How to Optimize Google Business Profile for Restaurants A restaurant-friendly walkthrough to set categories, add great photos, enable bookings, grow reviews, post updates, and measure what drives calls, directions, and reservations. Jump to: Claim & Verify Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Categories & Details Photos & Video Menu & Booking Posts & Updates Reviews & Replies Track KPIs FAQs TL;DR — Do These First Verify your profile, set accurate categories, hours, and attributes. Upload 20–30 high-quality photos (menu items, interior, exterior, team). Enable booking links; add menu URL and reservation CTA. Publish weekly Posts (specials, events, live music). Request 3–5 reviews/week and reply within 24–48 hours. Track calls, directions, bookings, and photo views in GBP Insights. A well-optimized GBP shows photos, menus, booking links, and timely updates. Claim & Verify Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Before you can optimize anything, you need control of your Google Business Profile. Whether you’re adding your restaurant for the first time or claiming an existing listing, follow these steps to verify ownership and unlock all features. If your restaurant is not on Google yet Go to business.google.com/add. Click Add your business to Google and enter your restaurant name. Pick the most accurate primary category (e.g., “Italian restaurant,” “Steakhouse”). Add your address (or service area), phone, website, and hours of operation. Choose a verification method (email, phone, video, or postcard) and follow the steps. If your restaurant is already listed (claim it) Open Google Search or Google Maps. Search for your restaurant by name and city. To claim: On Google Search: Click Own this business → Manage now. On Google Maps: Click Claim this business → Manage now. If it’s the wrong listing, select I own or manage another business. Select your verification option and complete the prompts. Tips: Always use your official restaurant name (avoid keyword stuffing). Keep your NAP (name, address, phone) consistent across Google, your website, and menus. If another person manages the profile, you can request ownership access. After verification, immediately add categories, photos, menu links, and booking integrations to improve visibility and reservations. Set the Right Categories, Hours & Attributes Think of categories and attributes as the “tags” that help diners (and Google) understand exactly what your restaurant offers. The more accurate and complete you are here, the easier it is for hungry guests to find you when they search things like “best rooftop brunch near me” or “Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating.” Categories Start with the most specific primary category that describes your business. Examples include: Italian Restaurant Mexican Restaurant Steakhouse Café or Coffee Shop Pizzeria Then, add secondary categories to highlight extra offerings—like “Cocktail Bar,” “Brunch Restaurant,” or “Rooftop Bar.” Just make sure they’re accurate; adding too many irrelevant ones can confuse both Google and your customers. Hours Keep your hours up to date—including holidays. Few things frustrate guests more than seeing “Open” online only to show up to locked doors. Update closures and special holiday hours early so expectations are clear. Attributes Attributes are where you really get to show off what makes your place special. These details appear right in your profile and can directly influence a guest’s decision to visit. Examples include: Dining experience: Outdoor seating, rooftop dining, live music, reservations accepted. Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, seating, or parking. Technology & services: Wi-Fi, takeout, delivery, online booking. Sustainability: Recycling options for bottles, plastics, or electronics. Identity: Women-owned, Black-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, veteran-owned, small business. Pro Tip: The more complete your attributes are, the more searches you can show up in. A guest looking specifically for wheelchair-accessible restaurants or places with rooftop dining may never have found you otherwise. Add High-Quality Photos & Short Videos Photos and videos are often the first thing guests notice in your Google Business Profile. Bright, sharp images can set you apart instantly, while poor or outdated shots can cause people to scroll past. Google also uses visuals to understand your business better, so this step impacts both click-through rates and ranking. Photo Guidelines Format: JPG or PNG File size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB Resolution: At least 720 px tall, 720 px wide Quality: Sharp, well-lit, no heavy filters or distractions Quantity: Upload 20–30 photos covering all parts of your business Types of Photos to Add Logo: Helps people recognize your brand in search results. Cover photo: The main photo you want customers to see first (interior, signature dish, or exterior). Business photos: Menu highlights, dining room, bar, outdoor seating, staff at work. Video Guidelines Duration: Up to 30 seconds File size: Up to 75 MB Resolution: 720p or higher Pro Tips for Restaurants Use natural light for food and interior shots—it instantly makes dishes look fresher. Show people enjoying themselves; diners connect more with experiences than empty tables. Update your photos seasonally (e.g., patio in summer, cozy dining in winter). Upload your logo in high quality so it appears crisp when highlighted in search results. Pro Tip: A vibrant photo set can literally be the difference between someone clicking “Call” or scrolling on. Invest in a mini-shoot with a local photographer if possible. Replace outdated shots; aim for bright, sharp, on-brand images