What you need
- Your menu as a web page or a PDF.
- A stable web address that you control, such as
yourrestaurant.com/menu. - A QR code that points to that address.
- Table cards, stickers or stands to print it on.
Step 1: Choose a menu format
A web page (best)
A simple page on your own website is the most pleasant format for guests. Text resizes to fit any phone, it loads quickly, translation tools work on it, screen readers can read it, and search engines can index it, so people searching for your dishes can find you. Most website builders can make a menu page in an afternoon.
A PDF (fine, with care)
A PDF is quick if you already have a designed menu. To make it usable on a phone:
- Use a single portrait column. A wide, two-page spread means pinching and scrolling sideways.
- Keep the file small, ideally under a few megabytes, so it opens on weak mobile signal.
- Export with real text, not a scanned image, so guests can zoom without blur and screen readers can read it.
Other options
A shared Google Doc or Drive file works, but looks generic and may push guests to open an app. Menu platforms and ordering systems can be worth it if you also take orders at the table, but check what happens to your printed codes if you leave the platform.
Step 2: Use an address you control
This is the step that saves you money later. Don’t put a link to a file name like menu-october-final2.pdf in the code. Point the code at a fixed address such as yourrestaurant.com/menu, and update what that address shows.
- For a web page, simply edit the page.
- For a PDF, upload the new file with the same name, or set
/menuto redirect to the latest file.
Now your printed codes never need to change, and you don’t need a paid dynamic QR code. The guide on static vs dynamic QR codes explains why this matters.
Step 3: Make the QR code
- Open the QR code with logo generator to add your logo, or the plain QR code generator.
- Enter your menu address. Keep it short. A short link makes a simpler code that scans faster.
- Choose a dark colour for the code on a light background. Brand colours are fine if they are dark.
- Download an SVG for your printer or designer, or a large PNG.
If you want to know which tables or materials get scanned most, add a short campaign tag to the link for each placement. See how to track QR code scans for free.
Step 4: Print table codes that scan
- Size: at least 3–4 cm wide on a table card. Bigger for wall posters and window signs.
- Label it: “Scan for our menu” right next to the code. A bare code gets ignored.
- Print the address too, in small text under the code, for guests whose camera won’t cooperate.
- Matte, wipeable finish: tables get wiped often, and gloss reflects ceiling lights. Matte lamination or a sturdy acrylic stand works well.
- Keep the margin: leave clear space around the code. Don’t let a border or text touch it.
The guide on printing a QR code that scans has a full checklist.
Step 5: Make the menu page good on a phone
- Large, readable text and clear section headings: starters, mains, drinks.
- Prices on every item.
- Allergen and dietary information that is easy to spot.
- No pop-ups, sign-ups or app downloads before the menu appears.
- Opening hours, address and phone number at the bottom.
- If you serve many tourists, a link to the menu in other languages.
Step 6: Test it in the room
Sit at a table and scan the code with two different phones, in the evening lighting, on the restaurant’s mobile signal. If the menu takes ages to appear, the file is too big or the page is too heavy. If your signal is weak indoors, offer guest Wi‑Fi too, and put a Wi‑Fi QR code next to the menu code. See Wi‑Fi QR codes for guests.
Keep paper menus available
Some guests don’t have a smartphone with them, have a flat battery, have poor eyesight, or simply prefer paper. Keeping a few printed menus available means nobody has to struggle, and it is often expected for accessibility reasons. A QR menu works best as an option, not the only way to see what you serve.
Watch for tampering
Scammers sometimes stick their own code over a restaurant’s, leading to fake payment pages. Check your table cards regularly, print the code as part of the card rather than as a loose sticker, and scan them yourself now and then. The guide to QR code scams has more on this.