11 of the Best Free Squarespace Templates for Restaurants & Cafes
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If you run a restaurant, bar or hospitality-focused business, your website should present as an extension of your brand. And whether you need to highlight your menu, tell your story, or make reservations easy (or all three), Squarespace has templates built for exactly that.
The challenge: there are over 100 free templates in Squarespace 7.1, and there are over a dozen created specifically for restaurants.
How are you supposed to choose?
That’s why I put this list together.
These eleven free Squarespace restaurant templates were designed with hospitality in mind: from fine dining and chef-driven concepts to food trucks and cafés. Each one is free with any Squarespace subscription, fully customizable, and mobile-ready.
Quick Picks ~
Fine dining or chef's table selling mood & philosophy: Heron
Modern brasserie or gastropub with easy booking: Atlantic
Cozy vegan, farm-to-table, or brunchy cafe: Hemlock
Fusion or personality-heavy neighborhood spot: Pine
Loud, playful burger or sandwich concept: Tantillo
Classic sit-down with reservations, minimal fuss: Vance
Multi-location group, food trucks, venues that'll scale: Auburn
Bars, cocktail lounges, tasting rooms wanting elegant single-page vibes: Belisa
Minimal and refined, OR “Coming Soon: page: Troutman
Chef story or craft process takes center stage: Hill
What Makes a Great Squarespace Template for Restaurants?
Not every Squarespace free template is going to work for a food-based business. If you're running a restaurant or cafe, you’ll need a website that ticks specific boxes. Here's what I’d look for:
Clear calls to action: Visitors should know exactly how to book a table, view your menu, or find your location.
Menu layout: Space to showcase what you serve, with descriptions and prices that are easy to scan.
Visual focus: Your food photography needs room to shine. Great restaurants have great photos, and your template should highlight them.
Reservation integration: Built-in or easy connection to booking systems like OpenTable, Tock, or Resy.
Location and hours: Front and center. People need to know where you are and when you're open without hunting.
Responsive design: The majority of restaurant searches happen on phones. Your site needs to look good (and function well) on tiny screens, as well as still look good on those big monitors.
Every template below checks these boxes, and they're all customizable enough to match your brand, tone & style.
A Quick Note: Squarespace’s built-in templates aren't always the best choice to get started… but they are the free choice, and that’s a great option for a lot of people starting their business.
The built-in Squarespace templates do have a lot of limitations, especially when it comes to customization, SEO and conversion. While fine — and more importantly, free — they don't always leave a ton of room for you to make the design truly yours.
Squarespace's free templates are pretty generic, and if you just use one straight out of the box, your site's going to look like A LOT of other sites. They're also not built with a ton of copy space; most of them prioritize looking cool over giving you room to actually explain your concept and culinary philosophy.
They're a solid starting point for a lot of people though.
Especially if you're just getting your restaurant off the ground, need something live fast, or aren't ready to drop a few hundred on a custom template or thousands of dollars on custom design.
You can always start with one of these free templates now and upgrade later. Grab a more robust paid template when you're ready, or hire a designer for a day or two to refresh your site once your business is more established.
Pick one that's close to what you need, then customize it as much as you can (colors, fonts, images, layout sections), and then just get your site live.
So yes, there are trade-offs. But if you're choosing between a customizable, functional site you can launch this week, and spending six months deep diving on Squarespace (or hiring a custom 1:1 designer), these templates can be a smart option in the beginning.
The 11 Best Free Squarespace Templates for Restaurants
Heron Squarespace Template
Michelin-starred sophistication
Pages included:
Home (one-page website)
Homepage has: Immersive sections for your vision, philosophy, sourcing approach, events information, reservations, anchor link navigation, professional menu layout, film grain image effects, pinned content blocks for dynamic scrolling
The demo was created through Squarespace's Collection partnership with Michelin-starred chef Mory Sacko for his Paris restaurant Mosuke. This one-page template delivers a sensory-driven experience built around the five senses. The design uses freeform placements, pinned content blocks, and film grain effects on images to help visitors feel your restaurant's personality before they ever book a table.
