In a previous post, we shared our best restaurant menu design tips. This page is the inspiration companion to that guide: you’ll see standout menu styles and learn what makes each one effective, so you can borrow the right ideas for your concept, your customers, and your price point.

If you only read one part, use this quick checklist before you pick a menu design:

• Choose the menu’s main job: sell signature items, move combos, support premium pricing, or highlight specials.
• Make the menu easy to scan: clear categories, strong headings, plenty of spacing, and a simple visual hierarchy.
• Design for real lighting: menus are read in dim rooms, so contrast and font size matter more than trendy typefaces.
• Use photos with intention: a few great “hero” photos can help sales, but too many can make a menu feel cluttered.
• Plan for updates: prices and items change. A good layout stays flexible without a full redesign.
• Keep choices under control: too many items can slow ordering and reduce satisfaction.
• Keep pricing clear: psychology tricks should never confuse customers or feel gimmicky.

Now let’s jump into some of the best restaurant menu design examples, with quick notes you can actually apply. And if you want a menu designed properly (print + QR + online ordering), hire a good graphic designer (or talk to us).

The Rustic Restaurant Menu

This rustic style is perfect for restaurants that want a warm, cabin-like, “local” feel. It works especially well for casual spots where comfort and atmosphere are part of the product.

• Best for: pubs, breweries, lakeside bars, seafood shacks, brunch spots.
• Why it works: earthy tones and natural textures create instant mood without overwhelming the content.
• Steal this: use one subtle texture + bold section headings so it stays readable in low light.
• Avoid: light grey text on textured backgrounds (it kills readability at night).

Menu courtesy of El Calotipo.

Pizza Anyone?

This restaurant might have an American-sounding name, but it’s familiar to Canadians: Boston Pizza. Their menu is a solid example of using photography without turning the page into a cluttered collage.

• Best for: casual dining, chain restaurants, sports bars, family restaurants.
• Why it works: clear categories + a few strong hero images guide decision-making fast.
• Steal this: limit photos to bestsellers (or highest-margin items) and give them breathing room.
• Avoid: too many font styles. Consistency is what makes a menu feel professional.

Western Themed Restaurant Menu

This Western style feels themed without sacrificing clarity. The typography is bold, the layout is simple, and the featured image does the selling.

• Best for: diners, brunch spots, themed restaurants, steakhouses, country bars.
• Why it works: strong headline font + clean structure makes scanning easy and fast.
• Steal this: keep the menu short and focused if you want quicker ordering and fewer questions.
• Avoid: over-styling every element. Let the theme show in 1–2 places, not everywhere.

Photo courtesy of Tzochko.

The “Pop” Modern Menu

This design is modern and attention-grabbing, which is ideal if your restaurant competes on vibe and brand personality. It’s bold without being messy.

• Best for: sports bars, chic bistros, trendy new concepts, places that want to feel “fresh”.
• Why it works: strong contrast and big blocks guide the eye quickly.
• Steal this: use section boxes to group categories so people don’t get lost.
• Avoid: making every section loud. One hero area is enough.

Photo courtesy of Ellen Benway.

Imagine walking into a restaurant and seeing a menu that pops out at you. This design is definitely among the more modern looks you'd ever see. Great for a sports bar or chic bistro trying to separate itself from the local competition. Photo courtesy of Ellen Benway.

A Simple Black and (Off)White Look

This is a great look for an upscale Italian place. Just look at the antipasto in the picture, it's perfect. Sometimes simplicity is the best approach. Especially if you have a lot of items on the menu. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Lucy Brzoza.

The Sushi Menu

Imagine walking into a sushi place and seeing a menu like this. This design looks both authentic and elegant. Lots of room to show off the best items on the menu. A simple typeface would be the touch that finishes off this design perfectly. Thanks to Ilya Levit for this design.

The Deluxe Burger Menu

This is perfect for a specialty burger joint. The colours are fun, the font is easy to read and the pictures tell a thousand words. This menu fits right in between McDonald's and a high-end burger joint that will run you a $25 tab for a burger and a drink. Knowing your brand is key in using this design. Photo credit to Luis Quesada.

World's Best Drink Menu

This is the best drink menu ever. It's got a cartoon/comic vibe to it but is still elegant. Everything is spaced out nicely, the drawings are enticing and the descriptions are written in a nice hand-written font. This design works great for a dessert menu too, or a combination of both. Design courtesy of Netkoff.

The Infographic Restaurant Menu

Look how these meals are depicted as little infographic icons. Isn't that cool? The icons look engaging to anybody who's on social media, and who isn't these days? Obviously this doesn't leave much room for the font, so it has to be small, but at least you'll know exactly what you're getting off this menu. There's also room for nice photography and you can list a lot of items on one page. Lots to look at here but the infographic keeps your attention. This photo is courtesy of &Smith.

The Simple and Elegant Menu

This typeface is awesome and there's clearly enough room to show off the items on the menu. Go for a down-to-earth feel with those images and present a welcoming, laid back vibe or put a little more production into those images and transform this beautiful design into something more elegant. Or both. Photo credit to Anne Reuse.

Quick Takeaways You Can Use Right Now

• Make your best items easiest to find: use spacing, headings, and short callouts.
• Design for low light: readable fonts and real contrast beat thin trendy typefaces.
• Use fewer photos, but better ones: one great photo can outperform nine average ones.
• Keep descriptions short: clarity sells. Save the story for a few signature items.
• Keep it consistent: one type system, one spacing system, one visual language.

Need a Menu That Looks Amazing and Sells?

If you want a menu that matches your brand and helps customers order faster (and spend more), we can design it for you. We create menus that work for print, QR, and online ordering.

Talk to Little Dragon about restaurant menu design

FAQ: Restaurant Menu Design

What font size should a restaurant menu be?

Menus are often read in dim lighting. Print a test page and read it at arm’s length in evening lighting. If it feels even slightly small, it’s too small. Prioritize clarity over trendy thin fonts.

Should I remove dollar signs from prices?

Some restaurants avoid currency symbols to reduce “price pain,” but it only works if pricing stays clear and the menu still feels trustworthy. If your audience is price-sensitive, clarity usually wins.

How many items should be on a menu?

Less is often more. Too many choices can slow ordering and reduce satisfaction. A curated menu with clear categories usually performs better than a huge list of options.

Can proper restaurant menu design improve my website's UX?

Yes, menu design will positively impact your restaurant's website experience and UX, since the majority of website users want to view your menu first thing when they land on your website.

Are QR code menus better than printed menus?

QR menus are easier to update and reduce printing costs, but printed menus can feel more premium and are faster to scan. Many restaurants win by offering both.

Should I use photos on my menu?

Use photos if they’re high quality and you’re highlighting bestsellers. Avoid low-quality photos or too many images, which can make a menu feel cluttered.

Featured image courtesy of Adam&Co.

Jack Choros

Jack has been in the internet marketing space for 10 years. He enjoys writing and watching the Toronto Raptors.