Get ready for the festive season: Marketing Tips for Restaurants and Cafés
As the days grow shorter and the scent of mulled spice arrives, November presents a golden window for restaurants and cafés to get ahead of the holiday rush. Crafting feel-good experiences, smart campaigns and community-focused activations ahead of time is the perfect opportunity for growth. Below are actionable Marketing strategies to help you fill seats, boost orders, and build momentum heading into the festive season.
Map Out Your November Calendar
Before launching campaigns, mark key dates and food holidays that you can lean into. According to industry resources:
- There are numerous niche food-days in November (e.g. National Pizza with the Works Day, National Espresso Day).
- General marketing calendars can help you align content, menus and visuals ahead of time.
Action tip: Create a content calendar (social posts, email blasts, in-venue signage) for November.
Design Limited-Time and Seasonal Menu Items
Seasonality is an invitation to refresh your offerings. As one blog states:
“Winter is the perfect time to update your menu to include comforting, hot, and filling dishes.”
Action ideas:
- A “November Only” dish or drink (e.g., pumpkin spice latte for cafés or a seasonal soup for restaurants)
- A vegan or gluten-free special to tap into November food-observances like Vegan Month or Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month.
- Highlight limited availability to create urgency.
Drive Pre-Holiday Bookings & Traffic
With the big holiday season looming, get ahead of the rush. Here’s how:
- Offer early-bird reservations or special menus for upcoming holidays
- Introduce special deals around retail-heavy days like Black Friday / Small Business Saturday (great for cafés especially)
- Use your website, email and social media to announce these in advance.
Leverage Social Media + User-Generated Content
Visual, shareable content helps your venue stand out. Some ideas:
- Post behind-the-scenes of your seasonal menu being prepared
- Create a hashtag campaign for customers sharing photos of their visit
- Use Instagram Stories or Reels to highlight special November dishes or events
Use Email & Digital Marketing to Stay Top of Mind
With inboxes crowded as the year-end approaches, cut through the noise with timely, value-driven emails. Observations from the industry note:
“You can leverage your email list by sending out themed newsletters …”
Action plan:
- Send a “Welcome November” email: highlight your seasonal menu, upcoming events, and booking link.
- Follow with a mid-month reminder: “Seats are filling for our November specials… book now”.
- End-of-month note: “Thanks for a great November – here’s a sneak peek at December’s offer”.
Partner and Collaborate Locally
Community and collaboration amplify your reach. Consider:
- Teaming up with a local producer (e.g., local bakery, coffee roaster) for a special ingredient or dish gives cross-promotion benefits.
- Aligning with local events or charities to show your venue cares beyond the plate. One blog suggests:
“Collaborate with other local businesses … partner with a local winery or wine bar … share promotions.”
Build Loyalty & Look Ahead to December
November is prime time for cultivating customer loyalty (so December is easier). One strategy called the “inverted marketing funnel” suggests focusing on existing guests first.
Action ideas:
- Offer a loyalty perk for repeat visits in November: e.g., “Visit twice in November, get a free drink in December”.
- Collect email addresses of guests in-venue and tell them about upcoming December offers (so they choose your venue again).
- After a November visit, send a “thank you” email with a preview of what’s coming next month.
Measure & Adjust
Finally, track what works. Set simple metrics: e.g., booking volume for November specials, number of walk-ins using hashtag campaign, and increase in social followers. Then use those learnings to refine December’s push.
In Summary
November presents a rich playground for restaurants and cafés willing to plan, offering seasonal menus, social buzz, local partnerships, and loyalty-building opportunities that build momentum into the festive season.