How many days in advance does The French Laundry release tables?

Approximately 60 days, on a rolling nightly basis at midnight Pacific Time — a new date opens every night.

Do I have to pay when I book?

Yes. The reservation is a prepaid ticket covering the menu price per guest. Wine, supplements and add-ons are billed at the restaurant.

Can I get a table at short notice?

Sometimes. Released and transferred tickets re-enter the system, most often in the final week and especially the day before.

Reservations & Booking

How to Get a Reservation at The French Laundry

The French Laundry releases tables roughly two months ahead at midnight Pacific Time, and the best dates disappear in minutes. Knowing the mechanics of the release — and of the cancellation flow that follows it — is worth far more than persistence.

By Reservations Research Desk · Published March 14, 2025 · Last updated July 28, 2026 · 8 min read

When tables are released

Reservations open on a rolling basis approximately 60 days before the dining date, at midnight Pacific Time. Every night a new date enters the system, so there is a release every single day rather than a monthly drop.

Because the release is rolling, you do not need to wait for a special date. Count 60 days forward from tonight and that is the date opening at midnight. If your travel dates are flexible by even three days, you multiply your chances substantially.

Set an alarm for 11:55pm Pacific, not midnight
Be logged in with a payment method saved before the release
Have a second device or browser ready on an alternative party size

Prepayment, party size and what is locked in

Booking is a prepaid ticket, not a held table. The full menu price per guest is charged at the moment of confirmation; beverages, supplements and any tableside additions are settled after the meal.

Party size materially changes availability. Tables for two are the most contested; four is often easier at prime times because the room has fewer two-tops than people assume. Larger groups are routed toward the private dining rooms, which are booked separately.

The cancellation window most people miss

Prepaid tickets can usually be transferred or released back into inventory up to a defined cut-off before the date. That means a steady trickle of returned tables in the final seven to ten days, and a noticeable cluster the day before as travel plans change.

Checking at unusual hours — early morning Pacific, mid-afternoon on weekdays — surfaces these returns before the general audience sees them. This is the single most effective route in for anyone who missed the original release.

Realistic expectations

There is no phone number that bypasses the system, no concierge tier that unlocks hidden inventory, and no reliable resale market that is worth the risk. Third-party listings offering French Laundry tables are frequently non-transferable and can be cancelled at the door.

If the dining room proves impossible for your dates, the group's other Yountville restaurants — Bouchon and Ad Hoc, both a short walk away — are cooked to the same standards of sourcing and technique and are bookable within days.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the author

Reservations Research Desk — Booking and availability analysts

The reservations desk tracks release schedules, cancellation patterns and deposit policies across Tock, Resy and OpenTable for high-demand restaurants, and documents what actually works for guests trying to secure a table.

This guide is compiled and checked against our verification process and editorial policy.

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Availability at Thomas Keller's restaurants moves quickly. Check what is open now, then use our guides to prepare for the release.

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