International Network for Public Restaurants
The idea
What are public restaurants?
Globally, there are recognizable pieces of public infrastructure that support core aspects of our wellbeing: public healthcare, public transport, public education.
Despite being a fundamental need and right, food does not typically have an equivalent piece of universal public infrastructure.
Public restaurants are the proposal to fill this gap. The International Network for Public Restaurants (INPR) exists to support the exploration of this public infrastructure across the world.
A food provision scheme qualifies as a public restaurant only where it satisfies both of the following criteria:
1
State-supported
Public restaurants are underwritten by some form of state support, at any level of government: local, state/regional, or national. This support can take several forms, such as direct operation by a public body, financial subsidy, rent control, or subsidized premises and utilities. Whatever form it takes, this support must be permanent in nature, and it must imply a clear public stake or ownership in the restaurant.
2
Universal
Public restaurants are open to the general public. They are not means-tested, and access is not restricted to a defined population group (for example, by income, age, employment status, or place of residence) beyond the ordinary custom of any restaurant: that is, anyone may walk in and eat.
Where are public restaurants?
There are examples of public restaurants that exist across history and across the world, including across Brazil, Peru, Poland, Türkiye and India. There are also contexts beginning to test public restaurants.
Select a marker or highlighted country to see the scheme, its photos and a full summary. Drag to pan; use + / − to zoom.
About us
What is the network (INPR)?
The International Network for Public Restaurants (INPR) is a global community designed to advance the proposal for public restaurants. It envisions a world where food is protected as a human right and public good. In pursuit of this vision, INPR facilitates the exploration of public restaurants.
The network has two main functions:
INPR articulates and mainstreams the concept of public restaurants. The network works to build recognition of public restaurants so that they are known as a public policy option for different contexts across the world. It articulates the concept, clarifies how public restaurants are distinguished from other types of food provision and builds common understanding of their role within public infrastructure.
INPR facilitates learning and relationships. The network creates a global community of practice around public restaurants, bringing together governments, researchers, practitioners, civil society organizations, and communities to learn from one another. By sharing evidence, experience, and innovation across countries, the network enables different models to be adapted, scaled and continuously improved across diverse contexts.
Read the full charter here: Full charter
Connect
Directory
INPR connects governments, civil society and citizens across the world to facilitate learning, relationships and action on public restaurants.
INPR operates a switchboard function where we connect people across the world on the topic of public restaurants. The switchboard function: click connect to request contact details of our partners.
INPR was founded by 4 member organizations:
Partners
Members
What’s on
Upcoming events & news
Webinars, convenings and updates from across the network.
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