Best for: Fine dining restaurants, chef-driven concepts, single-location restaurants with clear offerings, wine bars, cocktail lounges, specialty cafes where atmosphere matters as much as what you serve, culinary entrepreneurs with multiple projects who might need a link-in-bio page.
What it doesn't have: No separate pages (everything lives on one scrolling homepage), no built-in blog, limited organizational structure for complex businesses with multiple services.
Belisa Squarespace Template
One page cocktail website
Pages included:
Home (one-page layout)
Homepage has: Full-screen hero image with transparent header, menu showcase section with accordion-style layout, testimonial section, location and hours section with accordion display, reservation/booking form, Instagram feed integration, simple footer
The full-screen imagery and clean layout create an inviting first impression, while the built-in reservation form makes it easy for customers to book a table directly from your site.
Best for: Cocktail bars and lounges, small restaurants with concise menus, cafes and coffee shops, pop-up dining experiences or supper clubs, event venues offering food and beverage service, wine bars or tasting rooms.
What it doesn't have: No dedicated blog functionality, limited menu display options (accordion format works for concise menus but feels restrictive for extensive offerings), no separate pages for different services.
Vance Squarespace Template
Traditional restaurant essentials
Pages included:
Home
Our Story (About)
Menu
Photos
Make a Reservation
Homepage has: Full-width hero image with restaurant name and tagline, teaser sections previewing your story, menu & photos, bold images and text snippets, encouraging vertical flow
The demo is set up for a tapas restaurant with a focus on wine and vermouth. The homepage flows through preview sections, the story page blends your background with your approach to food, and there's a clean grid gallery for showcasing images.
Best for: Full-service restaurants that need to showcase menu, ambiance & story, cafes and bistros, bars and wine bars, small hospitality businesses, traditional restaurants where people book tables ahead of time.
What it doesn't have: No robust event management features, basic menu display doesn't work for detailed descriptions or dietary filters, lacks hierarchical heading structure by default.
Hill Squarespace Template
Storytelling meets craftsmanship
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Our Story
Contact
Homepage has: Large food photography, narrative text blocks describing philosophy and approach, clear call-to-action for making reservations, built-in reservation button in header, large format photography throughout
The demo is set up for a ramen shop that wants to highlight traditional preparation methods and dedication to craft. The template uses bold typography, large imagery, and a clean minimalist design to create an immersive experience.
Best for: Artisan restaurants like ramen shops with specialty dishes or traditional preparation methods, chef-driven concepts where the chef's story or culinary philosophy is central, farm-to-table restaurants, specialty cafes with focused menus and strong brand narratives, new restaurant launches, traditional or artisan restaurants, chef-forward dining experiences.
What it doesn't have: Limited built-in pages (you'll need to create additional pages from scratch for events, catering, private dining), template designed for smaller focused menus (not extensive offerings), no proper heading hierarchy by default.
Auburn Squarespace Template
Multi-location powerhouse
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Locations
Reservations
News (Blog)
Homepage has: Full-width hero image front and center with text overlay and navigation, sections for your restaurant's story, feature highlights with images and descriptions, team section with photos and bios, full-width background images throughout
The demo includes multiple location cards each with address, contact info, email, and hours — perfect for multi-location restaurants or food trucks that need to keep customers informed.
Best for: Full-service restaurants, upscale cafes and bistros, food trucks, food businesses expanding online, multi-location restaurant groups, restaurants where photography drives marketing, food-focused businesses adding catering or events, chef-driven concepts.
What it doesn't have: You need quality photography to pull this off (large image spaces will look unprofessional with mediocre photos), can feel like overkill for very small operations. But overall, this is a great start for a lot of restaurant websites.
Atlantic Squarespace Template
Modern gastropub aesthetic
Pages included:
Home
Our Story
Menu
Reservations
Homepage has: Large hero image with restaurant name and tagline, introduction section with space for 2-3 paragraphs, image gallery with 4-6 photos, contact information block with location, hours, and phone number, social media icon links in header, footer with full contact information
The demo is set up for a gastropub. The template uses bold typography and large imagery, with built-in Tock reservation functionality already set up. Every page starts with a full-width hero image that puts your food photography front and center.
Best for: Restaurants and gastropubs that take reservations, cafes and bistros, breweries and bars, pop-ups and food trucks, new restaurant launches, established restaurants needing a refresh.
