QR Codes for Restaurants: Menus, Wi-Fi, Reviews, and Table Cards
How restaurants and cafés use QR codes: a menu link that does not break when the menu changes, a guest Wi-Fi code, a review code, table card sizes in cm, design and printing tips, and what to keep on paper.
Restaurants use QR codes for three things: the menu, guest Wi-Fi, and reviews or ordering. For the menu, encode a link on your own domain, such as yourrestaurant.com/menu, and change the page behind it when the menu changes, so the printed code never needs a reprint. Print table codes at least 3–4 cm wide with a label ("Scan for the menu"), dark modules on a light background, and on matte paper. Keep a few paper menus for guests who cannot or will not scan.
You can make all of these free, with no account, in the Pretty QR editor. The Café Menu template puts the code in a coffee cup frame with a "SCAN ME" label.
How do I make a menu QR code that does not break when the menu changes?
The menu changes every season. The table cards should not. Separate the two:
- Pick one permanent link for the menu, on your own domain:
yourrestaurant.com/menu. - Put the current menu behind it: a menu page on your website, or a PDF the link redirects to. Most website builders have a "redirect" setting for this.
- Make the QR code for the permanent link, not for the PDF file name.
menu-autumn-2026-v3-final.pdfchanges;/menudoes not. - Next season, replace the page or point the redirect at the new PDF. The printed code keeps working.
This works with a free static code. You do not need a dynamic QR subscription to change the menu. Our guide on QR codes that never expire explains the difference and why some "free" restaurant codes stop working after a trial.
Should the menu be a web page or a PDF?
| Compare | Menu web page | Menu PDF |
|---|---|---|
| On a phone | Fits the screen, text reflows | Pinch and zoom, unless designed for phones |
| Load time | Fast | Slow if the file is large |
| Update | Edit the page | Upload a new file, update the redirect |
| Allergens and prices | Easy to keep current | Easy to forget in an old file |
A web page is the better experience. A PDF is fine when it is under about 2 MB and laid out in one column for a phone screen. A scanned print menu as a 15 MB PDF is the most common bad experience at the table.
Which other QR codes are useful in a restaurant?
- Guest Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi QR code joins the network in one tap, with no password to spell out. Use a guest network, because the password is readable from the code. Step by step: how to make a Wi-Fi QR code.
- Reviews. A code on the bill folder or by the door that opens your review page on Google or another review site. Copy the "write a review" link from your business profile, and do not offer anything in exchange for a review: review platforms forbid that.
- Ordering or booking. A code to your online ordering or table booking page, on takeaway bags and the window.
- Social media. A code to your Instagram, on the counter or the receipt. Pretty QR has an Instagram template.
Use one code per purpose, each with its own label. One code that opens a page of ten links makes guests think.
How big should a QR code be on a table card or menu?
| Where | Scan distance | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Table card or table tent | 30–40 cm, seated | 3–4 cm |
| Printed menu, back page | 25–35 cm | 2.5–3 cm |
| Bill folder, receipt | 25 cm | 2.5 cm |
| Window or door sticker | 0.5–1 m | 6–10 cm |
| Wall poster by the counter | 1–2 m | 10–20 cm |
Restaurants are often dim in the evening, so go to the upper end of each range. For a code with a logo, add 20–30%. The QR code size guide explains the numbers.
How do I make a restaurant QR code look good and still scan?
- Use your brand colors, dark on light. A deep espresso brown, wine red, or forest green on cream works well. Pale gold or light grey modules do not. Our QR code colors guide lists contrast ratios.
- Add a frame with a label. "Scan for the menu", "Free Wi-Fi", "Leave us a review". The Café Menu template is a starting point you can recolor.
- Add your logo small, under about 25% of the code. See how to add a logo.
- Keep the quiet zone: 4 modules of empty space around the code. Table card designs often crowd it with text.
What should I check before printing table cards?
- Use matte paper or matte laminate. Glossy laminate reflects ceiling lights straight into the camera.
- Print one card and test it at a real table, in the evening light, with two phones.
- Open the link from the scan and check the menu loads in a few seconds on mobile data, not only on your Wi-Fi.
- Check the code is static: the phone should show your own domain before you tap.
- Wipe-test it. Table cards get wiped many times a day. Make sure the print does not smear.
Do guests still need paper menus?
Yes, some. A QR menu helps you update prices and allergens fast, and many guests like it. But some guests have no phone with them, no data, a flat battery, or poor eyesight, and some just prefer paper. Keep a few printed menus and offer them without the guest having to ask twice. A QR code should be an extra way in, not the only one.
One permanent menu link, a static code at least 3–4 cm wide with a label, matte print, and a few paper menus. Start from the Café Menu template or open the editor.
Questions? [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a QR code for a restaurant menu?
Put the menu on a web page or a PDF at a link you control, for example yourrestaurant.com/menu. Make a QR code for that link in a generator such as Pretty QR, add a label like "Scan for the menu", and print it at least 3–4 cm wide on table cards. When the menu changes, update the page; the printed code stays the same.
Should a restaurant menu QR code open a PDF or a web page?
A web page is better on phones: it fits the screen, loads fast, and you can update it any time. A PDF is fine if it is small (under about 2 MB) and designed for a phone screen. Either way, keep the link the same and replace the content behind it.
How big should a QR code be on a restaurant table?
At least 3 cm wide, 4 cm is more comfortable. Guests scan from about 30–40 cm while seated, often in dim light, so a slightly bigger code with strong contrast saves them a second try.
Do restaurant menu QR codes expire?
A static QR code does not expire: the link is in the pattern. Codes from generators that use a free trial of dynamic codes can stop working when the trial ends. Check by scanning: if the phone shows your own domain, the code is static.
Can I put the Wi-Fi password in a QR code for guests?
Yes. A Wi-Fi QR code joins the guest network when scanned. The password is readable by anyone who scans it, so use a separate guest network, not the one your till or cameras use.
Should restaurants still have paper menus?
Yes, keep some. Some guests have no phone, no data, a flat battery, or poor eyesight, and some simply prefer paper. A QR menu works best as an option next to a few printed menus.
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