The 14 best platforms to list your restaurant

In a time where 8 out of 10 French people choose their restaurant online, it is essential to optimize the referencing of your restaurant to attract customers.

Several platforms are highly relevant for restaurant referencing. However, why is it necessary to register your establishment on several directories? Because there are different types of directories for different purposes and different target audiences. Some directories are regularly used by clients for direct acquisition, while other less-used secondary directories serve as content aggregators. Finally, directories such as Pages Jaunes, with historical weight, add value to your restaurant in the eyes of Google.

We give you the 14 most relevant and effective platforms to promote your restaurant!

Download the top 14 directories!

1. Google: the importance of local referencing

For every restaurant search made by an internet user, Google suggests the most relevant results according to their criteria and location. The first page of results includes 3 establishments located on a map, followed by a series of links deemed relevant by Google. The first links often come from TripAdvisor, La Fourchette, or other internet giants.

The most effective way to attract customers to your establishment? Appear in the top 3 on Google Maps. To achieve this, you must first create your Google listing if it does not exist and regularly enrich it with quality content. Share posts, add photos, respond to customer reviews, etc. Once optimized, the Chouchou Hotel’s restaurant listing is found by an average of +15% of internet users each month. The number of clicks on the listing (call, directions, website) increased from 80 at the beginning of the collaboration to 1,800 at the end of 2021 and 2,500 three months later!

Appearing in the top results of Google equivalents: Bing Places and Yahoo Local, also strengthens the visibility of your establishment.

2. TripAdvisor: the number one travel site

The platform has recorded over 1 billion reviews. TripAdvisor allows users to refine their search with criteria such as neighborhood, type of food, price range, specific dietary restrictions, etc. The application uses geolocation to suggest nearby establishments to users. The more complete an establishment’s listing (images, description, attributes, significant number of reviews, comments with responses, etc.), the more the TripAdvisor algorithm pushes the establishment among the top search results. The platform lists nearly 180,000 restaurants in France.

Referencing and being visible on TripAdvisor are very useful because the site’s pages appear at the top of search results on search engines. When a user based in Paris searches for an Indian restaurant, the links to TripAdvisor and The Fork entitled “The best Indian restaurants in Paris” appear under the 3 results from Google Maps. Being at the top of these specific rankings helps you gain customers.

The most effective way is to appear even higher among the top 3 results suggested by Google. Although TripAdvisor offers undeniable visibility, its booking system remains connected to The Fork, which comes with a commission.

3. Instagram: “the place to be,” the essential social network

With over 1.4 billion active users each month and 100 million posts per day, the success of Instagram is no longer in doubt. This social network is now essential to maximize the online visibility of your establishment, especially when it comes to a restaurant. Every month, the hashtag #food counts over 250 million posts on Instagram.

To increase the visibility of your page on Instagram and generate traffic to your restaurant, it must first be attractive. How? With regular, quality content that is specific to your establishment! Some rules still need to be respected on Instagram to get the most out of it. We share our tips here on how to manage your restaurant’s Instagram account like a pro, successfully attract new customers, and keep them coming

And recently, Instagram released a new feature: Instagram Maps, which is even more interesting for your restaurant. It’s like Google Maps for Instagram! From the “Places” tab, users now have access to an interactive map where they can discover restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, etc. in the vicinity of their search location. From this map, users can directly access your Instagram page, as well as the content shared by your customers.

4. Facebook: the historic social network that has become a beneficial sponsorship tool

48 million: that’s the number of Facebook users in France, which is equivalent to one in two French people! It is therefore an essential tool that, if well mastered, can attract many customers to a restaurant and then retain them.

But today, Facebook has a real asset that sets it apart from other social networks: promotional campaigns. Facebook’s sponsorship tool is becoming increasingly powerful, allowing you to make your restaurant known to a very specific target audience. Launching campaigns with small budgets is enough to gain new customers. How to go about it? We explain it here!

5. Yelp: a platform to reference your restaurant on several directories

As a customer, do you not immediately think of Yelp when searching for restaurants? Neither do we. But for the past few years, Yelp has proven to be a strategic space to reference your restaurant. A platform for multiple directories: what does that mean? Different websites, such as City Mapper, reuse and feed their pages with data from Yelp (restaurant information, customer reviews). Therefore, appearing on Yelp is strategic to reference yourself on multiple platforms.

