A café website needs only a few things to work: opening hours, the address with a map link, a text menu with prices, what is on this week and a handful of photos that show the room. Put the hours and location on the first screen, because "is it open now?" is the question most visitors arrive with. You can skip long About pages, PDF menus, autoplaying video and online ordering unless you actually offer it.
Many cafés rely on Instagram and a Google Business Profile. Both help, but a simple website gives you one place you control, where the hours and menu are always correct and where search engines and AI assistants can read the facts. A widely shared post on X in October 2026 claimed AI restaurant searches had risen sharply in a year; the figure is unverified, but more people now ask an assistant where to get coffee or brunch nearby, and the answer draws on what is written about you online.
What do people check on a café website?
In order of how often:
- Is it open? Today's hours and any changes for holidays.
- Where is it? Address, map link, nearest station or parking.
- What is on the menu? Food and drinks with prices.
- What is it like? Seating, laptop policy, dogs, children, accessibility.
- What is happening? Specials, events, new bakes.
- Can I book or order? Only if you take bookings or orders.
What should be on the first screen?
Name, a one-line description of what you serve, today's opening hours and the address. On a phone, this should all be visible without scrolling. Keep the hours in text, not inside an image, so they can be read by search engines and screen readers.
How should a café show its menu?
As text on the page, with prices. A PDF or photo of a chalkboard is hard to read on a phone and invisible to search. Group items simply: coffee and drinks, breakfast, lunch, cakes and bakes. Mark dietary options such as vegan or gluten-free, and say that you can answer allergy questions in person. Update the page when prices change, and date it. Our guide to why a menu should not be a PDF covers this in more detail.
What practical details should a café include?
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|
| Seating and space | People planning to meet or work want to know |
| Wi-Fi and laptop policy | Saves awkward conversations |
| Dogs and children | Common questions, especially at weekends |
| Accessibility | Step-free access, toilets |
| Payment | Card only or cash accepted |
| Takeaway cups | If you offer reusable cup discounts |
A short FAQ can cover these in a few lines each. Written answers also give AI assistants plain facts to repeat when someone asks whether your café is dog-friendly or has space to work.
What can a café website skip?
- A long About page. A paragraph about who runs the café and where the coffee comes from is enough.
- PDF menus. Use text.
- Autoplay video. It slows the page on mobile data.
- Online ordering, unless you offer it and keep it running.
- A blog, unless you will update it. A short "this week" section is easier to keep current.
How should a café keep the site up to date?
The hours and menu are the parts that go wrong. Choose a site where you can change text yourself in a minute, and set a reminder to check the site whenever you change hours, prices or the menu. Keep your website, Google Business Profile and Instagram bio saying the same thing. See Google Business Profile vs website for how the two fit together.
Does a café need a website if it has Instagram?
Instagram is good for showing new bakes and the atmosphere, but posts are hard to search and the hours are easy to miss. A small website fixes that with fixed, findable facts. We cover this question in do you need a website if you are on Instagram?.
Which template suits a café?
There is no getsites template built only for cafés. Our café templates page names the closest fits:
- Late August (free) is built for bistros and chef-led restaurants. Every heading, dish, price, opening hour and photograph is editable on the Framer canvas, and it has 14 pages including the menu, reservations and a journal. Its reservation form ships in demo mode, so connect it or remove it.
- The Aubrey ($49) suits a café that doubles as a bar, with Events and Journal collections on the CMS.
For a café, you will probably remove pages you do not need, such as private dining, and keep home, menu and contact. See the best Framer templates for restaurants for more.
Frequently asked questions
Does a small café need a website?
It is not essential, but it helps. A simple site gives you one place where your hours, location and menu are always correct, which customers, search engines and AI assistants can rely on.
What pages should a café website have?
Usually a home page with hours, location and a short description, a menu page with prices and a contact or find-us section. Add events or a journal only if you will keep them updated.
Should a café put its menu online?
Yes, as text with prices. It helps customers decide and helps search engines understand what you serve. Avoid PDFs and photos of menus.
How do I show opening hours on my café website?
As plain text near the top of the home page, with any holiday changes. Keep them the same as your Google Business Profile.
Can a café take orders on a Framer website?
A Framer site can link to an ordering or payment service. Only add ordering if you will keep it running; a broken order link is worse than none.