40+ Social Media Content Ideas for Restaurants

Gone are the days when people depended solely on word-of-mouth or the phone book to find a local restaurant. Today, the internet, primarily social media and Google, plays a major role in finding dining spots. With over 3 billion people using social media nowadays, your current and potential customers are definitely among them. 

So, having a strong social media presence is paramount for a restaurant. That is why we have created a list of social media content ideas for restaurants. You can study these content ideas and plan your social media posts.

And, don’t forget, if you need any help to boost your social media platforms, our team of expert social media marketers is here to help you. You can book a free consultation with us to discuss your needs and goals. Click here to book your FREE consultation

Why Restaurant Social Media Marketing is Crucial?

Social media marketing provides restaurants with the opportunity to introduce themselves to potential new customers while nurturing relationships with existing customers. The connection between these two parties is essential to build any brand especially those in the service industry.

For restaurateurs, creating personal connections with customers helps to deliver that warm feeling even after your guests have finished their meals. A strong social media presence with beautiful images, video content, and well-written content helps showcase what sets your restaurant apart, encouraging people to keep coming back.

Creative Social Media Content Ideas for Restaurants

Here are some engaging social media content ideas for restaurants to help your restaurant stand out:

1.Collaborate with Popular Food bloggers & Vloggers

Invite food vloggers or food bloggers to review your restaurant. For example, a well-known food vlogger might visit your restaurant, try several dishes, and post a video review to promote your restaurant. They can post mouth watering photos and videos on their social media accounts. 

On the other hand, a food blogger can visit your restaurant, try out some dishes, and write a review about your restaurant.

Typically these vloggers and bloggers have a huge follower base who trust what they review. So, featuring on their social media channels is a great opportunity to attract their target audience to your restaurant.

2.Share Limited-Time Offers

Keep your audience informed about what’s new in your restaurant. People prefer to take advantage of the limited-time offers. So, you can create social media posts related to the limited-time offers they can gain.

3.Post Positive Customer Reviews

This is one of the best social media content ideas for restaurants. Your potential customers do their online research before visiting your restaurant. One of the main things they do is read online reviews/testimonials your past customers have shared.

This could be the reviews on your social media pages or the Google Reviews platform. You can take a screenshot of a positive review you got from a customer and create a social media post featuring that review. Make sure to thank the customer who has left the review when you share it across social media.

Canva has many templates to create social media posts featuring customer reviews.

4.Share Food Pairing Suggestions

Provide tips on how to pair your dishes with drinks. For example, post a guide on pairing wines with your dinner menu. This type of content provides an educational value to your customers and helps to get a better experience at your restaurant.

5.Create Posts for Food-Related days

There are many international days that are related to food such as World Pizza Day and International Dessert Day. You can create social media content around these food-related days. The posts could be special offers during those days or fun facts about those.

Here are some example food holidays you can create posts for.

• January 16th: International Hot and Spicy Food Day
• February 9th: World Pizza Day
• February 22nd: National Margarita Day
• July 7th: World Chocolate Day
• September 26th: World Dumpling Day
• October 6th: International Noodle Day
• October 14th: International Dessert Day
• October 16th: World Bread Day
• October 20th: International Chef Day
• October 25th: World Pasta Day 

6.Highlight Your Sustainability Practices

People prefer to deal with businesses that are concerned about the environment. So, it is a good idea to share content related to that area.  

Show how your restaurant reduces waste and sources locally. For example, post about your partnership with local farms and how it benefits both your restaurant and the environment. 

7.Showcase Charitable Activities

Post about your involvement in local charities or community service. For example, share photos from a charity event you participated in and encourage your followers to support the cause.

8.Answer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Address common queries in a fun and engaging way. Create a video series where you answer questions like, “Do you have vegetarian options?” or “Can I make a reservation online?”

9.Celebrate Milestones

Share significant achievements and anniversaries. For example, post about your restaurant’s anniversary with a special offer for customers.

