Top 5 Halloween Marketing Ideas to Boost Your Restaurant Sales in 2025

Ghosts, vampires, and jack-o’-lanterns—Halloween is here! The spooky season isn’t just about trick-or-treating; it’s a golden opportunity for restaurant owners to boost sales and attract new customers. According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending is expected to surpass $9 billion this year.

With people gathering to celebrate the season, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars can benefit greatly by launching creative Halloween marketing campaigns. If you want to make your restaurant the go-to spot this Halloween, here are five spooktacular marketing ideas to try.

1. Spooky Halloween-Themed Menu

Many successful restaurant chains, like Chipotle, offer special holiday-themed menus during Halloween. Why not join the trend? Let your chef get creative and introduce a limited-time Halloween menu filled with eerie yet delicious treats.

Some ideas include:

• Blood-Red Pasta (beetroot-infused fettuccine)
• Pumpkin Spiced Lattes & Cocktails (spooky spins on seasonal favorites)
• Witch’s Brew Soup (black bean or tomato basil soup)
• Monster Burgers (charcoal buns with spicy ghost pepper sauce)
• Candy Corn Cheesecake & Spider Web Guacamole

Don’t forget to highlight themed cocktails like Bloody Mary, Black Currant Punch, and Zombie Cocktails to elevate the Halloween spirit. If you offer takeout or delivery, ensure the menu items are travel-friendly and maintain their visual appeal upon arrival.

2. Halloween-Themed Packaging & QR Code Promotions

Your food’s packaging is a marketing opportunity in itself! Limited-edition Halloween-themed packaging can create an immersive experience for customers while spreading brand awareness.

Ways to leverage packaging:

• Include QR codes on takeout boxes linking to a spooky-themed menu or a special discount on their next order.
• Add Halloween-themed stickers & inserts inside packaging with promo codes or a fun call to action.
• Encourage social sharing by printing your restaurant’s social media handles on the packaging and running a user-generated content contest.

A simple Halloween touch on your packaging can turn ordinary deliveries into memorable, shareable moments!

3. Trick-or-Treat Deals & Social Media Contests

Halloween is all about treats! Offering discounts and freebies is a great way to attract customers and build brand loyalty.

Some fun ideas include:

• Costume Discounts: Offer a 10% discount to customers dressed as goblins, ghosts, or witches.
• Social Media Giveaways: Ask customers to tag your restaurant in their Halloween-themed food photos for a chance to win a free meal.
• Spin-the-Wheel Discounts: Have an in-store or digital wheel where customers can spin for surprise deals.
• Limited-Time Halloween Offers: Flash sales like “Buy One Get One Free on Spooky Cocktails” can create urgency and drive more orders.

4. Halloween Social Media & Hashtag Strategy

Social media is your best friend during Halloween! Major brands like Starbucks leverage spooky content to engage their audience—so should you.

Here’s how to maximize engagement:

• Create spooky posts featuring Halloween-themed dishes and drinks.
• Use Halloween-themed puns & hashtags like #TrickOrEat, #BoozyBrunch, #SpookyEats, #PumpkinSpice, and #HalloweenSpecials.
• Leverage Instagram & TikTok Trends: Short-form videos showing spooky recipes, bartender tricks, or a behind-the-scenes look at your Halloween preparations can go viral.
• Run a ‘Scariest Selfie Contest’: Encourage customers to post photos at your restaurant and tag you for a chance to win free treats.

5. Haunted Videos & Themed Events

Halloween is the perfect time to showcase the fun side of your brand! Video content is a powerful marketing tool, and Halloween provides endless inspiration.

Ideas for engaging videos:

• Behind-the-scenes footage of your staff dressing up or preparing spooky drinks.
• Halloween DIY recipe videos for themed cocktails and desserts.
• Scavenger Hunt Challenge: Create an online treasure hunt where customers follow clues on social media to win discounts.
• Livestream Halloween Party: Host an online or in-house costume contest, mixology session, or pumpkin carving competition.

Hosting a small in-restaurant event (even a simple trivia night or horror movie screening) can also bring in foot traffic and create buzz around your brand.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Your Restaurant Miss Out on the Halloween Hype!

Halloween is a prime opportunity for restaurants to drive sales, attract new customers, and create unforgettable dining experiences. From themed menus and social media promotions to exclusive discounts and engaging videos, there are plenty of ways to make your restaurant stand out.

Remember, a little creativity goes a long way! Make this Halloween a treat for your customers and watch your restaurant sales soar. 🎃👻

‍

‍