that reflect your vibe. Add Menus, Links & Booking Options Think of your Google Business Profile as a mini website. When people land on your listing, they should be able to see your menu, booking options, and key links without having to hunt. This makes it easier for hungry diners to decide—and for you to convert views into reservations or orders. Adding or Editing Your Menu Restaurants can use Google’s built-in menu editor to display food and drink items directly in the profile. Your menu can be broken into sections (like appetizers, mains, desserts, drinks) with item names, descriptions, and prices. Once updated, changes usually go live within 24–48 hours. Go to your Business Profile. Above the search results, click Edit menu. Add new items, edit existing ones, or delete old ones. Group them into sections for easier browsing. Click Save—your menu will update on both Search and Maps. Pro Tip: Use mouthwatering dish photos in your menu section. Google lets you add images that make your food stand out even more. Booking & Ordering Links Connect your Reserve button to platforms like OpenTable, Resy, or Toast so guests can book instantly. If you offer delivery or pickup, integrate your Order links through supported providers. Always double-check your phone, website, and location links—broken links = lost customers. Why This Matters A complete, clickable profile saves your customers time. Instead of scrolling through third-party apps, they can browse your menu, reserve a table, or call—all in one place. Google also rewards profiles with complete info by showing them higher in search results. Post Specials, Events & Updates Weekly Google Posts are mini-updates that appear right in your profile. Use them for weekly specials, chef features, tasting menus, live music nights, or holiday hours. Keep the image bold, copy short, and include a clear CTA. Respond to All Reviews (Especially the Negative Ones) Reviews are one of the most powerful signals for both Google ranking and customer trust. Replying quickly shows guests you care, and steady review growth (3–5 new reviews per week) can give your restaurant a major edge in local search results. The key: thank people who loved their experience, and turn negatives into opportunities. How to Read & Reply to Reviews Go to your Business Profile. Select Read reviews. Next to the review you want to reply to, click Reply. Write your response and click Reply to publish it. Tip: Replies show publicly. The reviewer also gets a notification, and they can edit their review after reading your reply. Best Practices for Replies Positive reviews: Thank the guest, mention something specific they enjoyed, and invite them back. Negative reviews: Stay calm. Apologize briefly, acknowledge the issue, and explain what you’ll do to fix it. End with an invitation to return. Never argue. Document patterns: Share repeat feedback (good or bad) with your team so you can improve service and celebrate wins. Example reply for a positive review: “Thanks so much for mentioning our truffle pasta—it’s one of our chef’s favorites too! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your night and hope to see you again soon.” Example reply for a negative review: “We’re sorry your entrée arrived later than expected. We’ve already spoken with our kitchen team to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We’d love to invite you back for a better experience.” How to Request More Reviews Generate a direct review link or QR code and share it on receipts, table tents, or email. Go to Business Profile. Select Read Reviews → Get more reviews. Copy the link or download the QR code. Extra Tips Don’t copy-paste generic responses—personalization matters. If a review violates policy, you can flag it for removal. For service-area businesses, Google may ask reviewers to note the service provided—keep replies specific. Track Calls, Directions & Reservations in GBP Insights Measure what matters. In GBP Insights, watch calls, directions, website clicks, reservations, and photo views. Compare these with POS data like covers and revenue per seat hour to connect visibility to sales. Calls from profile Directions requests Website clicks & bookings Photo views vs. competitors Want the bigger picture? This is one part of a full plan. Read our 2025 Restaurant Marketing Guide for social media, ads, seasonal promotions, and KPIs that pair with GBP. FAQs How long does verification usually take, and what if I never get the postcard? Most profiles verify within a few days (phone/email/video are fastest). Postcards can take up to 14 days. If it never arrives, request a new method inside GBP or contact support from your profile dashboard. Do my photos need to be professionally shot to rank better? No—clarity and variety matter more than studio shots. Use bright natural light, show dishes, interior, exterior, and guests (with permission). Replace outdated or dim photos and add new ones weekly for a freshness signal. What if the category I want isn’t available? Pick the closest specific primary category and use secondary categories + attributes to clarify your concept. Your description, photos, menu sections, and Posts will reinforce relevance. How can I get more reviews without breaking Google’s rules? Share your review link/QR code on receipts and table tents, and follow up after events or private dining. Don’t offer incentives, don’t gatekeep only happy guests, and never post reviews on behalf of customers. There are duplicate or old listings for my restaurant—what should I do? Claim any duplicates and request to merge them into your main profile. If you can’t claim one, report it as a duplicate in Maps or use GBP support to remove/merge it, so reviews and visibility aren’t split.
