How to Run Ads for Restaurants in Kolkata

Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, is famed for its rich food culture, iconic street food, and its thriving restaurant industry. From traditional Bengali cuisine to modern fusion dishes, a growing demand for dining experiences is creating a market hotbed for restaurant businesses. Kolkata takes to the growth of the industry at a rate of about 15% annually and it is essential for them to strategically display their ads to onboard foot traffic, online orders, and brand loyalty. This guide extends to you a look into the best of the lot both digital and offline advertising strategies paired up with relevant statistics for, again, Restaurant Ads in Kolkata to maximize their reach and ROI.

Understanding the Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

The restaurant sector in Kolkata is witnessing substantial growth with the rise of the aforementioned fine dining, cloud kitchens, cafes, and QSRs. However, competition is high and thus running targeted ads becomes an important method to attract customers and increase sales.

Key Market Insights (2023-24)

Kolkata’s restaurant scene is driven by a mix of traditional old-world restaurants, modern cafés, and cloud kitchens, with online Food Delivery business burgeoning as never before. Kolkata’s food culture has a very rich culinary heritage and a thriving street food culture complemented by a growth of appetite for zingy, multicultural foods.

Consumer Behavior in Kolkata

• 78% of Kolkata residents check out online information before selecting a restaurant.
• 55% of online food orders come through ads on Zomato and Swiggy.
• 30% of diners choose restaurants influenced by advertisement campaigns on Instagram and Facebook.
• “Best restaurants in Kolkata” received a 45% uptick in Google searches YoY.

Popular Restaurant Segments in Kolkata

• Street food and casual dining – Casual dining and Street food are always in demand. Places are packed specifically in Esplanade, Park Street, and New Market. 
• Fine-dining and luxury restaurants – Luxury restaurants and resorts for fine dining run well in Salt Lake, Ballygunge, and Alipore. 
• On the rise of cloud kitchens and online food delivery, a 20% increase is expected every year. 
• Cafes and quick-service restaurants – Places in Sector 5, Jadavpur, and Behala are being revamped for more customer attraction. 

Top Food Zones In Kolkata

• Park Street & Camac Street – It’s a perfect spot for fancy dinners. Here are the fine-dine restaurants, lounges, and premium cafes for your real treat.
• New Market & Esplanade – Budget eateries, street foods, carefree dining. It is always teeming with people, and the energy here is surreal.
• Salt Lake & Sector 5 – These places are flooding with IT professionals and corporate offices to fulfil the daily lunch needs of the corporate crowd.
• Gariahat & Ballygunge – If one is longing for the Bengali platter, that is their final choice. Big varieties are available for all the different aged folks. Family dining is perfect. 

1. Discovering Your Key Audience for Restaurant Ads

To run any restaurant ad campaign, one must know who the ideal audience is; so does Kolkata, broadly categorizing food-loving sections, each responding differently with respect to advertising.

Key consumer segments

Corporate and IT professionals

• Food preferences: ‘Lunch combos and quick bites work good for them.’
• Best Ads: ‘Google Search Ads, LinkedIn promotions, Zomato/Swiggy ads.’
• Best Places: ‘Sector 5; Salt Lake; Park Circus.’

College students and millennials

• Food preferences: ‘They love to hang out at cafes and grab fast foods.’
• Best Advertisements: ‘Instagram reels and YouTube shorts have the biggest attention.’
• Best Places: ‘Best locations will be Jadavpur, Gariahat, South City Mall.’

Related: How to Run Ads for Restaurants in Hyderabad

Families and traditional diners

• Food preferences: ‘They like Bengali thalis, Mughlai cuisine,3 and sweets for dessert.’
• Best Ads: ‘Facebook ads, Google Maps promotions, and Bengali-language newspapers work well for them.’
• Best Locations: ‘Find them at Ballygunge, Shyambazar, Tollygunge.’

Tourists and food lovers

• Food preferences: ‘Tourists are very interested in trying local food. They are searing for Bengali and fusion-style dishes.’
• Best Advertisements: ‘YouTube commercials, Google Travel promotions, collaborations with influencers have their eyes entirely hooked.’
• Best Locations: ‘You can find them at Esplanade, Princep Ghat, Rajarhat.’ 

2. Best Digital Advertising Platforms for Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

With the rapid growth of Kolkata’s digital penetrability, online ads will likely generate the fastest ROI for restaurant marketing.

a) Google Ads (PPC Advertising)

Google Ads enables restaurants to catch customers ready to dine and look for different options.

Best Google Ads Strategies

Google Search Ads (Text Ads)

High-performing keywords:

• “Best restaurants in Kolkata” (10,500 searches/month).
• “Biryani near me” (6,800 searches/month).
• “Street food in Kolkata” (4,500 searches/month).

Google Display Ads (Banner Ads)

• Retarget your website visitors with good-looking food images, along with short-lived discounts.
• Example: An upscale restaurant on Park Street can display an ad:
  “Luxury Dining in Kolkata – Reserve Your Table Today!”

