As someone who writes about airline and hotel loyalty programs, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to earn status, maximize points and get the most value from rewards.
But some of the loyalty programs I use most have nothing to do with travel. I’ve accidentally earned top-tier Rouge status in the Sephora Beauty Insider program, and another favorite of mine is Cava Rewards.
I was a Cava superfan long before I paid much attention to its rewards program. When I lived in the Washington, D.C., area, there was a Cava right next to my gym, so I’d stop in at least once a week for a postworkout Greens + Grains Bowl. I also found myself there between errands or whenever I wanted something quick that didn’t feel like a typical fast-food meal.
Cava was even launched in my hometown in Maryland, and there’s a restaurant there today. Now I live in the Bay Area, where Cava hasn’t arrived yet, but the chain has announced plans to expand here — something I’m very much looking forward to.
Whether you’re a Cava newbie or regular, here’s how Cava Rewards works and why I think nearly everyone who eats there should join.
What is Cava Rewards?
Cava Rewards is the free loyalty program of Cava, a Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual chain of eateries. Members earn points on eligible purchases and can redeem those points for food and drinks. As you earn more points, you can move up through three status tiers — Sea, Sand and Sun — which offer progressively better earning rates and additional perks.
| Tier | How to qualify | Birthday gift benefit | Multiplier events | Access to $0 delivery fee benefit | Access to exclusive events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Join for free | A drink, pita chips or dessert | Earn double the points | No | No | |
Earn 1,500 points | A drink, pita chips or dessert | Earn triple the points | Yes, once per quarter on orders of $15 or more | No | |
Earn 4,500 points | 50% off a bowl or pita | Earn quadruple the points | Yes, three times per quarter on orders of $15 or more | Yes |
All three tiers also receive surprise offers and challenges, an end-of-year gift and early awareness of new menu items and locations.
Related: Say ‘queso’: Why Chipotle is my go-to restaurant rewards program
How much value can you get from Cava Rewards?
At the entry-level Sea status, you earn 10 points for every dollar spent at Cava, while the elite Sand and Sun tiers offer 11 and 12 points per dollar spent on restaurant orders, respectively, and 10 points per dollar spent on catering orders. Those points can then be redeemed for food and drinks, with rewards starting at 500 points.
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My usual order is a Greens + Grains Bowl without any extras. I don’t add avocado or premium proteins, so my total typically comes out to around $12 or $12.50, depending on tax. Sometimes I’ll add a drink, which costs $3.45 and can bring the total closer to $15.
If I spend $12.50 on a visit, I’ll earn about 125 points. That may not sound like much on its own, but if you eat at Cava regularly, those points can add up fairly quickly.
Here are the items you can use your points on and what they cost in two popular destinations, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., when paying with cash, as well as their redemption rates:
| Item | Points cost | Typical cost | Redemption rate |
|---|---|---|---|
A drink, classic pita chips, avocado add-on, harissa barbecue pita chips or whole side pita | 500 |
|
|
700 |
|
| |
A kids meal, or 50% off a bowl or pita | 1,200 |
| |
2,100 |
|
|
As you can see, you’ll gain the most value per point redeemed when using your rewards to cover the most expensive redemption option available: a bowl or pita. That’s not as common in the dining rewards world, as many programs, including Domino’s Rewards, MyMcDonald’s Rewards and Starbucks Rewards, give you the best redemption value when cashing in points for lower-priced items.
As for the option offering the least value? That is a dessert like a cookie or brownie. So, maybe skip adding a sweet treat to your meal.
The underrated perks of Cava Rewards
The opportunity to earn points (and redeem them for food) is what initially caught my attention, but Cava Rewards offers several other worthwhile perks.
Here are a few of my favorites:
- You get a birthday gift: Sea and Sand members can choose a drink, pita chips or dessert, while Sun members get 50% off a bowl or pita. Considering Cava Rewards is free to join, this alone is a nice reason to sign up if you eat at Cava occasionally.
- You can earn through challenges and multiplier events: Cava offers personalized challenges and multiplier events, with Sea members eligible to earn double the usual points, Sand members triple and Sun members quadruple.
- Catering earns rewards: Catering orders earn 10 points per dollar spent at every status level, so a large order for a work event, party or other gathering can be an easy way to build your balance.
- Higher status comes with more perks: Sand and Sun members get opportunities for free delivery, while Sun members also receive access to exclusive events.
Since Cava Rewards is free to join, there’s little downside to signing up. Just remember that points expire if you don’t make a qualifying purchase at least once every 180 days, and rewards redeemed with points generally expire after 60 days. Also keep in mind that gift card purchases and orders placed through third-party delivery services, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, do not earn points; you’ll need to order in person or through Cava’s app to get points for your purchase.
Related: This overlooked dining program is one of the most generous and gets you $25 off your very first meal
Who is the Cava Rewards program best for?
I’d argue that anyone who eats at Cava should join Cava Rewards.
If you’re a weekly or monthly customer like I was before moving to Northern California, your regular purchases can quickly add up to free food and drinks, while having a higher status helps you earn rewards even faster.
Even if you only eat at Cava a few times a year, there’s little downside to signing up. You can still take advantage of the birthday reward and any surprise offers or promotions that come your way.
Bottom line
I’ve worked hard for some of my travel status. My United Premier Silver status, for example, is something I earned by intentionally choosing flights and working toward the requirements.
Then there are loyalty programs like Cava Rewards, where earning rewards is almost effortless because I’m already doing the thing the program wants me to do.
I still make a point of visiting Cava when I return to the mid-Atlantic to see family. I may earn rewards more slowly these days, but I still like adding to my points balance and keeping my account active.
And now that Cava is making its way toward the Bay Area, I’m looking forward to getting back to a weekly bowl — and earning some of my tastiest rewards along the way.
Related: Gen Z is right. Taco Bell Rewards is pretty fantastic — here’s why