Cafe QR Code: A Must-Have for Modern Dining in 2025!

If you own or manage a restaurant in today’s fast-paced world, you know how competitive the market is.

A cafe QR Code isn’t just a nice touch for your restaurant—it’s a must-have. Restaurant QR Codes have transformed how cafes and restaurants operate.

From enhancing customer experiences to simplifying operations, they’re a great tool for improving efficiency and profits. 

Customers love QR Code menus, too! According to a report by Eater, a whopping 78% of customers enjoy using QR Codes for menus and for ordering at restaurants.

In this blog article, we will explore how you can use QR Codes for cafe menus and much more, along with some actionable tips to implement them effectively.

Let’s begin!

A. What is a Cafe QR Code?

A cafe QR Code is a scannable code that you usually find at table tents in Cafes.

These cafe QR Codes link customers to digital menus, payment options, or other resources (like discount coupons or feedback forms). 

When customers scan these cafe QR Codes with their smartphones, they can instantly view your offerings without needing any physical menus. 

Cafe QR Codes saw phenomenal popularity during the pandemic. And they continue to grow due to their convenience.

A study by SpotOn showed that over half (63%) of restaurant and cafe owners want to use QR Codes for menus, ordering, or payments.

B. What more can you do with cafe QR Codes?

Besides menus, you can use a cafe QR Codes for:

• Digital Payments: You can link up your cafe QR Codes to your payment gateway for speedy and secure transactions.
  
• Loyalty Programs: You can encourage repeat visits by offering redeemable points or discounts through the cafe QR Code.
  
• Feedback Collection: You can even add a simple feedback form to your cafe QR Codes to get instant feedback from the customers. (And improve your services!)
  
• Promotions and Offers: You can even push your offer discounts or draw attention to special items, all from the phone. (Which people spend their entire days on)
  
• Social Media Promotion: You can push your customers to follow you or your cafe (or the head chef) on social media and build a good customer base.
  
• Event Registration: If your cafe hosts events, QR codes can simplify the signup process.

C. Benefits of using QR Codes in Cafes

Using cafe QR Codes is not just a trend but a practical solution with long-lasting benefits. This is because cafe QR Codes offer:

1. Hygiene and safety

Imagine walking into a cafe and being handed a menu that has been used by hundreds of other people. It’s not exactly the most hygienic option, is it? 

That’s where a cafe QR Codes shine. By offering a contactless way to access the menu, you’re prioritizing your customers’ health and peace of mind. 

They can scan, view, and order food without ever touching a shared menu. Plus, in today’s world, this kind of attention to hygiene really resonates with people.

2. Cost-effective solution

Hundreds of people handle menus every day. Well, menus tear and get spilled on or just need replacement far more often than you like. 

With each price increase or change in the menu, it gets pretty expensive to reprint them. Cafe QR Codes can solve this problem.

All you need to do with a cafe QR Code menu is update your online menu. (because cafe QR Codes are usually dynamic in nature and they can be updated and tracked in real-time)

So, no printing costs, no more waste, no more headache. It is a one-time spend that keeps bringing the returns back.

3. Enhanced customer experience

Picture this: A customer walks into your cafe, sits down, and scans a restaurant menu QR Code from the table tent. 

In a few seconds, they can scroll through your menu, read the descriptions, and make a choice about what to order (all without waiting for a server or a waiter). 

It’s just too fast and convenient to keep them unhappy. Digital menus can even have pictures of the food, special offers that are not available on printed menus, and so much more.

4. Eco-friendly approach

If your café believes in sustainability, then you should definitely switch over to a QR menu (ASAP!). 

Think of the amount of paper you can save by not printing menus! Customers these days want to support companies that take care of the planet. 

So, having a QR Code for restaurant menu fits right in with what they believe in. It’s a win-win for your café and the planet.

5. Versatility beyond just menus

“We plan to make QR Code-based digital menus permanent in our business. Besides promoting contactless dine-in, they are also ideally green for the environment.”

Cesar Zepeda, Owner, San Antonio restaurant, United States

The beauty of a cafe QR Code is that you can use it for so much more than displaying menus. You can use them for:

• Digital Payments: Link to payment apps for seamless transactions.
• Feedback Collection: Create a form customers can fill out after dining.
• Loyalty Programs: Offer points or discounts through QR code scans.
• Promotions: Share special offers or discounts.
• Social Media Links: Encourage customers to follow your cafe’s social media pages.

With so many possibilities, a cafe QR Code is much more than just a tool – it’s an experience enhancer.

D. How to create a cafe QR Code?

Here comes the most important part: How do you create a cafe QR code?

Step 1. Find a reliable QR Code generator

First, you need to find a suitable QR Code generator that allows you to create a cafe QR Code. A simple web search will give you many options to choose from.