10.Highlight Ingredient Sourcing

Show how you pick and source your ingredients. For example, post a video of a visit to a local farm where you source your fresh produce. It will impress your customers and guarantee that they will always receive quality food from your restaurant.

11. Share Pet-Friendly Posts

If your restaurant is pet-friendly, you can try this social media post. Feature customers’ dogs and have a ‘dog of the month’ post. Encourage customers to bring their pets and post pictures for social media.

12.Repost Tagged Stories

You can share content where your restaurant is mentioned on social media. For example, repost Instagram Stories where customers have tagged your restaurant, showing their positive experiences.

It is a great way to show that you value your customers’ opinions and make them want to visit again.

13. Feature Signature dishes of your restaurant

Highlight what makes your menu unique. Post mouth watering photos and videos of your best menu item, with a story about what makes them special.

14. Participate in Social Media Challenges

Join popular challenges like TikTok dance trends. For instance, get your staff to participate in a trending dance challenge, adding a fun twist related to your restaurant.

15. Share Restaurant Tours

Give virtual tours of your restaurant. Post a video walking through your dining area, kitchen, and any unique features like a rooftop garden.

16. Conduct Social Media Competitions

Run contests, such as tagging friends for a meal. For example, hold a competition where followers tag a friend they’d like to dine with for a chance to win a free meal from your restaurant.

This is a great way to expose your social media accounts to new audiences and increase engagement.

17. Post Photos and Videos of food and beverages available at your restaurant

Share mouth-watering images of your dishes and beverages. High-quality photos and short clips of your meals can inspire viewers to visit.

You can hire a professional photographer to take pictures and it will be a great investment.

18. Highlight Employees

Introduce your staff to your followers. Post photos and short bios of a team member, highlighting his/her roles and fun facts about him/her.

19. Feature Customers

Show appreciation for your regular customers. Post photos of your loyal customers with their favourite dishes and a short story about them.

20. Promote Deals and Promotions

Keep your audience informed about current offers. For example, posts about happy hour specials, discounts on certain days, or loyalty programs.

21. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers to reach a broader audience. For example, invite a local influencer to try your menu and share their experience with their followers.

22. Share Celebratory Posts

Highlight employee achievements and milestones. For example, post about an employee of the month with a photo and a short description of why they were chosen.

23. Post videos of People Enjoying the Restaurant

Share short videos (Instagram Reels of TikTok videos) of happy customers. Capture candid moments of guests enjoying their meals and post them with their permission. Instagram and TikTok are great platforms for this kind of post.

24. Host Contests with Giveaways

Engage followers with exciting contests. For example, conduct a giveaway where followers can win a free meal by liking, sharing, and tagging friends in your post.

25. Create Day-in-the-Life Videos

Show a typical day at your restaurant. Post a video that follows a day in the life of your chef, highlighting the preparation of dishes and the behind-the-scenes action.

26.Behind-the-Scenes Cooking Processes

Your customers only see the front process of your restaurant and I am sure that they are curious about behind the scenes. You can show how your dishes are made. For example, post a time-lapse video of your chef preparing a popular dish from start to finish.

27. Historical Stories About the Restaurant

If your restaurant has a long existence in the industry, you can share the history of your establishment. Post old photos and stories about how your restaurant started and evolved over the years.

28. Feature Local Suppliers and Farms

Highlight your local partners. For instance, post about the local dairy farm that supplies your fresh milk, including a visit to their farm.

29. Share Seasonal Menu Changes

Inform customers about new seasonal dishes. For example, post about your new summer menu with photos of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

30. Highlight Unique or Rare Ingredients

Showcase special ingredients used in your dishes. For example, post about a rare spice or herb you use, explaining its origin and flavour.

31. Create Interactive Polls and Quizzes

Engage followers with fun polls. For example, ask your followers to vote on their favourite dish or guess the ingredients in a new menu item.

