marketing, social media , 16 December 2025
Winter is one of the busiest and most competitive seasons for restaurants. From festive get-togethers to the lure of cosy nights out, diners are actively hunting for the perfect place to eat, drink, and stay warm. At the same time, colder nights and shorter days make it essential to market your restaurant strategically.
Each year, restaurants get incredibly creative with their holiday marketing. To help your venue shine, we’ve rounded up five effective winter and holiday tactics to make the most of the festive season.
In this article:
- Create a holiday menu that drives demand
- Spread festive cheer online to get diners talking
- Showcase gift cards as the ultimate stress-free holiday gift
- Partner with local businesses to reach new diners
- Launch New Year deals to keep diners coming all January
Create a holiday menu that drives demand
Winter menu seasonality drives bookings by creating urgency and excitement. Diners are drawn to limited-time dishes, so menus should feel both special and achievable.
Offer a two- or three-course holiday set menu, highlight local seasonal ingredients, and promote across email, social, your website, and First Table.
Limited-time menus give diners a reason to book sooner and help generate social buzz.
Spread festive cheer online
Winter is a great time to engage diners with festive, informative content.
Share behind-the-scenes moments, run countdown campaigns, host holiday competitions, and tell stories behind seasonal dishes.
This works because visually engaging content encourages sharing, keeps your restaurant top of mind, and reaches diners planning their holiday outings.
Promote restaurant gift cards
Gift cards are a smart way to generate immediate revenue and encourage repeat visits after the holidays.
Offer both digital and physical cards, drive bulk purchases with bonus-value offers, and promote them across your website, social media, in-house signage, and email campaigns.
This works because gift cards are a popular last-minute gift and keep your restaurant top of mind long after the festive season ends.
Grow your reach with partnerships
Winter is a great time to grow your audience through strategic partnerships. Collaborating with hotels, theatres, events, or local stores, helps you tap into shared foot traffic and complementary audiences. By offering bundled experiences, pop-ups, and co-promotions across email and social channels, you can increase visibility and attract new diners without relying heavily on paid advertising.
New Year boosts
After the holiday rush, dining demand often slows, so a strong January plan is key.
Run comfort-food specials, use First Table early-bird bookings to fill quieter periods, and promote cocktails, desserts, and “New Year, New Dining Experiences” campaigns.
These tactics maintain momentum, attract post-holiday diners, and help turn December guests into loyal regulars.
Winter success is more than a menu, its marketing
Winning the winter requires a layered approach; it’s not a one-and-done strategy. Festive menus, seasonal atmosphere, early-evening demand, and compelling marketing all layer together to turn winter into a revenue-boosting season without burning out staff. If you’re looking for tailored and detailed support for your holiday marketing this season, you can always reach out to the First Table team. We’d be happy to help!