How to Optimise a Restaurant Website for Local SEO

Why Website Optimisation is Crucial for Restaurant SEO

Your restaurant might serve the best steak frites in town, but if your website isn’t optimised for local SEO, potential diners won’t find you. As more people search online for places to eat—especially on their phones—your website needs to be primed to appear at the top of local search results.

Here, we’re serving up a tasty guide packed with actionable tips to improve your restaurant’s website for local SEO. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for quick wins, these strategies will help put your restaurant on the map.

1. Local SEO Basics for Restaurant Websites

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is all about improving your online presence to attract diners in your area. If someone searches for “Italian restaurant near me” or “best seafood in Brighton,” you want your restaurant to show up in Google’s local search results and on Google Maps.

To get started, you need to focus on three key areas:

1. Optimising your website for local keywords.
2. Creating and maintaining your Google Business Profile.
3. Building trust through reviews, backlinks, and user experience.

Why Does Local SEO Matter for Restaurants?

• 46% of all Google searches are local. 
• People searching for restaurants typically make quick decisions—about 88% of local searches result in a call, visit, or booking within 24 hours.
• If your website isn’t optimised, your competitors will win that hungry customer instead.

2. On-Page SEO: Optimising Key Website Elements

Use the Right Keywords

To optimise your restaurant website, you need to target local SEO keywords like:

• Italian restaurant in Manchester
• Seafood near Brighton Pier
• Best pub Sunday roast in London

Where to Include Keywords:

• Headers: Your H1 and H2 tags should include your primary keywords. For example, “Best Italian Restaurant in Manchester” or “Authentic Neapolitan Pizza in the Heart of Leeds.”
• Meta Descriptions: Write compelling descriptions with keywords like “Award-winning Italian restaurant in Manchester offering fresh pasta and wood-fired pizzas.”
• Body Content: Naturally weave your keywords into descriptions of your restaurant, menu items, and location. Avoid keyword stuffing!

Pro Tip: Use long-tail keywords like “Where to find vegan-friendly pizza in Birmingham” to attract niche searches.

SEO-Friendly Restaurant Menus

Your menu is the star of the show, and it deserves a front-row seat in search results. Here’s how to optimise it:

1. Text-Based Menus: Avoid uploading PDFs as they’re not easily indexed by search engines. Use HTML-based menus instead.
2. Keyword Optimisation: Include specific dish names and categories. For example:
   • Instead of “House Special Pizza,” write “Neapolitan Margherita with San Marzano Tomatoes.”
   • Add location-based terms: “Best Sunday Roast in Camden.”
3. Structured Data: Use schema markup to help search engines understand your menu and display it in rich snippets. You can highlight prices, dish types, and dietary options.

Optimise Your Meta Tags and URLs

Each page of your website should have SEO-optimised meta tags.

• Title Tags: Include your primary keyword and location. E.g., “Best Vegan Café in Bristol | Green Bowl Café.”
• URLs: Keep them clean and descriptive. For example: www.example.com/vegan-cafe-bristol
• Image Alt Text: Use alt text to describe food photos, e.g., “Avocado on sourdough toast at vegan café in Bristol.”

3. Mobile SEO: Non-Negotiable in 2025

Why Mobile Optimisation Matters

Over 60% of Google searches come from mobile devices, and hungry customers often search for restaurants on the go. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’ll lose out.

How to Optimise for Mobile SEO

• Responsive Design: Ensure your site looks great and works smoothly on all devices.
• Fast Loading Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve site speed.
• Click-to-Call Buttons: Make it easy for visitors to call your restaurant directly from your website.
• Mobile-Friendly Menus: Your menu should be easy to navigate and read on a small screen.

Pro Tip: Google prioritises mobile-first indexing. If your website isn’t optimised for mobile, your rankings will suffer.

4. Google Business Profile Integration

Why It’s Essential for Local SEO

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) works hand-in-hand with your website to improve local SEO.

H3: Top Tips:

• Ensure your restaurant name, address, and phone number (NAP) match exactly across your website and profile.
• Add high-quality images of your restaurant, food, and staff.
• Include keywords in your description, e.g., “Family-friendly Italian restaurant in Manchester serving homemade pasta and wood-fired pizzas.”

Embed a Google Maps link to your location on your website to boost local search signals.

5. Enhancing User Experience (UX) for SEO

A great user experience keeps visitors on your site longer, which can improve rankings. Here’s how to enhance UX:

• Clear Navigation: Make it easy for visitors to find your menu, location, and contact details.
• Engaging Visuals: Use professional food photos and virtual tours of your restaurant.
• Reviews and Testimonials: Feature glowing reviews to build trust. Include a CTA like “Leave us a review on Google.”
• Online Booking Integration: Allow users to book a table directly from your website.

6. Local Content Strategy for Restaurant SEO

Creating localised content helps attract diners searching for specific experiences.

• Write blog posts about topics like:
  • “Top 5 Date Night Restaurants in Manchester”
  • “Where to Find the Best Sunday Roast in Surrey”
  • “A Guide to Vegan-Friendly Cafés in Brighton”
• Share stories about your chefs, seasonal menu updates, or partnerships with local suppliers.

Internal Linking Tip: Link to related content, e.g., “Check out our guide on how to improve your restaurant’s Google Business Profile.”

Start Optimising Your Restaurant Website Today

A well-optimised restaurant website is the secret ingredient to dominating local search results. From keyword-rich menus to mobile-friendly design, these strategies will help attract more hungry customers.

Ready to take the next step? Contact Hospitality On the Map today to get started. We are able to support you with all your on-page SEO and manage the entire process so you can focus on what you do best!