What it doesn't have: No built-in blog functionality (though you can add it), limited options for showcasing events or private dining, menu layout uses background images that might compete with text if you're not careful with photo selection.
Pine Squarespace Template
Bold personality for fusion concepts
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Reservations
The demo is set up for a Chinese-Mexican fusion restaurant. With bold typography (the demo uses Granville for headers and Brandon Grotesque for body), dynamic image layouts, and a casual-yet-modern vibe, it works especially well for fusion restaurants, food trucks, and casual dining spots with personality to spare.
Best for: Fusion restaurants, casual dining spots with personality, food trucks or pop-ups building an online presence, chef-driven concepts where the story behind the food matters, fusion restaurant launches, food truck expansions, neighborhood spots with character.
What it doesn't have: The bold design might feel too casual for upscale or formal dining establishments, lacks built-in hierarchical SEO structure, limited for complex needs (multiple locations, franchise information, extensive catering menus).
Hemlock Squarespace Template
Warm & welcoming casual dining
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Reservation Section
Contact Information
Homepage has: Location details, hours, and welcoming introduction, sections for featured images, brief description of your concept, prominently displayed contact information, mobile-responsive design, space for high-quality food photography
The demo is set up for a vegan restaurant. With its soft color palette, vintage-inspired design, and simple layout, it works particularly well for vegan restaurants, farm-to-table eateries, and casual dining spots that prioritize cozy authenticity.
Best for: Vegan and plant-based restaurants, farm-to-table establishments, casual cafes and bistros, small neighborhood restaurants, coffee shops or brunch spots, restaurants launching or testing a concept.
What it doesn't have: Simple design may not fit all concepts (fine dining, upscale restaurants, trendy cocktail bars might need something more sophisticated), basic page structure doesn't include built-in templates for private events, press pages, or detailed chef/team bios, lacks built-in SEO hierarchical structure.
Tantillo Squarespace Template
Fun, bold & playful
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Reservation/Contact
Homepage has: Oversized text and full-width food imagery, sections for hours, location, and contact information, wavy decorative elements, full-width image sections for showcasing signature dishes, multi-column footer, wavy animation elements throughout
The demo is set up for a burger joint. Built with burger joints, sandwich shops, and casual eateries in mind, it uses oversized typography, vibrant colors, and wavy animations to create an eye-catching, appetite-whetting first impression.
Best for: Fast-casual restaurants (burger joints, sandwich shops, comfort food spots), food trucks and pop-ups, catering businesses with personality, single-location eateries, new restaurants building buzz, restaurants targeting a younger, trend-conscious audience.
What it doesn't have: Doesn't fit upscale or fine dining places, maybe too simple for complicated menus with lots of categories, lacks built-in SEO hierarchical structure by default.
Troutman Squarespace Template
Minimal upscale sophistication
Pages included:
Home (landing page)
Menu
Reservations
Homepage has: Bold image, headline section, business hours, location and contact info, links to Menu and Reservation pages, newsletter signup form, social media links, bold typography with dark color scheme as default
This template has a landing page instead of a traditional home page, and then a page each for your menu and reservations. The elegant, minimal design is perfect for fine dining restaurants that want to look polished without needing a ton of content or complexity.
Best for: Small, upscale restaurants (30-seat French bistros, farm-to-table spots), restaurants with rotating/seasonal menus, new restaurants getting started online, pop-ups or limited-service concepts, restaurants prioritizing online reservations, fine dining establishments.
What it doesn't have: Too simple if you have a lot to say (extensive storytelling, blog posts, videos), might be too formal for fun, casual, or quirky restaurants, less unique (minimalist approach might look similar to other restaurant sites), limited for complex needs (multiple locations, franchise information, extensive catering menus).
Iduma Squarespace Template
Black-and-white simplicity and elegance
Pages included:
Home
Menu
Reservations
Contact
Homepage has: Full-width images that set the mood immediately, quick intro to your restaurant, gorgeous hero shots, clean nav links, simple transparent header navigation, clean footer with essential business information
The demo is set up for a fine dining restaurant. This black-and-white restaurant template has a clean, modern look with a monochromatic color scheme that gives it a sophisticated, almost gallery-like feel that's perfect for high-end dining.
