How to build a hospitality brand that customers crave

Let’s be real: in a world where every second venue has a neon sign and a $19 spritz, standing out isn’t optional—it’s survival. Your brand isn’t just your logo or your colour palette. It’s the vibe. The story. The reason someone walks past five other cafés and picks yours.

So, how do you build a brand that actually makes people stop scrolling, start following, and book a table? Here’s how.

Know who you’re cooking for

Every great menu starts with the customer in mind—and your brand is no different. Ask yourself:

• Who are they?

• What do they love?

• What kind of experience are they craving?

  
  

Whether you're targeting CBD corporates looking for quick-but-sleek lunches, or inner-city locals who live for natural wine and mood lighting, your brand needs to speak their language.

Tasty tip: Create a mini customer profile. Give them a name, a job, a favourite cocktail. Then design everything—from your tone of voice to your interiors—for that person.

Tell your origin story

People don’t just want a burger—they want the story behind the burger. Your brand should tell why you do what you do. Maybe it’s a lifelong obsession with ramen. Maybe it’s a family recipe. Maybe it’s the vibe you missed in your city and decided to create yourself.

Stories stick. So tell yours clearly, confidently, and often.

Tasty tip: Feature your story on your website’s “About” page, weave it into your Instagram captions, or even print a short version on your menu.

Design with flavour

Forget cookie-cutter branding. You’re in hospitality—the one industry where it pays to be bold and memorable. So go beyond pretty fonts. Think texture, vibe, and taste. Every element—logo, colours, copy, menus, website—should work together to build a full-flavoured experience.

Tasty tip: If your menu has heat, your brand should too. If your space is minimalist and refined, keep your design clean and confident. Match the flavour of your venue with the visual identity.

Be consistent, but never boring

From your napkins to your Instagram bio, branding is in every single detail. That’s where the magic is. If your tone is cheeky on socials but deadpan on your website, that’s a disconnect—and your audience will feel it.

Tasty tip: Develop a brand style guide (we can help with that 👀) to keep everything aligned. It makes your team’s life easier too.

Create a brand people want to share

If your food is Insta-worthy but your brand feels like an afterthought? You’re leaving money on the table.

Create moments that beg to be shared. Maybe it’s a clever takeaway cup. Maybe it’s cheeky menu copy. Maybe it’s a website that looks so good people want to screenshot it. Make your brand a part of the experience—and people will do your marketing for you.

Tasty tip: Branded visuals, tone-of-voice, and even your Wi-Fi name should feel “on brand.” Small touches = big impact.

The wrap-up

Your venue already delivers the goods—now your brand needs to match that energy. When done right, branding isn’t just a vibe. It’s what brings people in, keeps them coming back, and makes them rave about you to their mates.

Want help cooking up a brand that people crave?

Let’s make it tasty→