Restaurant Instagram Story Ideas: Engaging Your Social Audience
Want to turn followers into real-life customers?
Instagram Stories can help you nurture followers and convert them from viewers to diners. From behind-the-scenes clips to interactive features and influencer shoutouts, Insta Stories offers a range of ways to connect and engage your following.
Let’s take a closer look at 16 creative Story ideas to get more patrons through the door.
But first …
Why Instagram matters for restaurants
Of course, Instagram is an important marketing tool for many different industries.
But it’s especially perfect for food and showing off restaurant industry trends.
Unlike text-heavy platforms, Instagram is a visual-forward platform. When you’re trying to tickle taste buds, Instagram allows you to entice customers with tantalizing food photos that show off your craft.
And Instagram users aren’t simply bystanders scrolling through feeds. They’re searchers.
When people look for new spots to eat, they head to Instagram for inspiration. And Instagram offers a lot of opportunities for potential customers to find you.
Tools like location tags and hashtag stickers make it easy for people nearby to find you. Partnering with local food influencers can also help you expand your reach and create buzz that inspires more potential diners.
Long story short, Instagram leads customers straight to your door.
People can discover your restaurant through local search and get inspired by their favorite influencers.
Once they’ve found you, you can show off in a highly visual way.
Posts, Reels, and Stories help you showcase mouthwatering food, behind-the-scenes moments, and welcoming vibes that make your place feel irresistible.
Instagram for restaurants: Why Stories are just as essential as posts
Posts and Reels are excellent for reach.
They drive visibility and pull in new followers, and increasing your audience is an important part of a successful social media marketing strategy.
But once you gain followers, how do you convert them?
This is where Instagram Stories do what permanent posts can’t — they nurture your target audience. They turn online followers into real-life diners.
Let’s explore why Stories matter just as much as posts, if not more.
Consistent visibility turns followers into customers
Active Stories appear at the very top of user feeds. When you post consistently, you stay top-of-mind for your followers.
Think — followers have chosen to follow your account, so they’re interested in your restaurant.
Every Story is another touchpoint to convince them to turn that interest into a reservation.
A sense of urgency encourages action
Stories only last 24 hours. This ephemeral nature creates urgency.
Posting time-sensitive content like flash sales and daily specials encourages followers to act now or miss out.
Authenticity humanizes your brand
Behind-the-scenes footage, candid moments, and off-the-cuff clips feel raw, real, and unfiltered.
This authenticity creates a connection between you and your followers, as if they see your team at their most natural. This fosters trust by making you feel more relatable and credible.
Interactive features encourage direct feedback
Polls, questions, and quizzes help you collect feedback in real time. Now you can deliver exactly what your customers want.
And, since they feel part of the decision process, they’re more likely to order or book a table.
Links guide the journey
You can’t share links on Reels and Posts, but you can share links on Stories.
Link stickers act as a call to action.
Want to share your menu, booking page, or delivery app?
Use a simple website builder to create a landing page where customers can book or order, and use a link sticker to send them straight there.
For example, if you share behind-the-scenes content of your restaurant’s kitchen or showcase daily specials, you can link to your menu page through a website with the website builder. Or, run Instagram polls or Q&A sessions where followers can vote on upcoming dishes or ask questions about your restaurant. This creates interactive engagement.
Social proof seals the deal
Stories give you a place to share user-generated content and tag satisfied customers.
Customer posts are a great way to build trust. They show your audience that people love what you’re doing so much that they want to share it with their followers.
Tips to get the most from your Instagram Stories
Want better reach and story engagement?
Here are some tips:
- Use AI in marketing strategies that improve your Stories. Use AI to find trends in your interactions, and then use generative AI to create Stories that mimic what works. Use AI tools to automate content scheduling and post optimization so that every story reaches the right people at the right time.
- Share savable content that links back to your feed posts as saving gets more reach. Think recipes, kitchen tips, and cocktails.
- Guide users to a CTA. Exit rates drop with each frame a user watches, so tell a story that leads them to an action. (Fanpage Karma)
- Don’t shy away from longer Stories. 56% of users will still be around after 20 frames. (Fanpage Karma)
- Videos work best for short Stories, and photos for long stories. (Fanpage Karma)
- Post twice a day to get the most engagement. (Hootsuite)
14 Instagram Story ideas to increase social engagement
Looking for Story ideas to increase Instagram likes and drive more engagement?
Let’s look at how you can use Instagram Story features to turn eager followers into loyal customers – from sharing user-generated content (UGC) to featuring customer reviews in your stories.
1. Behind-the-scenes prep
In a marketing report, HubSpot found that 24% of Instagram marketers say behind-the-scenes footage offers the best return on investment (ROI).
