How to Make Your Hospitality Business Stand Out on Instagram

Instagram is more than just a social media platform, it’s a powerful marketing tool that can attract new customers, boost reservations, and build a loyal community around your hospitality business. Whether you run a bar, pub, restaurant, or hospitality event service, having a strong Instagram presence is essential to staying ahead of the competition.

But with so many businesses fighting for attention, how do you stand out? The answer lies in high-quality content, engagement, and smart strategies. Here’s how to make your hospitality business shine on Instagram

Capture High-Quality Visuals That Make People Hungry & Thirsty

Instagram is a visual-first platform, and high-quality imagery is key to grabbing attention. People eat with their eyes first, so your photos and videos should showcase your food, drinks, and venue in the best possible light.

But how can you achieve this?

• Use natural lighting to make dishes and cocktails look fresh and appealing.

• Maintain a consistent aesthetic that aligns with your brand.

• Invest in a good camera or hire a professional photographer for key content.

Our Pro Tip:

Keep captions short and engaging. Instead of just saying, “Our new cocktail special,” try: “Golden hour just got better 🍹 Who’s joining us for a drink?” As you can see, the latter is much more engaging.

Show Your Brand’s Personality with Behind-the-Scenes Content

People love authenticity. In fact, 93% of consumers prefer genuine connections over fleeting trends. So, showing the human side of your business not only makes your brand more relatable and inviting, but also give your potential customers an idea of the authentic experience they will get at your venue. Behind-the-scenes content builds trust and gives customers a reason to connect with you beyond just your menu.

Here are a few ideas:

• Introduce your team – bartenders, chefs, servers – and let their personalities shine!

• Show the prep process – how you craft signature drinks or plate up your best dishes.

• Capture real moments – busy service hours, customer reactions, and event highlights.

Our Pro Tip:

Use Instagram Stories & Reels for behind-the-scenes content. Customers love seeing the effort that goes into their dining or drinking experience!

Engagement Matters More Than Perfection

Yes, having a beautifully curated feed is great, but real engagement is what builds a loyal following. More importantly, Instagram’s algorithm favours active, interactive accounts, over everything else so being present and responsive is just as important as posting great content.

Here’s how to boost engagement:

• Reply to comments & DMs – make followers feel valued.

• Use interactive Stories – polls, Q&A sessions, and quizzes keep your audience engaged.

• Share user-generated content – repost customer photos, reviews, and shoutouts.

Our Pro Tip:

Asking simple questions in captions (e.g., “What’s your go-to drink on a night out?”) can encourage more comments and interactions.

Use Local Hashtags to Attract Nearby Customers

If your goal is to attract local customers, you need to use local hashtags and geotags to ensure your content reaches people nearby.

• Use location-specific hashtags like #LondonBars, #NYCBrunch, #ManchesterEats.

• Tag your city, neighborhood, and venue in every post.

• Encourage guests to use your branded hashtag when they post about your business.

Our Pro Tip:

Research which hashtags competitors and influencers in your area are using, and test different ones to see which bring in the most engagement.

Post at the Right Time for Maximum Reach

Posting great content at the wrong time can mean wasted effort. The goal is to reach your audience when they’re most active, so your content gets more likes, shares, and comments.

• Check Instagram Insights to see when your followers are online.

• Post just before peak hours—lunchtime for restaurants, evenings for bars.

• Schedule Stories & Reels throughout the day to stay visible.

Our Pro Tip:

The best posting times for hospitality businesses are 11 AM – 1 PM (lunchtime traffic) and 6 PM – 9 PM(evening socialising hours). If you’re unsure, check you Instagram analytics!

Need an Instagram Strategy? We’ve Got You Covered!

Managing an Instagram account while running a hospitality business is no easy task, but that’s where we come in!

At Ninety8 Media, we help bars, restaurants, and hospitality businesses grow with expert digital marketing strategies.