Boost Your Panera Experience: 10 Little-Known Tricks You Should Try Today

This post about using Panera tips to save money and boost your experience, contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support! Please also note that any prices, offers, and terms listed are subject to change at the discretion of the companies mentioned.

Ready to boost your Panera experience? Discover 10 little-known tricks that will elevate your next visit to the beloved bakery-cafe chain. From insider ordering hacks to secret menu items, this article is your guide to unlocking a world of Panera perfection.

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Savings Start with the My Panera Rewards Card

The MyPanera Rewards card is one of my favorite loyalty programs. It’s free and easy to sign up (you can do this at Panera.com) and one of the best ways to earn discounts and free menu items at Panera Bread.

Panera offers rewards that range from decent-to-phenomenal. Most often, I’ll receive something like $2 off a cup of soup or a free bagel, but sometimes they surprise me with a free You Pick Two or flatbread pizza. They also host special events -like additional rewards during My Panera Week- and rewards for birthdays and new registrations.

Rewards aren’t based on how much you spend. So you can technically purchase a cup of coffee or a pastry six separate times (provided the purchases are made two hours apart), and still receive a reward.

FAQ: When do Panera rewards expire? They are valid for up to 60 days after receipt.

Stay Connected for Special Offers

There are several places to check for new Panera Bread promotions, like via their dedicated promotion website page and social media pages.

A more efficient way to learn about specials is to stay subscribed to the My Panera Rewards newsletter. If you’re like me and get annoyed by frequent marketing emails, you’ll be pleased to know that Panera won’t clog up your inbox with multiple mailings every week.

If you have the Panera phone app, promos are usually listed on the top banner. Or try clicking the three bars at the top of the app, then on Rewards & Offers to check for specials.

Get Unlimited Coffee, Tea, and Sodas for a Modest Price

If you’re a big coffee, tea, or soda drinker, the Panera Unlimited Sip Club membership is a real bargain. For $11.99 (plus tax) a month, you’re entitled to unlimited amounts of brewed coffee, tea, sodas, or charged lemonade drinks.

You can fill up your cup as much as you’d like, provided the beverage is the same as the one you ordered. To get unlimited refills of a different type of beverage, you have to wait two hours to place a new order. So, for example, if on the first trip you decide to get coffee, you can drink as much coffee as you’d like. If you want to drink unlimited iced tea, however, you have to wait two hours.

To purchase a Panera Sip Club subscription, you need to be a My Panera rewards card member. Signing up is free and easy at Panera.com. Your credit card will be auto charged every month, and you can cancel at any time.

Panera Bread also gifts Unlimited Sip subscribers with occasional special offers, in addition to the ones received via the MyPanera rewards program. One of my favorites was 20% off an entire purchase, which was valid every Saturday for an entire month. This more than paid for my membership that month.

FAQ: Does the Panera Unlimited Sip Club membership include handcrafted beverages? No, it doesn’t include lattes, shakes, smoothies, or other handcrafted beverages. It does include the following:

Brewed coffee
Iced coffee
Iced tea
Hot tea
Pepsi drinks, including Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper
Lemonade chargers

Win Panera Gift Cards by Taking Surveys

When I have a few moments of downtime, I might use it to fill out surveys and earn points that I can then exchange for gift cards.

The following survey companies have offered Panera Bread gift cards as part of their rewards programs.

Branded Surveys
MyPoints. You can also earn points by shopping, playing games. And when you purchase a Panera Bread gift card through their site, you can get 4.00% back.

For me, taking surveys is not the best investment of my time, but unlike wasting time on social media, I have an opportunity to earn something useful.

Take Advantage of Gift Card Specials to Save 20%

If you’re a regular at Panera, buying yourself gift cards during their special promotion events is an easy way to save.

They usually offer gift card specials during the holidays or graduation season, and the promos are typically the Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card variety. With this offer, you usually have to wait until the next month to begin using the $10 gift cards.

Panera Bread also runs occasional specials where you can get 20% off the purchase of a gift card to use right away without waiting. As someone who regularly patronizes Panera, paying $240 for $300 worth of food is a good deal.

FAQ: Can you use an electronic Panera gift card code when ordering at the kiosk? Yes. If you don’t have a physical gift card to swipe, there’s a place on the kiosk for you to enter the code and pin numbers.

Watch for Panera Sweepstakes

Panera hosts sweepstakes from time to time. They recently held a giant holiday giveaway where the top prize (four of them) was Panera for a year in the form of gift cards and a one-year Unlimited Sip Club Membership. Other instant win prizes included Panera gift cards (from $5 to $25) and a trial Unlimited Sip Club membership.

Of course, there are no guarantees you’ll win anything, but entering is free and fast.

Get Creative With How You Order

You can end up paying less for some Panera menu items based on how you place the order.

For example, if you order a half grilled cheese sandwich and cup of tomato soup as a You Pick Two, it’ll cost about $9.48. Order the same item (a side is not included) from their Value Duets menu and you’ll pay $6.99. The Value Duets menu is limited to about six items, and they don’t offer exchanges for other items.

Another example: If I order two half Mediterranean Veggie sandwiches as part of a You Pick Two, I’d pay $9.58. If order a whole Mediterranean Veggie sandwich, my new price would be $7.99.

By using these (or similar) examples once a week, you can help offset the cost of a monthly Unlimited Sip Club membership. And as you save, you’re still collecting points towards your next reward.

Save with Family Feast Value Meals

If you have a family or group of friends to feed, Panera’s Family Feast Value Meals provide a way to save a few bucks.

The bill for two flatbread pizzas, for example, would be about $20.50. For about $3.50 more, however, I can order the Family Feast Value Meal and also get two whole salads. A whole salad by itself starts at $7.99.

Even if you don’t have a big family to feed, you can save the leftovers for a later time.

Get a Bakery Item for Half Price

Purchased separately, Panera’s bakery items range from about $2.89 for a giant cookie to $3.99 for a croissant. When you order one with a meal and beverage, it’s half price. And yes, drinks purchased through the Unlimited Sip membership counts as a beverage purchase.

Ask Staff About Half-Price or Free Bakery Items

Though Panera Bread donates its leftover food to local charities through its Day-End Donation program, some locations have been known to offer their bakery items at half price -and sometimes even for free- to customers. It’s not guaranteed, but when they do offer this, it would likely happen shortly before closing. It doesn’t hurt to ask a staff member or manager if they offer this to customers.

Now that you’re equipped with these 10 little-known tricks, it’s time to put them into action and elevate your Panera experience. Whether you’re a loyal fan or a first-time visitor, these insider tips will make your next visit a truly remarkable one. Don’t wait any longer – go ahead and try them out today!

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!