"Restaurants near me", "best kottu in Colombo", "cafés in Colombo 7 with Wi-Fi", "rooftop bar Colombo". Diners search on their phones, often minutes before deciding where to eat. Restaurants that appear in Google Maps with great photos and reviews win those diners.
1. Google Business Profile is your shop window
For restaurants, your Google Business Profile matters more than your website. Make it complete:
- Specific category: Sri Lankan restaurant, Chinese restaurant, Café, Bakery, Bar
- Accurate hours, including special hours for Poya days and holidays
- Menu link or uploaded menu with prices
- Attributes: dine-in, takeaway, delivery, outdoor seating, Wi-Fi, vegetarian options, wheelchair access
- Reservation link if you take bookings
- Delivery links to PickMe Food, Uber Eats or your own ordering
Full guide: Google Business Profile for Sri Lankan businesses.
2. Photos sell food
Profiles with many good photos get more clicks and direction requests.
- Upload new photos regularly: dishes, interior, exterior, staff, events
- Take photos in natural light
- Show the entrance, so people can find you
- Encourage diners to add photos
3. Reviews decide where people eat
- Ask happy diners to leave a review: a QR code on the bill or table helps
- Reply to every review, thanking positive reviewers by mentioning what they enjoyed
- Handle complaints calmly and offer to make it right
See how to get more Google reviews.
4. A fast, simple website
Your website should load quickly on mobile and show, without searching:
- Menu as text, not only a PDF or image, so Google can read dishes and prices
- Location, map and parking
- Opening hours
- Phone and WhatsApp, with click-to-call
- Reservation and delivery links
5. Target the dishes and occasions people search
- Signature dishes: "lamprais Colombo", "crab curry Colombo", "best hoppers"
- Occasions: "birthday dinner Colombo", "private dining room", "office party venue"
- Diets: "vegan restaurant Colombo", "halal restaurant"
- Areas: "restaurants in Colombo 3", "Dehiwala cafés"
Create pages or sections for your main ones, such as a "Private events" page.
6. Get listed and mentioned
- Food blogs, Instagram food reviewers and YouTube vloggers
- Local listing sites and food guides
- TripAdvisor, especially for tourist areas
- Local news coverage of openings and events
Keep your name, address and phone number identical everywhere. See local citations and NAP.
7. Restaurant structured data
Add Restaurant schema with cuisine, price range, address, opening hours and menu URL. See the structured data guide.
8. Post updates
Use Google Business Profile posts for specials, new menu items and events, such as "Avurudu feast this weekend" or "Christmas set menu now available".
Several outlets?
Each outlet needs its own profile and location page. See multi-location SEO.
Get help
Our local SEO service helps restaurants and cafés get found in Google Maps. See also SEO in Colombo and ranking on Google Maps.