The Importance of GBP Categories for Restaurant Success

Andrew Alexander
Jun 19
4 min read

Updated: Sep 12

Every GBP listing includes a primary category and optional additional categories. These categories:

Help Google determine where your restaurant shows up in the Local Pack and on Google Maps.
Influence what features are available in your profile (e.g., reservation buttons, menu uploads).
Signal to Google which search queries are most relevant to your business.

If you’re a sushi bar listing your primary category as “Restaurant” instead of “Sushi Restaurant,” you’re not just missing clicks; you’re missing customers with clear intent.

Pro Tip: Your primary category is the most powerful local SEO factor you can control on GBP. Get it right.

Understanding the Structure of GBP Categories

Think of GBP categories as a hierarchical, Google-curated list of business types. You can’t create custom categories. Instead, you must select from an existing list of over 4,000 options, dozens of which apply directly to restaurants.

Types of Categories

You are allowed one primary category and up to nine additional categories, though we recommend 2–4 for clarity.

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Top Performing Primary Categories for Restaurants

Here are some of the most effective GBP primary categories based on intent, CTR (click-through rate), and local visibility:

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Avoid using just "Restaurant" unless your concept is extremely broad. Be specific to rank higher for relevant searches.

Examples: Quick Serve vs. Casual Dining Optimization

Quick Serve: “Bubbakoo’s Burritos" (Tex-Mex QSR)

Primary Category: Mexican Restaurant
Additional Categories:

- Fast Food Restaurant

- Burrito Restaurant

- Tex-Mex Restaurant

Why this works: Captures broad and niche Tex-Mex searches. It signals speed of service and type of cuisine.

Casual Dine: “Bar Louie” (Gastropub + Craft Cocktails)

Primary Category: Bar & Grill
Additional Categories:

- American Restaurant

- Cocktail Bar

- Casual Dining Restaurant

Why this works: Combines food, experience, and beverage categories. This combination is crucial for nightlife visibility and weekend search traffic.

Best Practices for GBP Category Selection

1. Match Your Real-World Offerings

Categories must reflect your actual services. Don’t claim “Catering Service” unless you offer off-premise catering—Google may suspend your listing if you're misleading.

2. Audit Competitors Using Google Maps

Search “[your cuisine] + near me” in Maps and inspect top-ranking profiles. Note which categories they’re using—especially the primary ones.

3. Use Google’s API Category List

The full GBP category taxonomy is available via Google’s Places API. Search for terms like “burrito,” “brunch,” or “tapas” to find the exact language Google recognizes.

4. Avoid Redundancy

If your primary category is “Pizza Restaurant,” don’t also add “Italian Restaurant” unless you serve a broader Italian menu. Keep things concise and relevant.

5. Leverage Additional Categories for Expansion

Run a ghost kitchen? Add “Delivery Restaurant.” Offer alcohol? Add “Beer Hall” or “Cocktail Bar.” Think in terms of search behaviors.

The Impact of GBP Categories on Google Reviews

Here's a little-known secret: GBP categories can influence the kinds of reviews you receive.

If you list “Cocktail Bar” as a category, customers will often mention drinks in their reviews. This signals to Google that your venue is relevant for queries like “best cocktails near me.”

This is known as Review Keyword Echo, and it’s a powerful flywheel:

Choose a specific category.
Customer sees it and evaluates accordingly.
Their review echoes category language.
Google boosts ranking for those terms.

Do Categories Impact Google Ads or Organic Traffic?

Yes, but indirectly.

For Google Ads, choosing GBP categories influences location extensions and can affect Performance Max campaigns that target “dining” behavior.
For Organic SEO, the more aligned your GBP is with your on-page content (menus, cuisine, headings), the better your entity recognition and local authority.

If your website says “Southern BBQ,” and your GBP says “American Restaurant,” you’re sending mixed signals.

Combining Categories with Local SEO Tactics

Categories are not a silver bullet. Combine them with:

Photo uploads: Google loves fresh photos—especially interiors and menus.
Review generation: Aim for 5+ reviews per month with keywords.
Q&A section: Pre-fill with questions like “Do you offer takeout?”
Structured data: Add schema markup on your website for cuisine, hours, menu, and location.

All these tactics increase visibility in the Local Pack.

Conclusion: Optimize Your GBP Categories and Scale Your Visibility

Google Business Profiles are a force multiplier for hospitality brands. Getting your categories right means more impressions, more clicks, and more guests.

Next Steps

Audit your current GBP categories across all locations.
Compare with top-performing competitors.
Choose the most specific, accurate category as your primary.
Add 2–3 strategic secondary categories.
Train your team to maintain listings and reviews.

Done right, GBP becomes your #1 new guest acquisition engine.

Ready to Supercharge Your GBP Strategy?

GuestStar.ai helps restaurant brands scale local search success across dozens—or hundreds—of locations. From category optimization to automated review generation and AI-driven insights, we’re the hospitality marketing platform you’ve been waiting for.

👉 Book a Demo with GuestStar.ai and let us help you dominate the Google Local Pack—one listing at a time.