Gift Card Ideas for Restaurants and Cafés

Restaurant and café gift cards do more than bring in revenue—they help fill tables, attract new customers, and keep your brand top of mind. Whether you're a local brunch spot or a multi-location chain, offering your own digital gift cards can boost both short-term sales and long-term loyalty.

Here are practical, creative ways to promote, package, and position digital gift cards that work especially well in food and beverage settings.

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1. Sell Experience-Based Gift Cards

Instead of just offering set dollar amounts, turn your gift cards into memorable experiences.

• “Brunch for Two” – Includes two entrees and drinks.
  
  
• “Coffee Date Bundle” – 2 drinks and 2 pastries.
  
  
• “Chef’s Choice Dinner” – A prix fixe tasting menu.
  
  

Packaging gift cards around experiences makes them easier to gift—and more exciting to receive.

2. Use Gift Cards as Upsell Tools

Encourage larger orders by offering a bonus card when customers hit a spending threshold.

• “Spend $100, get a $20 bonus gift card”
  
  
• “Buy a catering tray, get a $10 card for your next visit”
  
  

This turns big-ticket orders into repeat business.

3. Feature Seasonal or Limited-Time Designs

Rotate card visuals for holidays, local events, or limited promotions.

• Valentine's Day, Mother’s Day, and graduation season
  
  
• Local festivals or sporting events
  
  
• Your restaurant’s anniversary or new menu launch
  
  

Seasonal designs keep gift cards fresh and visually relevant.

4. Keep Cards Visible

Even digital gift cards are often purchased on impulse—especially when they're easy to find. Don’t make customers search for them.

• Add a prominent link to “Gift Cards” in your main navigation
  
  
• Mention gift cards on receipts, order confirmation emails, and customer touchpoints
  
  
• Display QR codes in-store that link to your digital gift card landing page
  
  

Want to boost visibility even more? Build a dedicated landing page for your gift cards that converts visitors into buyers.

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5. Add Gift Cards to Your Loyalty or Referral Program

Offer a gift card as a reward for:

• Referring a friend who books a table
  
  
• Reaching a certain number of loyalty points
  
  
• Posting a tagged photo of your food or drink
  
  

This ties gift card distribution to growth and engagement—not just purchases.

6. Promote Digital Gift Cards for Last-Minute Shoppers

Make it easy for people to buy and send a gift card in under 2 minutes.
Especially around holidays and weekends, digital delivery = more sales.

Include digital gift cards in:

• Email campaigns
  
  
• Social media stories (“Forgot a gift? We’ve got you.”)
  
  
• Your mobile ordering app, if you have one
  
  

7. Let Staff Suggest Them

Train front-of-house and counter staff to mention gift cards casually, especially during:

• Checkout after a great customer experience
  
  
• Group meals or parties
  
  
• Holidays and graduation season
  
  

It’s a low-pressure way to increase gift card sales organically.

Make Gift Cards Part of the Experience

Gift cards aren't just a transaction—they're an invitation to enjoy what makes your restaurant or café special. Whether you’re highlighting signature items, rewarding loyal guests, or creating limited-time offers, the right gift card strategy keeps customers coming back and encourages new ones to give you a try.

Need help setting up a gift card program that works behind the scenes, too?

Ncentiva helps restaurants and cafés launch gift card systems that are simple, scalable, and trackable—whether you’re offering in-store, digital, or both. From promotion ideas to redemption tracking, our team can help you turn every card into a connection.

Let’s bring more people to your table. Reach out today to get started.

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