Picture a tourist standing in Jemaa el-Fna at 7pm, hungry, phone in hand. They type “best restaurant near me”. Google Maps shows three results. If you’re not in those three, you don’t exist.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Complete every profile field — categories, menu, hours, attributes
- 100+ photos = dramatically more direction requests
- Steady weekly reviews beat a big total count
How Google Decides Who Ranks
Three factors: relevance (does your profile match the search?), distance, and prominence (how popular and trusted you are). You can’t move your restaurant — but you can win the other two.
Step 1 — Complete Every Field
Exact categories (“Moroccan restaurant” + “Fine dining restaurant”), menu with prices, opening hours including holidays, and attributes: terrace, vegetarian options, reservations, card payments.
Step 2 — Photos That Sell
Profiles with 100+ photos get far more direction requests. Upload professional shots of your dishes, dining room and rooftop — and add new ones weekly. Google rewards freshness.
Step 3 — Reviews Are Your Currency
Ask every happy table for a review — a small QR code on the bill works wonders. Respond to every review in the reviewer’s language. Review velocity matters more than total count.
Step 4 — Local Keywords
Write naturally, but include what tourists actually search: “rooftop restaurant in the Fes medina”, “traditional couscous in Marrakech”.
Where do you rank right now?
Ask for a free Maps audit — we’ll show you your current position for every keyword that matters.