Backing International Small Restaurants Grant Program

Connect

To translate this page (日本語でご覧いただくには/ Para traducir esta página en español / Per traduir aquesta pàgina al català/ Per tradurre questa pagina in italiano/ Pour traduire cette page en français), click the translate button at the top of the webpage.

The International Downtown Association Foundation recognizes that small restaurants are vital to thriving communities. The Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, supported by American Express, aims to help restaurants to grow, recover, and support their local communities. Funding can support a range of initiatives including enhancing digital capabilities, building or refreshing dining spaces and making improvements to kitchen operations.

2026 Applications are Now Open

Restaurant owners are invited to learn more and apply for the fifth annual Backing International Small Restaurants grant program.

Grants are available for the following funding amounts in the following cities:

Auckland – 5 grants of NZD 25,000
Barcelona – 10 grants of EUR 12,500
London and Manchester – 20 grants of GBP 10,500
Melbourne and Sydney – 15 grants of AUD 20,000
Mexico City – 10 grants of MXN equivalent of USD $10,000
Milan – 5 grants of EUR 12,500
Montreal and Toronto – 20 grants of CAD $20,000
Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Tokyo – 10 grants of JPY 2,300,000
Paris – 10 grants of EUR 12,500

To be eligible, restaurants must be located in one of the 15 program cities above and:

Be currently open for business, in operation prior to September 1^st, 2025, and have a brick-and-mortar location/storefront. (Online-only or app-based businesses are not eligible)
Be a small/independently owned for-profit restaurant, café, bar or pub with food offering and not part of a franchise with more than 5 locations
Have a 2025 annual revenue below market-specific thresholds. See FAQs and Terms & Conditions below for more information.

IDA Foundation will evaluate applicants who meet all eligibility criteria based on the following priorities:

Clear use of grant funds and its impact on the restaurant.
Ability to deploy grant funds within a 5-month timeframe.
Demonstration of historic, cultural, or community significance
Investment in projects that help restaurants grow, recover, and support their local communities

When you are ready to start your application, please login or create an account to Submittable and use the country and language-specific links below.

Australia	Canada [EN]	Canada [FR]	France	Italy
Application	Application	Application	Application	Application
FAQ	FAQ	FAQ	FAQ	FAQ
Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions

Japan	Mexico	New Zealand	Spain [SP]	Spain [CAT]	UK
Application	Application	Application	Application	Application	Application
FAQ	FAQ	FAQ	FAQ	FAQ	FAQ
Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions	Terms & Conditions

The deadline to submit applications is Monday, November 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET.

For any questions, please contact Nataly Cruz-Castillo, IDA Foundation, at nataly@downtown.org, or call or message IDA Foundation via Whatsapp at +1 (202) 656-5541.

Learn More About Past Grant Awardees

International Downtown Association Foundation is honored to support these restaurants, which represent more cities, cuisines, and beloved local institutions than ever before. With 2025’s class of grantees, the Backing International Small Restaurants program has now supported 237 restaurants with over $3.2 million USD in funding.

See what’s possible. Watch how previous grant recipients put their funding to work to grow and strengthen their businesses.

2025 Grant Awardee Highlights

Charnela – Madrid, Spain

A Madrid tavern focused on innovative mussel dishes and quality beverages.

Henry VIII Ale House – Toronto, Canada

A cozy neighborhood pub with craft drinks and a menu for every taste.

The Lumsden Freehouse – Auckland, New Zealand

Classic local pub charm meets comfort food and great company.

The Moat – Melbourne, Australia

Italian-inspired comfort food beneath Melbourne’s iconic State Library.

L’Officine – Paris, France

A warm, seasonal French dining experience located in a historic pharmacy.

Q’Pedro Pablo - Mexico City, Mexico

Coffee, craft beer, vinyl records and signature fare in the heart of Roma Norte.

Takenoyu Bekkan – Tokyo, Japan

A former bathhouse transformed into a neighborhood pub for drinks and connection.

All Past Grant Awardees

View all past grant awardees from 2022-2025 and learn more about grantees from prior years.

View All

Charnela – Madrid, Spain

Henry VIII Ale House – Toronto, Canada

The Lumsden Freehouse – Auckland, New Zealand

The Moat – Melbourne, Australia

L’Officine – Paris, France

Q’Pedro Pablo - Mexico City, Mexico

Takenoyu Bekkan – Tokyo, Japan

All Past Grant Awardees

2026 Press Releases and Announcements

American Express press release

About IDA Foundation

The International Downtown Association Foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization working in collaboration with the International Downtown Association (IDA) to provide education, research, and support for creating prosperous city centers, commercial neighborhoods and liveable urban places for all. Follow IDA Foundation on LinkedIn and X.

Partners