People eat with their eyes, and they decide where to eat on their phones. Before they book, they check your Instagram for recent photos of the food, look at the menu and get a feel for the atmosphere. A feed that makes them hungry does the selling for you.
Here are 25 social media post ideas for restaurants, cafes and pubs, grouped by what they do for your business, plus a simple weekly plan, ready-made captions, hashtags and the mistakes to avoid.
What should a restaurant post on social media?
The short answer: food photos that make people hungry, offers and events that fill quiet nights, a look at the people in the kitchen and proof from customers who loved it. Three posts a week covering that mix is enough.
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Your weekly posting plan at a glance
You do not need to post every day. Three posts a week, each with a different job, is plenty for a busy restaurant.
An offer or event for your quietest night.
Your best looking dish, shot in daylight.
Specials, live music or remaining tables.
A new menu, a seasonal dish or a themed night.
Mother's Day, Christmas bookings, summer terraces and bank holidays.
A loyalty reward or a locals' offer.
Post ideas that make people hungry
One great food photo is worth a hundred words of description.
Dish of the week
Your best seller or a new special, photographed in natural light near a window.
Close-up videos
A cheese pull, a sauce being poured or a pint being pulled. Short and irresistible.
New menu launches
Tease it for a week, then reveal it dish by dish.
Seasonal specials
Asparagus in spring, game in autumn. It shows the kitchen cares.
Drinks
Cocktails, local ales and the coffee machine in action.
Desserts
They get shared more than any other course.
Post ideas that fill your tables
Give people a reason to book tonight, especially on the nights you need them.
Midweek offers
Steak night, two for one pizzas or a set lunch menu.
Events
Quiz nights, live music and tasting evenings. Post them early and often.
Remaining tables
"Two tables left for Saturday." Specific and urgent.
Seasonal bookings
Christmas parties, Mother's Day and Valentine's fill up fast. Our 2027 social media calendar helps you plan ahead.
Private hire and groups
Show the space set up for a party.
Takeaway and delivery
How to order, and what travels well.
Post ideas that build trust
People want to know who is cooking their food and where it comes from.
Customer reviews
Turn a five star review into a graphic. Here is how to encourage customers to leave a review.
Meet the team
The chef, the front of house star and the person who makes the best flat white.
Local suppliers
The butcher, baker and farm you buy from. Tag them.
Behind the scenes
Prep in the kitchen, bread coming out of the oven and the specials board being written.
Food hygiene rating
A five is worth showing off.
Allergens and dietary options
Gluten free, vegan and allergen information. It matters enormously to the people who need it.
Your story
How the place started and what you stand for.
Post ideas that get people talking
These keep you in the feed, so you are the first name people think of. Here is more on how to generate more engagement.
This or that
Red or brown sauce? Sweet or savoury breakfast?
Name the special
Let followers name a new dish or cocktail, and give the winner one on the house.
Polls
Vote for next week's special.
Customer photos
Reshare tagged photos, with a thank you.
Food days
Pancake Day, National Pizza Day and Burns Night give you an easy theme.
Competitions
Tag who you would bring for a chance to win dinner for two.
Restaurant captions you can use
Swap in your own details and they are ready to go.
Wednesday is steak night 🥩
Two steaks and a bottle of wine for £45, every week.
Book your table at the link in our bio.
New on the menu this week.
Slow cooked beef shin, creamy mash and a red wine gravy you will want to drink.
Tables are filling up for Saturday. Call [phone number].
You decide next week's special.
Fish pie or chicken and leek pie?
Vote in the comments.
Hashtags for restaurants and cafes
Use two or three of these, then add hashtags for your town and the services you want more of.
- #Foodie
- #EatLocal
- #FoodieUK
- #RestaurantLife
- #NewMenu
- #Brunch
- #DateNight
- #SupportLocal
- #PubFood
- #CoffeeShop
Restaurant social media dos and don'ts
Do
- Photograph food in natural light, near a window
- Put your booking link or phone number on every offer post
- Reply to comments and messages quickly, as questions turn into bookings. Our community management service can help
- Post to your Google Business Profile as well as your social channels
- Ask every happy customer for a review
Don't
- Post dark or blurry food photos. No photo is better than a bad one
- Argue with a bad review in public. Reply calmly and take it offline
- Leave old menus, prices or opening hours on your profiles
- Post only when things are quiet. Consistent feeds win more bookings
- Rely on stock photos. Real photos of your own team and work are more convincing
Restaurant social media FAQs
What should a restaurant post on social media?
A mix of mouth-watering food photos, offers and events, team and supplier stories, and customer reviews. Aim for posts that make people hungry, fill your tables, build trust and get people talking.
How often should a restaurant post on social media?
Three times a week is plenty. Consistency matters more than volume, so a steady three posts a week beats ten in one week followed by silence.
Which social media platforms are best for restaurants and cafes?
Instagram and Facebook matter most. Instagram is where people check out the food, and Facebook is where locals find events and offers. TikTok suits short kitchen videos, and Google Business Profile is essential because people check it for hours, menus and photos.
How do I take better food photos for social media?
Use natural light from a window, shoot from directly above or at a slight angle, and wipe the rim of the plate. Avoid flash, which flattens the food.
What should a restaurant post on quiet nights?
A specific midweek offer or event, posted a day or two before, with a clear way to book. Remaining table posts on the day also work well.
