Applebee’s Holiday Hours 2026: Open or Closed?
A practical rule I use when evaluating Applebee’s seasonal timing information is to treat any posted holiday schedule as a starting point, since location-specific hours can shift with staffing availability and customer demand.
Dates such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve may bring reduced hours, early closing, or limited-location exceptions, which makes local verification more reliable than assuming one chainwide timetable.
Applebee’s Holiday Opening & Closing Hours
Applebee’s opening hours and closing hours may follow regular hours, but modified schedules at individual locations can shift service; some Thanksgiving Day restaurants may operate 11 AM–8 PM, while others may close near 6 PM.
In practice, I’d verify location-specific schedules before leaving, since holiday hours, kitchen hours, city, local demand, and final operating hours can differ.
Is Applebee’s Open on Holidays?
In my experience checking chain-restaurant schedules, Applebee’s is generally open on many major holidays, although holiday schedules can change by location with reduced schedules, shortened hours, or stores closed completely under franchise policies and local laws.
Before visiting around Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or New Year, I’d check the official website or mobile app, or call the restaurant before leaving.
Applebee’s Holiday Hours 2026 Table
A practical rule is to treat Applebee’s holiday schedule variation as a location-specific schedule issue, so these 2026 times work best as a planning reference.
| Holiday | Opening Hours | Closing Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving — mostly closed | 11 AM at participating restaurants | 8 PM |
| Christmas Eve — shorter hours | 11 AM | 8 PM |
| Christmas Day — holiday closure | No service | No service |
| Easter Sunday — modified hours | 11 AM | 10:00 PM |
| New Year’s Eve — extended hours | 11 AM | 1:00 AM |
| New Year’s Day — normal schedules | 11 AM | 12:00 AM |
| Memorial Day | 11 AM | 12:00 AM |
| Labor Day | 11 AM | 12:00 AM |
Applebee’s Thanksgiving Hours
For Thanksgiving, restaurant-specific hours and local schedules matter more than a chain-wide assumption, especially as holiday dining demand and family visits can affect service.
The Day Before Thanksgiving may follow normal hours or reduced evening hours, so I recommend you confirm times before heading out and plan an early arrival when possible.
Applebee’s Christmas Eve Hours
On Christmas Eve, Applebee’s may be open with limited hours, so smart holiday planning starts with the specific location instead of assuming one chainwide schedule. When planning a visit, I’d check the posted closing time and arrive earlier, especially when holiday dining demand increases.
Is Applebee’s Open on Christmas Day?
Applebee’s is typically closed on Christmas Day, though individual restaurants may have holiday schedule differences shaped by state-specific variations and local holiday operations.
From practical holiday planning experience, I’d treat Christmas as one of the major holidays where checking your specific location first is the safest approach.
Is Applebee’s Open on Easter?
Yes, Applebee’s can be open on Easter Sunday, though franchise ownership, regional policies, and location-specific policy mean hours may differ.
For smoother holiday visits, I’d confirm the operating schedule and daily hours of your chosen restaurant location rather than assume normal Sunday service.
The official store locator can help verify whether only limited locations are operating under special holiday schedules.
Applebee’s New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Hours
For New Year’s Eve, many Applebee’s holiday locations may open later or keep late-night hours, while New Year’s Day can follow restaurant hours shaped by location-specific availability.
From a practical scheduling perspective, closing times may shift through extended hours or late closing, sometimes resembling weekend schedules. Checking the current open status before leaving helps avoid an unexpected holiday schedule change.
Why Applebee’s Holiday Hours Can Vary
Applebee’s holiday operating times often depend less on a single chainwide rule and more on location-specific exceptions, with urban locations, small-town restaurants, and travel-oriented locations responding to different local demand.
In practice, I’d check the local-specific schedule, because shortened operating hours, limited service, or an earlier restaurant closing can reflect staffing and holiday traffic.
Even nearby locations may differ in available services, including pickup availability, delivery, or takeout, so one restaurant’s schedule should not be assumed for another.
How to Check Applebee’s Holiday Hours Near You
Holiday schedules can shift beyond the regular schedule, so verifying your nearest restaurant before leaving is the safest approach.
Use Applebee’s Restaurant Locator
Search nearby city locations, including urban locations, suburban locations, or rural locations, and review the location-specific hours shown.
Call the Restaurant Directly
A quick call can confirm earlier closing, later closing, or changes caused by public holidays, special events, and weather.
Check Online Ordering Availability
Review current ordering hours to see whether dine-in or pickup availability has changed for the holiday.
Verify Location-Specific Restrictions
Restaurants affected by mall restrictions, airport restrictions, alcohol regulations, or independent restaurant ownership may follow different holiday operating hours.
Tips for Visiting Applebee’s on Holidays
Holiday visits go smoother when you verify local details before heading out, especially when schedules shift unexpectedly.
- Check before leaving: Review holiday updates, your nearby restaurant, and its current closed status using your ZIP code.
- Plan meal timing: Ask about the order cutoff and kitchen closing, particularly when following late-night schedules.
- Expect busier locations: High-traffic restaurants can see heavier traffic, so arriving outside peak dining periods usually helps.
- Confirm food options: A limited menu may apply on major holidays, especially when staffing or operating hours are reduced.
- Handle bigger orders early: Place large orders or request takeout service ahead of peak holiday dining periods.
- Check drink availability: Bar service can operate differently because local alcohol regulations may affect serving times.
- Verify Christmas plans: For December 25, many locations may be closed, although limited exceptions can exist nationwide.
FAQs
Does Applebee’s Serve Food Until Closing?
In practice, dine-in service may continue near closing, but the kitchen can stop taking orders 15–30 minutes early, so for quick meals, avoid closing time and expect possible menu limitations.
Is Applebee’s Open on Memorial Day?
I’ve seen that Applebee’s is generally open on Memorial Day in 2026, though each location may set its own opening time.
Is Applebee’s open on Labor Day?
In practice, Applebee’s is generally open on Labor Day, though individual locations may adjust hours around seasonal demand.
Does Applebee’s close early on Sundays?
In practice, Applebee’s does not always close early on Sunday; the Sunday–Thursday weekly pattern often points to 11:00 PM or midnight, although some locations may close earlier.
Does kitchen close before the restaurant?
In my experience, Applebee’s usually keeps food service running near restaurant closing, though some locations stop late orders first, shift to a late-night menu, or continue bar service after the kitchen winds down.
Can I order takeout or delivery outside regular hours?
From what I’ve seen, takeout or delivery usually ends with the restaurant’s operating window, so late-night dinners may remain available on weekends near 2:00 AM, while weekday schedules and Sunday closing around midnight can stop ordering earlier.
Conclusion
In my experience reviewing restaurant-hour patterns, the safest takeaway is not to treat Applebee’s weekday schedules as a fixed rule: a holiday day, late drinks, or Sunday can shift service, while smaller-market restaurants may respond differently to tourist demand.
Since competitor disagreement or internal inconsistency can make a published table seem definitive when locations are mostly closed or use weekend-style hours, verify a maps service, directions, and current address information before visiting.