Google Maps Ads

• Helps increase foot traffic through ranking at the top of Google Maps searches.
• Example: The café in Salt Lake can run a Google Maps ad:
  “Best Coffee in Kolkata? Visit XYZ Café Today!”

b) Facebook & Instagram Ads (Meta Ads)

Meta platforms provide Kolkata restaurants with an excellent promotional channel, especially for Gen Z and millennials.

Best Facebook & Instagram Ad Strategies

Reels & Stories Ads

• Best for launching a new menu, discounts, and limited-time offers.
• Example:  A dessert café in South City Mall can run an Instagram Story ad:
  “Try Our Chocolate Lava Cake – Only ₹199 Today!”

Lead Generation Ads

• Best for fine dining, buffet deals, and event bookings.
• Example: A Ballygunge steakhouse can run a lead generation ad:
  “Exclusive 3-Course Dinner at ₹1,199 – Book Now!”

WhatsApp Click-to-Chat Ads

• Leverage direct bookings and online orders.
• Example: A Biryani outlet in New Market can run a WhatsApp ad:
• “Order Authentic Kolkata Biryani Now – Click to Chat!”

c) YouTube Ads (Video Marketing)

YouTube serves as one of the most effective platforms for ad creation for restaurants in Kolkata.

Best YouTube Ad Strategies

Skippable Video Ads

• Best suited for fine dining, heritage restaurants, and rooftop cafés. 
• Example: A Bengali Thali restaurant can air the following 30-second promotional video: 
• Live cooking of traditional dishes.
• Customer testimonials & ambience shots.

Bumper Ads (6-Second Non-Skippable Ads)

• Preferred for fast food, street food, and home delivery services. 
• Example: “Craving Kathi Rolls? Order Now & Get 20% Off!”

YouTube Shorts Ads

• They prove great for viral marketing & behind-the-scenes kitchen content. 
• Example: The Momo shop in Esplanade can promote its signature spicy momos with a 15-second YouTube Shorts Ad.

Watch Out – How to Run Ads for Restaurants in Hyderabad

3. Optimizing Google My Business (GMB) & Local SEO for Restaurants

By optimizing the GMB page with customer reviews, a more complete business description, and more photographs, the business is highly visible for local searches. These services also focus on localized keywords that create backlinks and create interesting content to index, which brings more diners through the door and more online orders.

a) Google My Business (GMB) Optimization

Optimizing the GMB profile properly will bring your restaurant into search results within the local location.

GMB Optimization Tips

• Upload high-quality pictures to highlight the food, interiors, and ambience.
• Encourage customer reviews- restaurants with 4.5+ ratings will have better rankings.
• Update offers and working hours- e.g.: “Get flat 10% off on lunch buffets this week!”

4. Offline Advertising Strategies for Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

While digital marketing seems to have taken over in influence, offline advertising still remains highly effective for local branding and acquiring customers-especially in Kolkata’s heavy traffic zones.

a) Newspaper & Magazine Ads

In Kolkata, newspapers are really popular. Many families and working folks who don’t spend much time online love reading them.

Best Newspapers to Advertise Restaurants in Kolkata

The Telegraph (English)

•   Great for fine dining and buffet specials.
•    Reads daily by about 1.8 million people.

The Times of India – Kolkata Edition

•    Perfect for multi-cuisine spots, cafes, and food fairs.
•    Around 1.5 million daily readers.

Anandabazar Patrika (Bengali)

• Best for Bengali restaurants, sweet shops, and local places.
• Has a readership of about 3.2 million people daily.

Explore Now  – How to Run Ads for Restaurants in New Delhi

Types of Restaurant Ads in Newspapers

• Classified Ads: Affordable options for daily meals and specials.
• Display Ads: Big ads for new restaurants or buffet deals.

Example Ad:

Enjoy Kolkata’s Most Authentic Bengali Thali – 20% Off This Puja Season at XYZ Restaurant, Ballygunge!

b) Billboards & Hoardings

In Kolkata, busy roads and marketplaces serve to erect the billboards, which can be spotted from some distance.

Best Locations for Restaurant Billboards in Kolkata

1. Park Street & Camac Street – Premium dining, lounges, rooftop cafés.
2. Esplanade & New Market – Ideal for small eateries, street foods, and multi-cuisine restaurants.
3. Salt Lake & Sector 5 – considered decent for corporate lunch campaigns and fast-casual restaurants.
4. Gariahat & Ballygunge – Appropriate for Bengali restaurants and sweet shops.

Billboard Advertising Costs in Kolkata

• Park Street, Camac Street: ₹5-10 lakh/month.
• Salt Lake, Sector 5: ₹3-7 lakh/month.
• Suburban Areas (Jadavpur, Behala): ₹1-3 lakh/month.

Example Billboard Message

“Best Biryani in Kolkata? Try XYZ Restaurant in New Market – Book Your Table Now!”

c) Flyers & Brochures Distribution

Flyers are the most economical method of targeting customers next to the consumers, especially in congested shopping zones and office areas.

