Restaurant marketing also means knowing how to connect with someone who just stumbled into your neighborhood, is looking for a good place to eat… and might end up being your best ambassador.
Because today’s tourist isn’t just a customer on vacation. They’re an incoming review, a tagged photo, a new follower — and maybe a guest who returns every summer.
How to attract tourists with the right food and marketing strategy
Travelers seek authentic experiences — easy to recognize and accessible even if they don’t speak the language.
That’s why food and marketing must go hand in hand: great cuisine and smart communication need to tell the same story.
Here’s where to begin.
Get found: Google Maps and TripAdvisor matter more than you think
76% of tourists use Google Maps to decide where to eat.
TripAdvisor, in turn, influences 68% of booking decisions (source: Statista, 2024).
Just “being there” isn’t enough. You need a complete, up-to-date, and optimized profile.
Check these 5 key elements on your Google Business listing:
- Accurate opening hours, including holidays
- A working phone number
- Visible menu (PDF or link) –> check out this article on what your digital menu should look like
- Fresh, well-lit, authentic photos
- Correct category (e.g. “traditional restaurant,” “trattoria,” “osteria,” “seafood restaurant”)
TripAdvisor works similarly. Your description matters: keep it short, clear, in at least two languages, and consistent with your brand identity.
Always reply to reviews — show that you’re active, even during summer. Got a negative one? Reply politely and clearly, without being defensive. Your response speaks more to future customers than to the reviewer.
Translate your menu (well) and show off your dishes
A confusing menu — or one only in Italian — is a barrier. A poorly translated English menu? Even worse.
Take an hour and ask yourself:
“Would someone unfamiliar with the dish names understand everything?
Do the descriptions help or confuse?
Did I clearly indicate allergens, vegetarian or vegan options, local ingredients?”
Translation isn’t about dumbing things down. It’s about making the experience readable and appealing for someone with a different perspective.
And for your signature dishes? A good photo is worth a hundred words. You don’t need a pro photoshoot —