However, it’s important to find the right one, and that takes time. To make it easier for you, here is a comprehensive comparison of the best QR Code generators available online. You can find the one that suits you best.

Step 2. Create the cafe QR Code

Using Scanova’s QR Code generator, follow these steps to create your cafe QR Code:

1. Go to Scanova.

2. From the QR Code categories, select Restaurant QR Code.

3. On the page that loads, enter the content you want to add to this Restaurant QR Code. Here, you can upload the menu files in formats such as PDF, Doc, XLS, and PPT

Note that you can encode up to 20 menu files in this QR Code, and each file should not be greater than 20 MB in size. 

Apart from that, you can add other essential information to your QR Code. They can include:

• Feedback Form: Use this option to add a feedback form for your guests.
• About Us: Use this option to share information about the restaurant, iconic dishes, themes, or chef.
• Review Us: Use this option to link your food ordering or delivery platforms, where guests can rate and review you.
• Connect with Us: Use this option to link your contact details and social media profiles
• Footer Text: Use this option to add any other instructions or information for your guests

Once you upload all the files, click Continue.

4. Next, you can name your QR Code and click Create QR Code. On the next page, you will see a preview of the QR Code. Under it, you’ll see the Edit Design option.

5. Use this option if you want to add a design to your QR Code. Once clicked, you’ll see two tabs, “Suggested” and “All.” You can select a pre-made template here.

6. If you wish to edit the design from scratch or create an AI-generated design, click Continue and move ahead with whichever option suits you. Once you finish the changes, click Done Editing and then Download your QR Code.

Note that a window will appear, prompting you to sign up for a 14-day free trial. Once you’ve signed up, proceed to download the QR Code

7. Now, you’ve to enter the size and format of the QR Code to be downloaded. Specify these details and proceed to Export. Your cafe QR Code will be downloaded.

Now, let’s say after some time, you’ve decided to update your menus for pricing or to add or remove a few dishes, or let’s say you have a new chef or theme that you want to promote. 

So, with Scanova’s QR Codes, you do not need to regenerate a new QR Code. You can simply edit your dynamic QR Code to update the information. 

Let’s see how you can do that. Keep reading!

E. How to edit a cafe QR Code

Just follow the steps given below to edit the cafe QR Code generated using Scanova:

1. Login to your Scanova QR Code Generator account 

2. Here, on the dashboard, go to My QR Codes.

2. Hover on the QR Code you want to edit and click the View/Edit option against it.

3 . On the next page, head to the content section and click View/Edit.

4. Replace the old menu file with the new one and apply the changes.

That’s it. Your QR Code will be updated. The updated QR Code will have the same pattern as the original one. Hence, you do not need to reprint a new QR Code.

F. Best practices for cafe QR Codes

1. Include clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

A cafe QR Code sitting alone on a table may not be able to explain what it’s for. So, include some simple, easy-to-understand instructions like “Scan to View Menu,” or “Order Here,” or “Discover Our Specials.”

A good CTA tells the customer what to do and builds up excitement about what’s on the other side. 

Pro Tip: Remember, the more direct and engaging the message, the more likely people are to scan your QR Code for cafe.

2. Position QR Codes wisely

Placement is everything! Think about where customers spend time in your cafe and position the QR Code menus there. Here are some ideal spots:

• On Tables: This is perfect for diners to scan while deciding what to order.
  
• On Receipts: This will encourage customers to leave feedback or sign up for loyalty programs.
  
• On cafe walls or posters or doors: You can put them here for promotions, events, or digital menus for takeaway orders or even to display “Today’s Specials” to passersby.

The key is to ensure the QR Code is always easy to spot and within reach.

3. Keep it simple

It may be tempting to stuff everything into one QR Code—your menu, loyalty program, feedback form, and social media links. But you shouldn’t do it.

Instead, focus on a single purpose for each code. For example, use one QR Code for the restaurant menu QR Code and give an option for placing an order there only. 

Then, create a separate one for feedback or promotions. This way, customers will not feel hassled, and the experience is smooth and hassle-free.

4. Test before printing

Imagine printing hundreds of menus or table stands only to find out the QR Code does not work. 

You can avoid this by properly testing your cafe QR Codes before printing.

• Try scanning it from different distances and angles.
  
• Test it on multiple devices, including Android and iOS phones.
  
• Make sure the link it leads to is working and easy to navigate.

A little testing now saves a lot of headaches later!

5. Personalize your QR Code (Optional, but recommended)

Your cafe is unique, so why should your QR Code look plain and generic? Make it stand out by:

Adding your cafe’s logo or using your brand’s colors (or both). Include a creative frame or design around the code (just ensure it’s still scannable).

