Best Social Media Platforms For Restaurants in 2025
- Sep 17, 2025
- 7 min read
A strong trend toward promoting restaurants, bars, and cafƩs on social media has grown exponentially over the last few years as online delivery exploded.
A recent study found that 52% of online adults now use two or more social media sites, showing a significant increase in the last two years. This statistic shows that social media is key to reaching large numbers of people at once at a low cost to your bottom line. Social networks depend largely on photos for their impact, and are undoubtedly the best vehicle to advertise appealing food and welcoming premises.
Studies have shown that social media posts accompanied by photos are 10 times more likely to get engagement, so itās important for restaurant owners to become social media photo-friendly.
If you are already taking advantage of social media platforms, itās time to step up your interactions. If you havenāt taken the social media leap, itās time to take the plunge.
Creating a social media planning calendar, so it becomes an integrated daily task, is a great way to make sure your social media presence remains relevant and fresh.
While the task of developing content to post on social media should be at top-of-mind, itās equally important to understand which platforms are the most relevant for promoting your restaurant.
In 2025, social networking sites are estimated to reach 5.42 billion users and these figures are still expected to grow as mobile device usage and mobile social networks increasingly gain traction in previously underserved markets.
There are many social media networks that work to increase awareness and traffic for restaurants, but the top five listed below are undoubtedly the ones you shouldnāt miss when creating your online marketing menu.
Top Five Social Media Networks for Restaurants
For 2025, the best social media platforms for restaurants are Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, with Google Business Profile and YouTube also highly recommended for local search and longer-form content.
These platforms excel at showcasing visually appealing food through short-form videos and high-quality images, engaging a wide audience, building community, and driving local discovery and reservations.Ā
Key Platforms and Why They're Essential
Instagram: Ideal for visually driven content, Instagram allows restaurants to showcase their food, ambiance, and unique selling points through high-quality photos and Stories.Ā
TikTok: This platform is perfect for creating fun, authentic, and engaging short-form videos that can go viral and reach a broad audience, especially younger demographics.
Facebook: A strong tool for connecting with the existing audience by sharing updates, running events, and creating a community around the restaurant's brand.Ā
Google Business Profile: Crucial for local SEO, it helps your restaurant appear in local searches and on Google Maps, driving both online visibility and in-person visits.Ā
YouTube: Great for longer-form content, such as behind-the-scenes looks, cooking tutorials, and customer testimonials, which can build deeper engagement and brand loyalty.Ā
Top 5 Social Media Platforms in 2025
Instagram is the perfect place to showcase your menu and restaurant photos. Since it seamlessly integrates with Facebook, you can share images and videos across both platforms at once.
Instagram is all about visual storytelling. High-quality photos are a must, and filters or editing tools can make your food even more enticing. Showcase your ambiance, dƩcor, and even the personality of your staff through Instagram Reels and Stories.
Take it a step further by encouraging guests to upload their own photos and tag your restaurant. User-generated content not only builds your photo library but also boosts engagement. Instagram is especially popular among younger audiences (15ā24), who respond strongly to its visual-first format.
Instagram Advertising: Instagramās paid ad system allows you to target specific demographics and behaviors. Ads can appear in Stories, the main feed, or the Explore page, giving you multiple ways to connect with potential customers who are scrolling daily.
Image & Video Specs:
Square images: 1080 Ć 1080 pixels
Vertical Stories/Reels: 1080 Ć 1920 pixels
Landscape images: 1080 Ć 566 pixels
Try using trending hashtags. For example, use #chocolateday on National Chocolate Day or #bestfathersdayburger on Fatherās Day. Use niche hashtags as well. if you are located in Atlanta, try #atlantaeats or #atlantatacos. Ā
Try running photo contests on Instagram as well. They can generate customer loyalty as users take and submit photos and come back often to see if theyāve won.
Ā
TikTok
TikTok has exploded in popularity and is now one of the most powerful platforms for reaching younger diners. With over 1 billion monthly users, itās where food trends are born ā and where restaurants can easily go viral.
The key to TikTok is authenticity over polish. Behind-the-scenes prep clips, staff interactions, and fun challenges often outperform professional ads.
Best TikTok Content Ideas for Restaurants:
Participate in trending challenges and adapt them with your menu.
Show ābefore and afterā shots of food being prepared.
Introduce your staff to add personality to your brand.
Capture your ambiance using trending audio clips.
TikTok Ads: Restaurants can use TikTokās ad manager to run hyper-local campaigns, targeting nearby users with daily specials, events, or delivery options. Retargeting options also help keep your brand top of mind.
Video Specs:
Vertical format: 1080 Ć 1920 pixels
Ideal length: 15ā30 seconds
One creative video can bring thousands of new customers through your doors.
Thereās no doubt that you absolutely need a Facebook page for your restaurant. A recent study found that Facebook continues to be the most popular social media platform, making it an essential space for building community and engaging with your audience.