32. Share Event Highlights

Post about events held at your restaurant. For example, share photos and videos from a live music night or a special tasting event.

33. Feature User Generated Content

Share content created by your customers on your business page. Encourage guests to tag your restaurant in their posts and repost their photos and stories.

34. Post About Staff Hobbies and Interests

Show the personal side of your employees. For example, post about your chef’s passion for painting or your manager’s love for hiking.

35. Share Community Events

Inform followers about local events. Create content about community events you’re participating in or supporting, such as local festivals or charity runs.

36. Highlight Nutritional Information

Provide health-conscious content. For example, post about the nutritional benefits of a new salad or the low-calorie options on your menu.

37. Offer Sneak Peeks of New Dishes

Tease upcoming menu items. Share behind-the-scenes photos of your chefs working on new dishes, building anticipation for their release.

38. Feature Themed Nights or Events

Promote special themed events. For example, post about an upcoming Italian Night with a special menu and decorations.

39. Share Cultural or Historical Food Facts

Educate followers with interesting facts. For example, post about the history of a traditional dish you serve, including its cultural significance.

40. Share Holiday Decoration Photos

Show your festive spirit. Post photos of your restaurant decorated for holidays like Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day.

41. Create Posts Around Customer Stories

Share personal stories from your patrons. For example, post about a couple who got engaged at your restaurant, including their photo and story.

42. Host Live Q&A Sessions

Interact with your audience in real time. Schedule live sessions where followers can ask questions about your menu, restaurant, or anything else they’re curious about.

43. Post About Restaurant Awards and Recognitions

This is one of the best social media content ideas for restaurants because it helps to build credibility around a business. Celebrate your achievements. For example, post about awards your restaurant has won or recognitions from food critics or local publications.

Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms

Finding your voice and defining your unique style takes time, so we recommend starting with one or two social media platforms. Each platform offers different features and caters to different audience demographics, so you’ll need to decide which ones will make the biggest impact on your business.

Here’s a look at some key differences to help you decide.

Instagram for Restaurants

Instagram depends heavily on visual content for engagement, making it a necessary platform for restaurant social media marketing.

In fact, 90% of Instagram users follow business profiles to stay informed of their latest updates, including restaurants. You can post images and videos (reels) on both your grid and Stories.

In 2020, Instagram introduced Reels, which are 15-second video clips. You can use an online video maker to create professional videos with these features.

Facebook for Restaurants

A Facebook page is excellent for sharing essential business information, such as your business hours, location of the restaurant, and menu. It’s also a great platform to promote new menu items, special events, and customer reviews.

Facebook is particularly useful for appealing to an older audience that may not be active on Instagram.

TikTok for Restaurants

TikTok is known as the new Google. Because many people now use TikTok to find information. So, having a presence on TikTok is essential for a restaurant.

To appeal to a younger audience, TikTok is a great platform. TikTok has quickly evolved from a source of entertainment to a marketing platform.

By creating short videos showing various aspects of your restaurant, TikTok can help build brand awareness.

YouTube for Restaurants

Although creating full-length videos can be time-consuming, it’s great for giving potential customers a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant. You can create cooking tutorials, staff interviews, or showcase unique dishes.

Using YouTube paired with Facebook or Instagram helps promote your videos and gain more attention. For example, a fine dining restaurant might post a series of videos showing the preparation of a multi-course meal, attracting foodies who appreciate the art of cooking.

Social media management is essential for restaurants to build brand awareness, boost customer relationships, and showcase unique features. By creating diverse and engaging content, restaurants can connect with their audience on a personal level and encourage them to return. Start implementing these social media content ideas for restaurants today and watch your social media presence succeed.

This guide provides numerous social media content ideas for restaurants and highlights the importance of social media marketing for restaurants. By following these strategies, your restaurant can effectively engage with its audience and stand out in a competitive market.