Pro Tip: A customised cafe QR Code looks professional and gives a boost to your branding, making it much more likely to attract customers’ attention.

After all, your QR Code menu has to reflect the quality and care that your café stands for!

G. Things to keep in mind while printing cafe QR Codes.

1. Material Matters: Always print on durable surfaces like laminated paper or acrylic to prevent damage. You can even go for laser-cut QR Codes for restaurants on sustainable materials like wood or metal.

2. Right placement: Make sure to place the cafe QR code where it’s easy to see, such as tabletops or posters.

3. High Resolution: Go for high-quality QR Code images to avoid pixelation. Vector file formats like SVG and EPS for crisp printing.

4. Include short Instructions: Briefly explain how to scan the code for first-time users or include what to expect from the QR Code. This promotes inclusivity and creates a better user experience.

5. Test the setup: Before deploying, scan the printed QR Codes to ensure they work perfectly.

Did you know that, according to restaurant.org, more than half (52%) of all restaurants in the US are already using QR Code menus?

H. Your cafe QR Code must have these features

The ideal cafe QR Code or restaurant QR Code should provide advanced solutions for menu and customer engagement. Here are the features it should have

1. Advanced customization options

Your QR Code should align with your brand’s identity. Forget the plain, black-and-white design—make it pop!

• Customize colors, shapes, and patterns to match your restaurant’s theme.
• Add your restaurant’s logo or a personalized frame for better branding and recognition.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Scanova to create branded QR Codes. You can customize colors, eye patterns, logos, and even frames effortlessly.

2. Multiple menu upload option

If your restaurant offers different menus (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner, or seasonal menus), choose a generator that supports multiple menus under one QR Code.

• Customers can access the relevant menu depending on the time or occasion.
• This saves you the hassle of printing multiple QR Codes for each menu type.

3. “Review us” option

Customer feedback is important for improving your services and online presence. With a QR Code menu, you can easily gather real-time reviews.

• Link your QR Code to platforms like Google Reviews or TripAdvisor.
• Add a simple “Leave a Review” button for immediate feedback after customers view the menu.

4. “Connect with us” button

QR Codes aren’t just for menus—they can deepen customer engagement, too.

• Include buttons that link to your website, social media profiles, or contact details.
• Keep customers updated on promotions, events, and special offers with just one scan.

5. “Feedback form” option

Use your cafe QR code to collect direct feedback and improve your menu and service quality.

• Add a short feedback form for insights on customer satisfaction, menu preferences, or service quality.
• Real-time feedback helps address issues faster and improve operations.

Did You Know? Scanova’s QR Codes allow you to integrate review and connect with us buttons and feedback form options, making it seamless for customers to share their experiences.

6. Dynamic QR Codes for easy updates

Menus often change—whether it’s new dishes, price updates, or seasonal specials. A dynamic QR Code makes these updates effortless.

• No need to reprint codes; simply update the linked digital menu.
• Perfect for restaurants with frequently changing menus or promotions.

Restaurant.org also found that one-third (33%) of these restaurant owners feel that using QR Codes has positively impacted their business.

7. In-depth analytics

Data from QR Code scans can help you make smarter decisions.

• Track how many people scan your QR Codes, when they scan, and which pages get the most attention.
• Use this information to optimize menu offerings or reposition QR Codes for better visibility.

8. Safe and reliable QR partner

Your QR Code solution should keep customer data and interactions safe.

• Look for tools that are compliant with data protection standards, such as GDPR and ISO certifications.
• Customers should feel confident when sharing feedback or payment details.

I. FAQs: Cafe QR Codes

1. How to create a QR Code menu?

• Use a QR Code generator like Scanova.
• Upload your menu file or link to your online menu.
• Customize the code with your branding.
• Generate, test, and download the code.

2. How to create a restaurant menu QR Code?

Creating a restaurant menu QR Code is very simple. Just head over to Scanova and choose the restaurant QR Code. 

Then, upload your menu, name your QR Code, add designs (if any), and download the QR. Lastly, place the cafe QR Code in and around high-visibility areas of your restaurant for easy access.

3. Are cafe QR Codes expensive?

No, rather they are cost-effective. Free QR Code generators can also help you get started. Try Scanvoa’s free QR generator. 

4. Can I use a single QR Code for multiple purposes?

Yes! Use dynamic QR Codes that can be updated to serve various purposes without reprinting.

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Why cafe QR Codes are the future

With the growing demand for convenience and safety, cafe QR codes are here to stay. They simplify operations, enhance customer experience, and provide opportunities to innovate. 

By adopting this technology, you’re not just keeping up—you’re leading the way in modern dining.

So, are you ready to upgrade your cafe with QR Codes? Start now and give your customers a seamless, memorable experience!