What to wear to a nice restaurant on holiday

What should you wear to a nice restaurant on holiday? One step above your day clothes. Not a suit, not shorts and flip-flops.

The rule

Neat, covered, closed shoes. A collared shirt or smart top, trousers or a dress, and shoes that are not beachwear.

One reason this works

Restaurants differ, but most "nice" ones have a similar floor: no sportswear, no swimwear, no flip-flops. A single smart outfit clears that bar in many places, and it packs in a small corner of the bag.

How to check

• Look for a dress code on the restaurant's website or booking page
• Message or call and ask
• Look at recent photos from other guests

One exception

Some places are strictly formal, and some beach restaurants are barefoot. Dress codes differ by country, so check. If you are going to several dinners, a packable dress or a pair of smart trousers can be mixed with two tops. See city break packing list for how to build that. Our smart casual vs business casual guide explains the terms on booking pages.