So show off your team in action. Knead dough, chop ingredients, and plate delicious dishes.
These in-the-moment clips add a human touch and showcase the personality that underpins your establishment.
2. Daily specials teasers
Use Insta Stories to highlight limited-time recipes, daily specials, and last-minute offers.
Add countdown stickers to spark a sense of urgency and links to encourage bookings or orders.
3. "This or That" polls
HubSpot reports that 21% of Instagram marketers say interactive content is the most effective on Instagram. This is because it encourages active engagement.
Launch a poll or question to encourage interaction and get direct feedback.
Try offering playful A/B choices that help you understand people’s preferences.
Followers could choose between a side like “fries or rice” or pick between two mocktails they’d rather drink on a summer’s day.
This helps you understand what Story viewers like, and it makes followers feel part of your journey.
4. “Day in the Life” of a Chef
Show off your chef’s talent with the “Day in the Life” trend.
This brings personality to your kitchen and allows you to show off your food values.
Does the chef believe in fresh produce? Show them at the market early in the morning.
Is team kitchen culture a big driver of success? Show your chef coordinating their team during the lunch rush.
Is presentation a priority? Film them plating a dish with precision before service begins.
5. "Meet the Maker" Series
Show off the quality of your ingredients with Story content that spotlights your suppliers.
Create authentic clips of local bakers, farmers, brewers, and so on.
This is a great opportunity to show your customers what you value and how you build your menus around it.
6. “Sound On” Food ASMR
Instagram users love sensory content.
ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. It’s the satisfying feeling you get when something sounds, tastes, feels, smells, or looks particularly pleasing.
Restaurants offer a lot of sensory stimulation.
Create sensory montages of clinking glassware, sizzling steaks, busy kitchens, and toasting customers. This will immerse viewers in your restaurant’s atmosphere.
7. Customer content spotlight
According to HubSpot, 60% of social marketers agree that engaging with users is the best way to grow your following.
Stories give you a place to reshare user-generated content.
But how does other people’s content help your cause?
Happy customers are a great source of social proof.
It’s also a way to create loyal customers. Tag the post creator in your Story or thank them in a direct message to strengthen the relationship between you and your diners.
8. Staff introductions
Present the faces behind the profile picture.
When you show diners happy staff, it humanizes the brand and builds connections.
Post team photos, short video interviews, and fun facts about your staff.
Keep it light and friendly. Try highlighting their personalities so that watchers feel invested in your team’s success.
9. Ambiance montages
Post an aesthetic Story that shows off your space and atmosphere.
Capture the lighting, show off the food, and film guests in action. Use the music sticker to add a soundtrack that fits your restaurant's vibe.
10. Recipe sneak peek
Tease potential customers with a new dish in development.
Post close-up clips of ingredients or create a fast-paced cooking video.
Keep it vague to build intrigue and ask story viewers to guess what you’re making to encourage engagement.
11. Seasonal Invitations
Give your followers a little festive FOMO.
Post seasonal menu items and special events to encourage your audience to join you for upcoming occasions.
12. Menu Item Close-Ups
Let your delicious dishes do the talking.
Take close-up shots of your food to share texture, showcase ingredients, and get your audience’s mouths watering.
Pair it with a link to “order now”.
13. "Book Now" Link
Make it easy for your customers to dine with you.
Share photos and videos of delicious food or satisfied customers having a great time.
Overlay it with a link to your booking page or delivery app. Your followers will see and feel it and want to experience it.
14. Collaborate with local food influencers
Local food influencers help you create hype and act as social proof.
This is why 42% of Instagram marketers agree that it’s the best way to grow your following, HubSpot says. However, SocialPilot estimates that only 4% of food and beverage accounts leverage collaborations.
Invite food influencers to dine with you, share their experience on their Stories, and tag you.
When you reshare their content, it acts as an endorsement for your followers.
It also expands your reach through the influencer’s audience.
Wrap up
Instagram Stories are your visual pitch.
You’ve encouraged people to follow you. Now it’s time to show them your brand voice and restaurant personality.
With the right story strategy and content mix, you’ll grow your social proof and connect with your audience. This turns browsers into diners.
Remember, it should be easy for your customers to eat with you.
Pair your Story strategy with a smart, all-in-one restaurant POS system from Epos Now.
It’s built to streamline service, encourage loyalty, and help you manage orders across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery. Speak to our sales team to find out more.
Take control with a responsive restaurant POS
Host with confidence when you rely on Epos Now’s dedicated restaurant POS. Process multichannel sales (from in-house, takeaway, and delivery) all in one place!
