Panera Bread is the number one bakery-cafe chain in the United States and my favorite place to have lunch. After paying with a credit card on my last visit, I asked myself the question, “Does Panera take Apple Pay?” I did the research and found the answer. And now I’m sharing it with you.
What Is Panera Bread?
Panera Bread Company is an American chain of bakery-café fast-casual restaurants in both the United States and Canada. Besides the Panera brand we all know and love, they also operate Au Bon Pain and the Saint Louis Bread Company. They’ve grown significantly since Ken and Lisa Rosenthal founded the Saint Louis Bread Company in Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1987. Today they have more than 2000 locations with 52,000 employees serving delicious bakery items, pasta, sandwiches, salads, sides, and your favorite Panera soups with a smile.
Panera was one of the first major chains to commit to using free-range eggs while expanding their selection of plant-based protein options. After this significant commitment, they followed up the following year with a 100% GMO-free and artificial preservative-free menu. They are also known for serving poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on their salads and sandwiches.
Besides their healthy, ethical food offerings, Panera contributes food directly to charity daily. Each year, over 100 million dollars worth of Panera baked goods and bread are donated to charity.
What Is Apple Pay?
Do you own an iPhone or Apple Watch? Using Apple Pay and your Apple iOS devices, you can make a mobile payment at stores, through apps, and on the web. It’s a secure, contactless, and private way to pay that guests love. Gone are the days of waiting for change at the register or using a credit card reader that thousands of cards have been inside. Instead, replace your card with Apple Pay’s digital wallet app. Continue reading to learn more about how you can use Apple Pay to make your life easier at Panera!
But does Panera have Apple Pay?
Answered: Does Panera Accept Apple Pay?
Yes, Panera takes Apple Pay in their restaurants and through their Panera Bread app for mobile phones! Interestingly, Panera Bread was at the forefront of digital innovation in contactless payments as they were one of the first restaurant chains to accept Apple Pay.
As an added benefit, Panera is the only restaurant that offers 3% Daily Cash on all Apple Card purchases. So next time you’re in the mood for a quick bite, use Apple Pay to checkout at Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
Here is the press release from Panera in September 2014 confirming that they support Apple Pay in their restaurants.
Is Apple Pay Accepted Everywhere?
Currently, Apple Pay works at more than 2.5 million retail locations in the U.S., covering 85% of all U.S. merchants. Stores that accept Apple Pay include many top merchants, grocery stores, restaurants, big-box locations, pharmacies, and apps from some of America’s most popular brands. That said, 15% of stores, including Walmart, still don’t accept Apple Pay. Unfortunately, even though Apple Pay is a significant player in NFC (near field communication) mobile payments, there are still holdouts. How do you know if your favorite stores take Apple Pay?
How do I know where Apple Pay is accepted?
Finding out if a restaurant accepts Apple Pay can be a challenge. You could ask the cashier or search online, but it’s still a hassle either way. Luckily, Apple makes it easy to find out if a restaurant accepts Apple Pay.
To find out if a restaurant takes Apple Pay, open the Apple Maps app on your iPhone. Next, search for the store location and scroll down to the “Useful to Know” section below the store’s website address. If you see the Apple Pay logo or a checkmark next to “Accepts Apple Pay,” then you know that the store accepts Apple Pay!
What fast food places take Apple Pay?
While Apple users love Apple Pay, not every restaurant accepts it as a payment method. Besides Panera Bread, here are some other fast food places that take Apple Pay in the U.S.A.: Au Bon Pain, Baskin Robbins, Chick-fil-a, Chili’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, El Pollo Loco, Firehouse Subs, Fuddruckers, In-In-Out, Jamba Juice, Jack in the Box locations, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Jimmy John’s, Johnny Rockets, K.F.C., Luby’s, McDonald’s, Peet’s Coffee, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Qdoba, Rubio’s, Sonic, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, Tropical Smoothie Café, Whataburger, and White Castle.
How Do You Use Apple Pay At Panera?
Ready to order at Panera using Apple Pay? First, have you set up Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch to make mobile payments? If you already have set it up, you can skip to the next section; otherwise, read on.
How To Setup Apple Pay on Your iPhone or Apple Watch
To set up Apple Pay on your iPhone, go to the ‘Settings’ section and select ‘Wallet & Apple Pay.’ Next, select ‘Add Card.’ Press ‘Continue’ and select the payment type you want to use. Add your credit card or debit card details by either holding your iPhone over your credit card until it successfully reads your credit card numbers, or you can enter the credit card details manually. Your choice. Now you’ll need to agree to Apple’s terms and conditions and complete any required credit card verification steps. After this, your card will be in your Apple Wallet and ready to use using Apple Pay.
To set up Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, you will need to use your linked iPhone. Using your paired iPhone, open your ‘Apple Watch’ app. Next, tap ‘Wallet & Apple Pay.’ Now, tap ‘Add Card’ and follow the instructions to add your preferred credit card to your Apple Watch’s Apple Pay.
Note: Some retailers limit how much you can spend using a contactless payment method such as Apple Pay. Generally, a payment over this limit will go through, but the clerk will either check your ID or ask for a signature. Rarely, you’ll be asked to pay with a physical credit card or cash.
How To Use Apple Pay At Panera With Your iPhone
If you’re using an iPhone to pay with Apple Pay at Panera, follow these steps to pay the cashier:
- First, double-click on your iPhone’s right side button.
- Next, look at your iPhone’s screen if you’re using Face ID, put your finger on the home sensor if you’re using Touch ID, or enter your passcode.
- Finally, hold your iPhone over the contactless payment reader, which is the machine you’d normally put your credit card into. Keep holding it until you hear a ping, see a green checkmark on the payment reader, or see a checkmark plus the word ‘Done’ on your iPhone’s screen. That’s it!
How To Use Apple Pay at Panera With Your Apple Watch
If you’re using an Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay at Panera, follow these steps to pay the cashier:
- First, double-tap the side button on the right of the dial.
- Next, enter your passcode if prompted.
- Finally, hold your Apple Watch over the contactless payment reader until the payment is complete. That’s it!
How To Use Apple Pay With Panera’s Mobile App
- Open the Panera app, sign in or create a new account, and choose your store location.
- Pick your food and add it to your cart.
- Go to your shopping cart, review your items, and continue to the payment section.
- Choose your pickup options and choose Apple Pay as your payment method.
Does Panera Have a Mobile App?
The Panera Bread App lets customers order their favorite menu items for pick up, delivery, or in-store dining. With integrated options like Apple Pay, MyPanera rewards, contactless delivery tracking, and the MyPanera+ coffee subscription option, the app improves the guest experience. As part of a special promotion, new Apple Card users will earn $50 in Daily Cash on a purchase of $50 or more through the MyPanera App. The Daily Cash bonus will be transferred to your Apple Cash Card after purchase.
The MyPanera+ coffee subscription offers Panera rewards members unlimited iced coffee, hot coffee, and hot tea for $8.99 per month. This deal is exclusively available through the new MyPanera phone app. New subscribers can get up to four months of free coffee with unlimited refills for a limited time. Unfortunately, beverages such as cold brew, espresso drinks, cappuccino, and Iced Tea are not included in the subscription.
What Forms of Payment Does Panera Accept?
Panera accepts the following forms of payment: Visa cards, Mastercard, Discover cards, American Express cards, debit cards, Panera Bread gift cards, and cash. Apple Pay, Google Pay (Android Pay), and Samsung Pay are also accepted.