Restaurant recommendations are one of the most read sections in any guest guide. Guests trust a host’s local knowledge over any app — you know which place is actually good and which is surviving on old reviews. Done well, this section adds genuine value. Done badly, it’s a list of chains and “the main street has lots of options.”
Here’s how to write restaurant recommendations that guests will actually use.
Keep the list short
Six places is the right number. Fewer than four feels like you haven’t tried. More than eight and guests start scrolling, nothing stands out, and they end up going to the first place they can find a table at. Six curated picks signals that you’ve thought about this.
Include what actually helps guests decide
For each recommendation, include:
- Name
- Walking distance or drive time from the property — “5 min walk”, “8 min drive”
- Price range — $, $$, or $$$ is enough; no one needs the full price breakdown
- What to order — one specific dish or drink recommendation makes your suggestion feel personal
- Booking required? — a single yes/no saves guests a wasted trip
Write one line that actually says something
“Great Italian restaurant” helps no one. “The best wood-fired pizza within walking distance — order the fennel sausage” helps. Write each recommendation as if you’re texting a friend who’s visiting. You wouldn’t send them a Yelp description. You’d tell them what you like about it.
Avoid chains
Guests didn’t travel to your area to eat at a franchise they could find at home. If you have a national chain that’s genuinely exceptional (and it happens), include it, but note what makes it worth the visit. Otherwise, stick to the places that give guests a reason to explore locally.
Update once a year
Restaurants close. Quality changes. A recommendation for a place that’s now under new management with mediocre food reflects badly on your guide. Set a calendar reminder to review your restaurant list every twelve months and replace anything that’s no longer worth the trip.
A great restaurant section is one of the things guests mention in reviews when they’ve had a good time. “The hosts recommended the most amazing breakfast spot” is a common compliment — and it costs you nothing to earn it.