Module 11

Cafés & Coffee Shops

This quick-start guide covers Google Business Profile optimisation for cafés, coffee shops, and tea rooms. Your listing is often the first impression customers get — make it count.

Your Setup Priorities

What to do

Focus on these elements first for cafés.

Step by step

  1. Photos are everything. People eat with their eyes. Mouth-watering food photos and inviting atmosphere shots are crucial.
  2. Accurate hours are essential. Customers check before visiting. Wrong hours = lost customers and bad reviews.
  3. Reviews drive decisions. Customers compare cafés by reviews. A strong review profile is a major competitive advantage.
  4. Location and access. Clear directions, parking info, and wheelchair access details help customers plan their visit.
  5. Menu accessibility. Customers want to see what you offer before visiting.

Recommended Categories

What to do

Choose categories that match your offering.

Step by step

  1. Coffee shop — Primary: Coffee Shop or Cafe
  2. Tea room — Primary: Tea House or Cafe
  3. Brunch focused — Secondary: Breakfast Restaurant, Brunch Restaurant
  4. Other relevant categories: Sandwich Shop, Bakery, Dessert Shop, Vegetarian Restaurant (if applicable), Vegan Restaurant (if applicable).
  5. Add what you're known for. If you're famous for your cakes, add Bakery. If you do great breakfasts, add Breakfast Restaurant.

Getting Hours Right

What to do

Hours are critical for food businesses.

Step by step

  1. Set regular hours accurately. Double-check every day. Customers get very frustrated arriving to find you closed.
  2. Use special hours for holidays. Bank holidays, Christmas period, any unusual closures. Set these in advance.
  3. Consider "More hours". If your kitchen closes before the café, or you have separate breakfast/lunch times, use More Hours.
  4. Update immediately if hours change. Temporary changes should be reflected immediately on your listing.

Photos That Work for Cafés

What to do

Make customers hungry and eager to visit.

Step by step

  1. Food photography is key. Your dishes should look delicious. Good lighting, attractive plating, appetising angles.
  2. Coffee/drinks shots. Beautiful latte art, iced drinks in summer, hot chocolate in winter. Show off your barista skills.
  3. Cakes and baked goods. Close-ups of your display. Fresh, appealing, abundant.
  4. Interior atmosphere. Cosy seating, natural light, ambience. Show why your space is a nice place to spend time.
  5. Exterior shot. Your shopfront, signage, outdoor seating if you have it.
  6. Team photos. Friendly staff, baristas at work. Shows personality.
  7. Update seasonally. Summer outdoor seating, autumn specials, Christmas decorations. Keep it fresh and current.

Key Attributes to Set

What to do

Enable all relevant attributes for your café.

Step by step

  1. Dine-in — If customers can sit in.
  2. Takeaway — If you offer takeaway.
  3. Outdoor seating — If you have it.
  4. Wi-Fi — Customers often look for this.
  5. Dog-friendly — Important for many customers.
  6. Wheelchair accessible — Entrance and seating.
  7. Good for kids — If you're family-friendly.
  8. Serves vegetarian/vegan — If applicable.
  9. Accepts credit cards — Payment options.

Adding Your Menu

What to do

Make your menu accessible to potential customers.

Step by step

  1. Use GBP's menu feature. If available for your category, add menu items directly to your listing.
  2. Link to your website menu. Add a menu URL in your listing pointing to your website's menu page.
  3. Add menu photos. Upload photos of your physical menu, or photos representing menu sections.
  4. Keep it updated. Change your menu? Update the listing. Nothing worse than customers expecting something you no longer serve.
  5. Highlight specials. Use posts to promote seasonal specials, new additions, or limited offers.

Getting Reviews as a Café

What to do

You serve many customers — convert that into reviews.

Step by step

  1. Table cards or counter signs. QR code with "Enjoyed your visit? Leave us a review!" where customers see it.
  2. On receipts. Print your review link or QR code on receipts.
  3. Ask regulars. "You've been coming here for ages — if you've never left us a review, we'd really appreciate one!"
  4. Respond to compliments. When someone says the food was great: "Thank you! We'd love a review if you get a chance."
  5. On the Wi-Fi landing page. If you have a login page for Wi-Fi, include a review link.

Q&A to Seed

What to do

Pre-populate these common questions.

Step by step

  1. "Do you have vegan options?" — Detail your vegan offerings.
  2. "Is it dog-friendly?" — Explain your policy clearly.
  3. "Do you take reservations?" — Explain if you do, and for how many.
  4. "Do you have Wi-Fi?" — Confirm and any conditions.
  5. "Is there parking nearby?" — Helpful local info.
  6. "Do you have a children's menu?" — Detail family-friendliness.
  7. "Do you cater for allergies?" — Explain your allergen process.

Post Ideas for Cafés

What to do

Keep your listing fresh with regular posts.

Step by step

  1. Daily/weekly specials. "Today's soup: Roasted Tomato & Basil"
  2. New menu items. "Just launched: Our new summer salad range!"
  3. Seasonal offerings. "Pumpkin Spice is back for autumn!"
  4. Events. "Live acoustic music this Saturday from 7pm."
  5. Behind the scenes. "Fresh delivery from our local bakery this morning."
  6. Holiday hours. "Bank holiday opening: 9am-4pm."

Priority Citations for Cafés

What to do

Get listed on these platforms.

Step by step

  1. TripAdvisor — Essential for food businesses. Claim and optimise your listing.
  2. Yelp — Important review platform.
  3. Facebook — Create a business page with full details.
  4. Instagram — Important for cafés. Link your profile.
  5. Local tourism websites — Your local tourism board or visitor website.
  6. SquareMeal, Time Out — If relevant to your area.
  7. OpenTable/Bookatable — If you take reservations.

Café GBP checklist: