Restaurant Grand Opening Email template

A grand opening is your best chance to get a whole neighborhood curious about your restaurant at the same time. This template announces the date and hours, adds an optional opening offer and points guests to a single booking button.

Goal: Get guests to put the opening date on their calendar and book a table.
When: Two to four weeks before opening to build anticipation, again in the final week with the date, hours and booking link, and a short note on opening day. For a second location, send to guests nearest the new address first.
Tones: Warm, playful, polished
Includes: HTML, plain text, SMS

Juniper & Salt · Inbox

Juniper & Salt is opening its doors · We can't wait to welcome you. Here is when we open and how to reserve a table.

Customize with your details

Preview uses a fictional restaurant, Juniper & Salt. Every detail is yours to change.

Restaurant Grand Opening Email subject lines

Warm

[Restaurant name] is opening its doors
Save the date: we're opening soon
Come and meet us at [Restaurant name]

Preheader: We can't wait to welcome you. Here is when we open and how to reserve a table.

Playful

[Restaurant name] is opening. Come hungry.
Something delicious is opening nearby
Save the date. We're opening.

Preheader: Here's when to show up, and how to save yourself a table.

Polished

We invite you to the opening of [Restaurant name]
Please join us at [Restaurant name]
Announcing the opening of [Restaurant name]

Preheader: We invite you to be among our first guests. Reservations may be made below.

The grand opening email copy

Words in braces are placeholders. The generator fills them in, and drops any line whose detail you leave blank. “Copy text” gives you [bracketed] placeholders to replace by hand.

Warm version

We're opening our doors

Hi {first_name}, we have news we're excited to share: {restaurant} is opening. We'd love for you to be among the first to walk in.

Opening day is {event_date}.

Our hours: {hours}

To thank our first guests, we'd like to offer you {offer}.

Playful version

Doors open. Appetites welcome.

Hey {first_name}, big news: {restaurant} is opening, and you're invited to be one of the first through the door!

Mark your calendar for {event_date}.

Here's when you can find us: {hours}

And for our first guests, we've got {offer}. Showing up early should pay off.

Polished version

We invite you to our opening

Dear {first_name}, it is with great pleasure that we announce the opening of {restaurant}. We would be honored to welcome you among our first guests.

We open on {event_date}.

Our hours: {hours}

In celebration of our opening, please accept {offer}.

Details you can add: Event date, Hours, Offer.

Tips for your grand opening email

Give the exact date and hours. "Coming soon" with no date gives a guest nothing to do.
Have your booking page live before you send, so guests can act the moment they read it.
Say whether it is a soft opening or the full launch, so guests know whether to expect the whole menu and a full team.
If you open a second location, send first to guests who live near it, if your platform lets you filter by ZIP code, and send everyone else a shorter note.
Keep any opening offer simple, such as a free appetizer or welcome drink, and write the conditions in the email or in the offer line.
Send a short reminder in the final week and another on opening day. People forget dates they read three weeks ago.

Mistakes to avoid

Announcing a date you cannot hold. Permits and inspections slip, so "opening in November" is safer than a date you have to retract.
Sending to a purchased or scraped list. Most email platforms prohibit it, and those people never asked to hear from you.
Leaving out the address, the hours or the booking link, which are the three things a guest needs to show up.

Matching SMS

{restaurant} opens on {event_date}. Reserve your table: {cta_url} Reply STOP to opt out.

Text messages need their own, explicit opt-in. An email subscription does not cover SMS.

FAQ

Restaurant Grand Opening Email questions

How do I announce a new restaurant opening by email?

Send a short email with the opening date, hours, address and a booking button, and add a small offer for early guests if you like. Send it to people who signed up to hear from you.

How far in advance should I send a grand opening email?

Two to four weeks ahead to build anticipation, then a reminder in the final week and a short note on opening day.

What should a grand opening email include?

The opening date, hours, address, a link to book a table and a reason to come early, such as a small offer. Say whether it is a soft opening or the full launch.

How do I tell my list about a second location?

Say where it is, when it opens and how it differs from the original, then link to the new location's booking page. If your platform allows it, send guests near the new address a version first.

Welcome email

Say hello to new subscribers, set expectations and give them one easy reason to visit.

Part of our free kit for email marketing for restaurants.