Create your Facebook business page carefully. You have 851 Ć 351 pixels to market your restaurant for free in your timeline cover image. Carry your brand identity across all social media platforms so youāre easily recognizable.
When posting on Facebook, always include a high-quality image or video with your text. Consistency is key. Share useful content ā tips, special promotions, behind-the-scenes glimpses ā and limit heavy self-promotion. Instead, listen to what your customers want, and deliver it.
Key Facebook Marketing Tools:
Run advertising campaigns tailored to specific demographics (age, location, interests, etc.).
Use Insights and analytics to track campaign results.
Create events to promote happy hours, live music, or seasonal specials.
Engage directly with customers via Messenger.
Integrate with ordering platforms (like Sauce) to accept orders directly in Messenger and retarget repeat buyers automatically.
Image Specs:
Standard image post: 1200 Ć 630 pixels
Highlighted image: 1200 Ć 717 pixels
Event image: 1920 Ć 1005 pixels
Group cover: 1640 Ć 856 pixels
Google Business Profile
If Instagram and TikTok help attract diners visually, Google Business Profile helps convert their interest into action. Think of your Google Business Profile as your restaurantās digital storefront. When potential diners search ārestaurants near me,ā Google Maps pulls directly from these profiles.
A complete, up-to-date profile improves your visibility and makes it easy for customers to call, get directions, or make reservations.
How to Optimize Your Profile:
Keep business hours, phone number, and website updated.
Upload high-quality photos of dishes, interiors, and exteriors.
Post updates for specials, holiday hours, or events.
Respond to all reviews ā thank positive ones and professionally address negative ones.
Why Itās Essential:
Boosts local SEO and increases visibility on Google Maps.
Integrates with āOrder Onlineā and āReserve a Tableā tools.
Provides insights into how customers find and interact with your listing.
Photo Specs:
Recommended size: 720 Ć 720 pixels
Formats: JPG or PNG
YouTube
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, and itās perfect for restaurants looking to tell deeper stories. While Instagram and TikTok excel with short-form content, YouTube thrives on long-form videos that showcase your restaurantās brand in more detail.
Content Ideas for Restaurants on YouTube:
Chef-led cooking tutorials.
Behind-the-scenes āday in the lifeā content.
Customer testimonials and special event recaps.
Virtual tours of your restaurant and kitchen.
Advertising on YouTube:
Use skippable in-stream ads to promote new specials.
Target local foodies with geo-specific campaigns.
Retarget viewers who engaged with your website or social media.
Video Specs:
Standard resolution: 1920 Ć 1080 pixels (16:9 ratio)
Thumbnail size: 1280 Ć 720 pixels
Keep intros under 5 seconds to hook viewers.
Pro Tip: Repurpose long-form YouTube videos into shorter Reels or TikToks for maximum reach.
Recommended Posting Frequency for Restaurants:
Facebook: 3ā5 times per week
Instagram: 5ā7 times per week (mix of feed posts, Reels, and Stories)
TikTok: 3ā5 times per week (short, authentic videos)
Google Business Profile: 1ā2 times per month (photos, updates, specials)
YouTube: 1ā2 times per month (longer-form videos repurposed into shorts for other platforms)
Together, these five platforms give your restaurant the visibility, engagement, and credibilityĀ needed to compete in todayās digital-first dining scene. But, though consistency builds visibility, quality keeps followers engaged. Focus on what your audience wants to see, and use each platform strategically to complement the others.
Social Awareness: Why Image Quality and Sizing Matter
Thereās a lot to get right when creating visual content for social media. One of the most critical steps is making sure your images are both original and properly formatted. If you donāt have professional photos, invest in high-quality stock images ā but never use visuals that could defy copyright laws.
Getting your social media image sizes right is just as important as the content itself:
Prevents pixelation and awkward stretching.
Optimizes content for each platformās feed, increasing engagement.
Ensures your audience sees the full photo (no cut-off text or logos).
Saves you time later, since networks frequently update display guidelines.
Pro Tip: Tools like CanvaĀ can help you navigate the world of social media design, making this vast opportunity for marketing to your customer base a little less overwhelming.
See our blog post āThe EYES Have Itā - How to Take Mouthwatering Photos for Your Website and Social MediaĀ for more details. Ā
Takeaway
Restaurants that succeed on social media donāt just post ā they plan. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google Business Profile, and YouTube each serve a unique role in your marketing mix.
By pairing the right content with the right platform ā and making sure your visuals are legally sourced, properly sized, and high-quality ā youāll maximize engagement, build trust, and drive more customers to your tables.
By Eileen Strauss
wow
A great way to stay ahead of the competition by utilizing social media! Similar to geometry dash scratch where practice leads to perfection, consistent posting will help build your online presence!