Affiliate Marketing for Restaurants: Does It Actually Work, or Is It Just Another Digital Fad?
Let’s not waste time. You’re here because someone on your PR retainer muttered the phrase “affiliate marketing strategy” in a pitch deck, and you politely nodded while quietly wondering whether it had anything to do with Bitcoin or buying fake followers.
Short answer? No.
Slightly longer answer? Maybe. If done right. And sparingly. Like truffle oil.
What Even Is Affiliate Marketing for Restaurants?
Let me break it down like the waiter who realises halfway through describing the tasting menu that you’re the kind of person who just wants a burger.
Affiliate marketing, in restaurant terms, is this: a blogger, influencer, or content creator (like me) writes about your restaurant. If someone reads it and books a table or prepays via a special link, I get a small commission. No booking, no cost. Simple.
It’s pay-per-performance marketing. Not some vague “exposure” deal with a lifestyle influencer who’s allergic to carbs and only drinks matcha.
Sounds Great! So Why Isn’t Every Restaurant Doing It?
Because — and I say this with love — restaurants are chaotic. And affiliate tracking requires two things most kitchens don’t have:
- A clean digital booking journey with trackable links
- Someone who actually understands what an affiliate link is
If you’re a chain with an in-house CRM, an online reservation engine, and a marketing team that speaks fluent tech — crack on. Affiliate marketing can absolutely work.
But if you’re a one-off bistro run by a genius chef and their cousin with a clipboard? You’re better off investing in quality editorial and simple booking links than trying to Frankenstein a tracking pixel onto your ResDiary page.
So Who Should Use Affiliate Marketing?
- High-volume, reservation-driven venues
(Think: fine dining, destination restaurants, tasting menus that cost more than my car.) - Restaurants with prepaid booking options or experiences
(Set menus, chef’s table nights, wine pairings — things that can be sold online like tickets.) - Hospitality groups or restaurant chains
(You’ve got the infrastructure. Let’s put it to work.)
If that’s you? Affiliate links are an easy, low-risk way to turn good press into actual bookings.
Who Shouldn’t Bother (Yet)?
- Walk-in spots with no online booking
- Casual cafés with a £12 spend per head
- Venues that change URLs more often than the chef changes the menu
In those cases, don’t worry about affiliate tracking. Instead, focus on getting written about in the kind of places your customers actually read — by people they trust.
Spoiler: that’s me.
Creative Alternatives to Affiliate Tracking
Affiliate links aren’t the only way to measure value. Here’s what works just as well — and sometimes better:
- Unique landing pages or booking codes
(“Book via The Travel Critic and get a free negroni.” Boom — that’s trackable.) - Simple UTM links for your online bookings
(Ask your digital team. Or I’ll talk to them. Someone will know what it means.) - Press coverage with links to your Google/Resy/SevenRooms page
(Traffic still counts. And Google sees it too.)
Bottom Line: Use the Tool That Fits the Plate
If your restaurant is ready, affiliate marketing can be a brilliant way to fill tables without flinging discounts around like confetti. If you’re not? Don’t force it.
Invest in smart, stylish editorial. Partner with creators who know the difference between a demi-glace and a demi-sec. And if your diners come hungry, they’ll come back.
Thinking of a Partnership? Let’s Talk
📩 Email: paul@thetravelcritic.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 7816 459474
The Travel Critic 