6. Foursquare: the directory based on recommendation in France

In France, Foursquare is not only a natural referencing directory for restaurants, but it is also similar to a social network. Users exchange their recommendations for places. With over 55 million users, this directory is a real visibility lever.

7. Mapstr: interactive maps where you absolutely need to appear

A true social network dedicated to restaurateurs! The e-reputation of your restaurant represents a decisive element in the customer selection process. Notoriety on social networks is more essential than ever for converting your prospects. The Mapstr app makes you visible to 2.5 million users in search of good addresses!

Unlike other social networks, Mapstr reaches a community specifically looking for restaurant, bar or hotel addresses, which are then shared with their circle. A significant visibility lever! And through the app, you can be connected with influencers!

8. Michelin Guide: a directory more varied than it seems

The professional guide allows you to find the best tables in the desired city. Contrary to popular belief, it lists establishments of all ranges, with special offers for those who book on the site. Users can also leave reviews.

9. Le Fooding: the trendy guide of the sector

With a offbeat tone, humor and a refined palate, Le Fooding presents its best tables! “We created a counter-power that allows chefs to exist other than by fitting into the boxes of the Michelin guide.” said Alexandre Cammas, co-founder of Le Fooding to Telerama.

Very active on Instagram with 440,000 subscribers and growing audience each month, Le Fooding represents the Holy Grail of today’s catering industry. The hashtag #lefooding becomes a reflex for industry players. Seeing your post “regrammed” by Le Fooding: a real sign of recognition! Even better? Appearing in their annual guide!

10. Timeout: the other trendy urban guide

Timeout offers “the essential outings and culture” of restaurants, bars, exhibitions, shows etc. in Paris but also in London, New York or Los Angeles. The content is not exclusively dedicated to gastronomy, but a rich section focuses on restaurants, tea rooms, pastry shops and bars. Referencing your restaurant there results in significant visibility among a similar target audience as Le Fooding.

11. Le Petit Futé: a well-known tourist guide

Known for its tourist guides, Le Petit Futé has existed for decades, making it an essential address to test. Formerly a paper version, Le Petit Futé online today is ideal for attracting a French tourist clientele!

12. Pages Jaunes: the historical directory not to be forgotten

Being listed in more generalist directories remains very important. The more the establishment’s website receives “backlinks,” or incoming links, the more it gains the trust of Google. And the more the algorithm raises the position of your Google listing in search results. Having a complete and optimized listing on each directory results in visibility on many platforms, but also strengthens the positioning of your restaurant’s website.

Even though the Pages Jaunes are not as important as they were 10 years ago, the website still ranks in the top 50 most visited sites. It provides access to numerous establishments, opening hours, menus, some photos, and customer reviews. Compared to platforms like TripAdvisor, the number of reviews is not important. However, having an inbound link from the Yellow Pages to your establishment is still relevant to improve its visibility.

13. L’internaute

Listing your restaurant on L’internaute gives you the opportunity to reach new users. With over 65,000 listed establishments, the directory has made its mark in France. Users filter restaurant results by location, type of cuisine, price, etc.

14. The Fork: the restaurant-specific search platform

One of the leaders in the online restaurant reservation market, The Fork, formerly La Fourchette, generates 20 million monthly visits, with 60,000 restaurants listed worldwide, including over 15,000 in France.

If you can list and optimize your profile on The Fork (enough ratings, good ratings, recent ratings, a discount offered, etc.), your establishment becomes visible to potential customers.

Directories specific to a particular clientele or culture

Does your restaurant cater to a specific clientele or culture? Do you cater to vegetarian, vegan, halal, or kosher customers? These customers search for their restaurants on specific directories that are in line with their “specific diet.” So don’t forget to list your restaurant on HappyCow and VegoResto for vegan and/or vegetarian offerings in France, Pages Halal for halal restaurants…

Delivery directories

Do you offer delivery? Delivery and click-and-collect are no longer an innovation in themselves. These services have managed to establish themselves in consumers’ habits and have become a part of French daily life. The rise of delivery platforms increases the visibility of restaurants that join them. However, the popularity of these applications directly pits all types of listed establishments against each other in competition. To win delivery customers, you must appear effectively on the main players in the sector such as UberEats and Deliveroo.

Do you want to reach tourists?

To make yourself known to a foreign clientele, you must first ensure the presence of your restaurant where tourists do their research. In France, TripAdvisor and The Fork are mostly used, but directories differ from country to country. Americans search on Yelp and Foursquare, Chinese use Djanping, or Mango Plate for South Korea.