Social Media Strategies for Cafes & Restaurants: 3 Powerful Content Types That Drive Engagement
- Goknil Guzey
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Running a café or restaurant today means more than just serving great food — it also means being visible, memorable, and shareable on platforms like Instagram. Especially for Gen Z and younger millennials, the first reason to visit a place is often: “It looks amazing on social media.”
According to the study “The Role of Social Media in Food & Beverage Venue Preferences Among Young Adults”:
70.1% of young consumers say “it’s important that cafés/restaurants engage with customers on social media.”
55% say they’d be willing to share their own post from the place.
61% say “social media posts significantly influence their choice of venue.”
So how can you create posts that feel human, authentic, and get shared more? Here are 3 content types that consistently perform well:
1️⃣ Behind-the-Scenes & Prep Content: Build Trust & Curiosity
Customers don’t just care about the final dish — they love seeing how it's made. Showcasing the prep process or what’s happening in the kitchen makes your business feel transparent, warm, and alive.
What to Share:
Fresh produce just delivered to your kitchen
Ingredients neatly laid out before they’re assembled
A dish about to go into the oven or a barista foaming milk
Quick stories: “What’s on the menu today?”
🎯 Why it works: People feel like they’ve been invited inside — even when they’re not there.
2️⃣ User-Generated Content: Let Customers Do the Talking
Your most powerful marketing tool? The people who love what you do. Encourage customers to take and share photos — because when they post, they become your storytellers.
Ways to Encourage Sharing:
Add details that make dishes “Instagrammable”: custom liners, playful garnishes, or thoughtful plating
Tabletop signs or tent cards that kindly remind guests to tag you
Small thank-you gifts for people who tag you (e.g. free cookie, coffee voucher)
Set up a visually striking corner just for photos (neon sign wall, cozy window spot)
🔁 Tip: Create and promote your custom hashtag — like #CafeAdaMoments — and make sure it's visible in menus, on tables, or even as part of your decor.
3️⃣ Capturing the Atmosphere: Share Human Moments
Not all content needs to be promotional. In fact, the most liked posts are often the simplest:A flower in the corner, the sunlight hitting a half-empty cappuccino, the rush of the lunch crowd.
Inspiring Examples:
The café cat sleeping near the window
A staff member smiling during prep
Someone reaching for a book or flipping through a magazine
A caption like: “Just one of those calm weekday mornings…”
📌 Note: These are the moments that make your space feel human — and your followers will feel more emotionally connected.
🖊️ Writing Better Captions for Instagram
Make the first two lines count — that’s what people see before clicking “…more”
Start with a story or emotion, not a sale:
“Today is a special day for us…” will get more attention than“Big discount today!”
Keep hashtags focused and relevant — ideally no more than 6. Use a mix of topic, location, and mood tags
🎯 Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Get Likes — Build Bonds
Social media isn’t just a display window. For food businesses, it’s an open invitation.Your followers don’t care about a perfect ad — they care about how your space feels. With the right content, you don’t just attract guests — you create fans, advocates, and community.
At Adanova, we support cafés and restaurants in building genuine brand presence with content that is strategic, story-driven, and uniquely yours.
Don’t post to be seen — post to be remembered.
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