Where to Distribute Flyers?

1. Shopping malls and Theatres- South City Mall, Acropolis Mall, Quest Mall.
2. Corporate offices and IT parks- Salt Lake Sector 5, Rajarhat IT Hub.
3. Metro stations and bus stands- Esplanade, Dum Dum, Rabindra Sadan, Tollygunge.

Example Flyer Message

“FREE Dessert with Every Meal- XYZ Restaurant Salt Lake- Visit Today!” 

5. Influencer Marketing & Community Engagement

The credibility and visibility of the restaurant increase with the collaboration of local food bloggers and social media influencers. Hosting food festivals, cultural events, and engaging the community over social media builds brand loyalty and customer retention.

a) Collaborating with Kolkata’s Top Food Influencers

Food bloggers and social media influencers play an important role in finding new restaurants and viral marketing. Kolkata has a dense community of food bloggers; hence, influencer partnerships are strongly capable of marketing.

Top Food Influencers in Kolkata

1. Kolkata Foodie – 600K+ followers (Instagram Reels & Youtube food vlogs).
2. The Biryani Addict – 350K+ followers (Hyderabadi & Kolkata biryani reviews).
3. Bengal Food Explorer – 400K+ followers (Bengali cuisine & street food).

Example Influencer Campaign

For an Instagram reel, Kolkata Foodie goes to the city fine-dine restaurant Ballygunge,
“Is This Kolkata’s Best Mishti Doi? Watch the Full Review!”

b) Hosting Community Events & CSR Marketing

Restaurants that connect with the community will build loyalty from their customers.

Ways to Engage with the Community

1. Sponsor local festivals (Durga Puja, Poila Boishakh, and Diwali).
2. Host a food-tasting day for food bloggers and customers.
3. Partner with NGOs for food donation drives.

Example Campaign

Durga Puja special promotion run by a traditional Bengali restaurant in Shyambazar:

“Savor Puja with Authentic Bengali Flavors – Special Thali for ₹399!

Related – How to Run Ads for Restaurants in Mumbai

6. Retargeting Strategies for Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

Many potential customers sporadically visit a restaurant’s website or social media, often without making a reservation or an order. Retargeting is needed to bring them back and path them into paying customers.

a) Google Display Retargeting

• How It Works: Show ads to people who visited your site but left without making a booking or purchase.
• Example:
  • A fine dining restaurant in Park Street can retarget users with the following ad: “Still Searching for a Luxury Dining Experience? Reserve Your Table Now!”

b) Facebook & Instagram Retargeting

• Dynamic Ads – Users get to see dishes that they have previously browsed.
• Lookalike Audience – Approach new customers that are like your previous diners.

Example Retargeting Ad

An Esplanade BBQ restaurant can run a retargeting ad:
“Unlimited BBQ Buffet at ₹799 – Reserve Your Table Today!”

c) WhatsApp Retargeting (Click-to-Chat Ads)

• WhatsApp is the most widely used tool for business communication in Kolkata.
• WhatsApp Ads allow for instant interaction & booking.

Example WhatsApp Ad

A dessert café in Gariahat can run a WhatsApp promotion and say:
“Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Ice Cream – Click to Chat & Redeem Offer!”

7. AI-Powered Restaurant Marketing & Chatbots

AI marketing tools can help the restaurant industry automate bookings, retarget customers, and improve customer services.

a) AI Chatbots for Seamless WhatsApp & Facebook Messenger Support

• Best for: Giving & securing reservations, often answering FAQs, and providing discounts.
• Leading AI Chatbots: WhatsApp Business API, ManyChat & TARS

Example AI Chatbot Campaign

A luxury restaurant in Park Street can make use of a chatbot to:

• Automate confirmations of table bookings. 
• Sending exclusive offers & discounts through WhatsApp. 

8. Key Statistics for Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

Online food delivery constitutes a larger share of restaurant sales. Zomato and Swiggy remain significant players in this space. Social media and digital ads drive engagement on Instagram and Facebook, which remains crucial for restaurant promotions and interactions with the customer. 

a) Consumer Behavior

• 78% of residents of Kolkata have searched Google or Instagram for restaurant information.
• About 55 per cent of food orders could be attributed to ads for Zomato & Swiggy.
• Of these people, 30% report that their decision was influenced by Instagram Reels & Facebook posts.

b) Growth in Digital Advertising for Restaurants

• Using WhatsApp marketing can increase restaurant bookings by three times.
• Engagement is 45% higher through Instagram Reels than through one static food post.

Must See – How to Run Ads for Restaurant in Ahmedabad

Conclusion: Restaurant Ads in Kolkata

To succeed in Kolkata’s restaurant business, a multi-channel marketing trident should be established:

• Google Ads & local SEO
• Facebook & Instagram ads
• Influencer marketing
• Retargeting – Google, Facebook, WhatsApp
• Offline marketing (newspapers, billboards)
• AI Chatbots & WhatsApp marketing