Summer Restaurant Marketing
Capture the season with outdoor dining, fresh menus, and vacation-ready promotions.
June - August
Publish 2 months before
Summer transforms dining habits: outdoor seating becomes premium real estate, lighter fare dominates menus, and tourist traffic surges in destination areas. Restaurants that adapt their marketing and operations to summer rhythms capture significantly more revenue. This guide covers outdoor dining optimization, seasonal menu strategies, and capturing the summer crowd from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Summer Dining Stats
73%
Outdoor Dining Preference
+45%
Summer Tourist Spending
+15%
Average Check Increase (Patio)
+120%
Frozen Drink Sales
Summer represents peak opportunity for restaurants with outdoor space. Even without patios, seasonal menus and extended hours capture summer energy.
Marketing Tips
Make Patio Your Hero
If you have outdoor seating, feature it prominently. Patio photos, reservations, and social content.
Create a Summer-Only Menu
Lighter, fresher options: salads, grilled items, seafood, and seasonal produce. Customers expect variety.
Target Tourists and Visitors
Update your Google Business for tourist searches. Partner with hotels and local attractions.
Extend Happy Hour and Hours
Longer days mean later dining. Extend happy hour to 7PM and dinner service to 10-11PM.
Feature Frozen and Refreshing Drinks
Frozen cocktails, summer spritzers, and creative lemonades drive high-margin beverage sales.
Promotion Ideas
Sunset Happy Hour
Extended happy hour timed with summer sunset
Happy hour until sunset (7-8PM), patio seating priority
Summer Tasting Menu
Seasonal menu showcasing local summer produce
5-course tasting with farmer's market ingredients = $75/person
Kids Eat Free Tuesdays
Drive family traffic during slower summer weeknights
Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée on Tuesdays
Beach/Pool Party Catering
Portable, outdoor-friendly catering packages
Beach picnic box for 4 with sandwiches, salads, drinks = $75
Summer Concert/Movie Nights
Outdoor entertainment events to draw crowds
Live music Fridays on the patio, outdoor movie Sundays
Online Ordering Tips
Enable Patio Reservations
Let customers specifically request outdoor seating. Premium placement for patio tables.
Promote Grab-and-Go Options
Summer = picnics and beaches. Offer portable, outdoor-friendly meal packages.
Optimize for 'Near Me' Searches
Tourists search 'restaurants near me.' Ensure your Google listing is current with summer hours.
Add Seasonal Menu Items
Feature summer-specific items prominently in your online ordering menu.
Implement SMS Marketing
Text campaigns about patio availability, today's specials, and perfect weather alerts.
Preparation Timeline
Memorial Day preparation
Launch summer menu
Open patio with fresh setup
Update online presence with summer imagery
Train staff on seasonal offerings
June - Peak summer
Maximize patio utilization
Weekly social content showcasing outdoor vibe
Partner with local events and tourism
Run summer-specific promotions
July - August
Maintain energy and freshness
Refresh menu if items go stale
Back-to-school transitions (late August)
Capture end-of-summer urgency
Labor Day
Last hurrah summer promotions
Transition to fall menu preparation
Thank customers for summer season
Evaluate what worked for next year
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I maximize limited patio space?
Extend hours, require reservations for patio, and create bar/standing options. Every outdoor seat should turn 2-3x per night.
Should I raise prices for patio seating?
A modest premium ($5-10 minimum or slightly higher menu prices) is acceptable for premium outdoor experience.
How do I handle weather variability?
Invest in umbrellas, heaters for cool evenings, and a wet-weather backup plan. Communicate policies clearly.
What's the best summer happy hour strategy?
Extended hours (4-7PM), frozen drink specials, lighter appetizers. Summer happy hour should feel like a mini-vacation.
Make This Your Best Summer Ever
RestauNax helps you capture summer traffic with outdoor reservations, seasonal menus, and automated marketing—all commission-free.