according to Visit Denver. Now in its 22nd year, the event drew a record 320-plus participating restaurants offering multi-course menus at four price points: $25, $35, $45, or $55. Mark your calendar for March 2027 if you missed it, and keep an eye on the Visit Denver site for confirmed dates closer to the season.
When is Chicago Restaurant Week 2026?
Chicago Restaurant Week runs January 23 – February 8, 2026, according to Choose Chicago. This year's 19th edition set a new record with more than 550 participating restaurants across the city and suburbs, offering brunch or lunch for $30 and dinner for $45 or $60. Chicago Restaurant Week 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Choose Chicago typically releases them later in the year, so it's worth bookmarking their site if you want to plan ahead.
When is San Francisco Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, San Francisco Restaurant Week runs twice a year:
- Spring: April 10 – 19, 2026
- Fall: Dates haven't been confirmed yet as of this writing, though the event has historically landed in early November
San Francisco Restaurant Week draws more than 200 restaurants citywide, with brunch or lunch menus starting at $10 and dinner menus ranging up to $90. Keep an eye on the Golden Gate Restaurant Association's site for the official fall announcement.
When is San Diego Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the San Diego Restaurant Week website, the event runs twice a year:
- Winter: January 25 – February 1, 2026
- Fall: September 13 – 20, 2026
San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by the California Restaurant Association, features more than 100 restaurants across 30-plus neighborhoods, from Oceanside to Chula Vista. Menus start at $30 for a multi-course lunch or dinner. If you're planning a fall visit, September is your window this year.
When is Charlotte Restaurant Week 2026?
According to the Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week website, Charlotte's restaurant week runs on these dates:
- Winter: January 23 – February 1, 2026
- Summer: July 24 – August 2, 2026
Queen's Feast, now in its 18th year, brings together more than 120 restaurants across nine counties in the greater Charlotte region, offering three-course dinners priced between $30 and $55. As always, check the official site closer to the date, since participating restaurants and hours can shift.
Get ready for the rush
Restaurant week brings a wave of new guests through your door, and the restaurants that handle it best are the ones with the right systems in place before the rush hits. A reliable restaurant management system helps you move tables faster, track which menu items are actually working, and keep your kitchen and front of house in sync when reservations are stacked back to back. If you want to see how SpotOn can help you make the most of restaurant week and every other night of the year, request a demo today.
