How to start a dinner club (or supper club) with friends.
People use "dinner club" and "supper club" for the same idea: friends who share a meal on a regular schedule. Here is a simple way to start one, and how to run the RSVPs without a group chat.
Free during beta · Guests RSVP from a private link, no account needed
Start a dinner club in seven steps.
Start with 6 to 10 seats
That is enough for good conversation and small enough for one table. Not everyone makes every night, so a slightly longer member list is fine.
Pick a standing date
Choose a rhythm people can plan around, like the first Friday of the month or every other Thursday. A standing date beats a new poll every time.
Rotate hosts or rotate themes
Take turns hosting, or keep one home and change the theme: Italian night, a soup swap, breakfast for dinner. Either way, everyone has something to look forward to.
Decide: potluck, BYOB or host cooks
A potluck spreads the work. BYOB is the lightest. Host cooks works when cooking is the point. Say which one it is in the invitation so nobody guesses.
Set seats and keep a waitlist
Know how many chairs you have. When a night is full, a waitlist means a cancellation does not leave a seat empty.
Ask about food needs up front
Collect allergies and dietary notes with every RSVP, so the menu works for the table before you shop.
Keep it light
One main, one salad, something sweet. Start on time and end at a kind hour. People return to clubs that feel easy.
How Cheers! runs a dinner club.
- One series. Set up weekly, every other week, monthly, or a weekday of the month like the first Friday. Add up to 52 dates. See recurring events on the homepage.
- One link. Members get a single private link that lists every upcoming date with "N spots left" or "Full - Waitlist".
- Guests pick the nights. They RSVP only to the dates they can make, with no account and no app.
- A waitlist that works. When someone cancels, the next member is offered the seat by email, and by text only if they opted in. They have two hours to claim it, then it moves down the list. You can reorder the list.
- Rotating hosts. Each date can have its own title and location, so your club can list whose home it is at.
- Potluck questions. Add "What are you bringing?" as a drop-down, plus plus-ones, dietary notes and vibe tags like BYOB or potluck.
- Reminders. A week before and the day before, automatically.
Starting with a book group? See the book club app page. Hosting a one-night party? Try the Friendsgiving page.
Questions hosts ask.
What is the difference between a dinner club and a supper club?
The names overlap. Some people say dinner club for friends who take turns hosting and supper club for a host who cooks for the group, but nobody enforces it. Pick the name your group likes.
How many people should be in a dinner club?
Six to ten seats works well for one table and one conversation. If your member list is bigger, use seat limits and a waitlist so each night stays the same size.
How often should a dinner club meet?
Monthly is the easiest to keep going. Cheers! supports weekly, every other week, monthly, or a weekday of the month like the first Friday.
How do I keep track of who is coming to each dinner?
Create one series in Cheers! and send one link. It lists every upcoming date with the seats left. Guests RSVP to the nights they can make, and a waitlist handles a full night.
Do my members need an account?
No. Only the host uses the app. Members RSVP from a private link on any phone or computer.
More from Cheers!
- Book club appRSVPs, seat limits and a waitlist for a monthly book club.
- Friendsgiving with one linkAn invitation, a headcount and a "What are you bringing?" question.
- Partiful, Evite or SignUpGenius alternativeA fair comparison, with a link to each help page.
- How recurring events workOne invite, every date, and guests pick their nights.
Pull up a chair.
Cheers! is free during the beta. Leave your email and we'll send your invite.
Already hosting with Cheers! Log in / Sign up