Best for: Established fine dining spots, places where atmosphere is everything, restaurants with gorgeous food photography, simple, focused menus, fine dining establishments, seasonal or limited-time concepts, restaurants rebranding to modern minimalism.
What it doesn't have: Menu layout is basic (works for simple menus but can't handle complex categorization), no built-in booking (requires external reservation system integration), limited personality (works for elegance, but not quirky or playful brands), lacks SEO hierarchical structure.
Template Cheat Sheet:
Heron – fine dining, chef-driven, Michelin-level concepts
Belisa – bars, lounges, and one-page atmospherics
Vance – classic restaurants needing reservations and structure
Hill – narrative or chef-forward eateries
Auburn – multi-location, event, or group restaurants
Atlantic – mid-range brasseries, bistros, and pubs
Pine – neighborhood and fusion spots
Hemlock – cafés, bakeries, and farm-to-table
Tantillo – fast-casual or takeaway concepts
Troutman – minimalist “coming soon” or soft-launch sites
Iduma - simple one page, minimalist website
Remember that ALL Squarespace 7.1 Fluid Engine templates share the same backend. You can always update fonts, colors, and layout once you’ve chosen your base; what matters most is starting with a structure that fits your business’s brand and goals.
Getting started is easy:
Start your trial
Create your site, pick your template, and turn on the demo content. Settings > Site Availability should be set to Public while you build. (You can password protect during a soft launch if you need.)Replace all demo content
Swap hero images, headings, and body copy. Delete anything you won’t use.Build the essentials (depending on the template you choose/your business needs)
Pages panel
• Home
• Menu
• Reservations or Book a Table
• Contact with map, hours, and phone
• Optional: About, Team, Blog, Gallery, Press, Private EventsAdd your current menu
Connect reservations
Add the embed from Tock, Resy, or OpenTable to your Reservations page. Test a full flow. If you do phone reservations, place a Tap to Call button high on the page.Set location and hours
Footer and Contact page should show the same address, phone, and hours. You can also include a map if you like to make it easy for people to get directions to your restaurant.Style it to make it yours
Design > Site Styles
Set your brand fonts, color palette, button styles, and spacing. Check legibility on mobile and dark backgrounds. Replace the site favicon in Design > Browser Icon.Structure your headings for SEO and accessibility
Each page should have one H1 at the top. Use H2 for sections, H3 for sub-sections, and H4 sparingly.Fill out SEO settings
For every page: Settings > SEO
• Page Title
• Meta Description
• Custom URL slugs that are short and readable
Site wide: Settings > SEO > Site Title and Site Meta DescriptionUpload Images
Upload optimized images (how and why to optimize your photos). Use JPG for photos, and PNG only when transparency is required. Add descriptive alt text.Connect your domain
Settings > Domains
• Buy through Squarespace or connect an existing domain by updating DNS at your registrar. Squarespace has really helpful how-to guides for this part. Start here.
• Wait for the green Connected status
Settings > Security & SSL set to SecureTurn on analytics and business basics
Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data: enable cookie banner if needed
> Business Information: confirm address, phone, hours
> Social Links: connect accounts
> Google Workspace if using custom email
> Connected Accounts: add Google Analytics or GA4 via Extensions
Add your site to Google Search Console and submit your sitemap at /sitemap.xml
Claim or update your Google Business Profile and make sure NAP data matches your siteMobile check and final QA
Use the mobile preview for each page. Click every button and form. Test reservation embed on a phone. Proofread one last time.Choose a plan and publish
Settings > Billing to pick your plan. Turn off the trial banner. Don’t forget to remove any password you may have set. Hit Publish. (Read about Squarespace plans and pricing to know how to choose the best plan for you.)
Free Website Launch Checklist
Grab your checklist - totally free - so you don’t forget anything before launch.
All eleven of these templates are free with your Squarespace subscription, mobile-ready, and completely customizable. Start with the one that matches your restaurant’s scale and personality, and then make it your own with color, copy, and photography that feel like you.
Start your free 14-day Squarespace trial here (aff link) and get 10% off your first year when you’re ready to launch.
