Restaurant Menu, or Editorial Spread?
The future of menus is simple, stunning, and photo-driven.
Not Your Standard Fast Food Menu Photos
Once dismissed as the domain of low-end chains, photo-driven menus are experiencing a high-design renaissance. From cutting-edge cocktail bars, to sleek cafes and “fine casual” restaurants, a new visual language is emerging—one that uses photography not as a crutch, but as a cue for quality, and a means of communicating your brand’s distinct vibe.
Today’s consumers are skeptical of overpromises and excess. Where in the past many have relied on complex design layouts and carefully crafted descriptions to communicate the experience or build anticipation, some of today’s most forward-thinking restaurants and bars let the images do the talking. We’re seeing a rise in photography-driven menus that look more like editorial spreads than laminated boards—with stylized shots clearly communicating the vibrancy of ingredients, the artistry of presentation, and the tone of the brand. It's a subtle but powerful way to frame food as experience, not just product.
This aesthetic reflects a broader design trend in branding and packaging where less is more, authenticity reigns supreme, and diners gravitate toward clarity and attention-grabbing visuals. High quality food photography, elegant typefaces, and intentional white space signal transparency, craftsmanship, and modern sensibility.
The Fish & Chips Shop in Barcelona brings polish and elegance to a traditionally rustic culinary experience with a stylized, photo-driven menu. With an editorial-like layout and refined typography, it clearly signals this fish and chips restaurant offers an elevated and modern take on classic pub fare.
Bar·San. (Thailand) creates stunning photographic menus that showcase the artistry of their cuisine and cocktails. Annotations include an ingredient list and notes on sweetness, savoriness, and other notable flavor profiles, providing a visually engaging and informative experience that clearly communicates what to expect.
And then there’s Sweetgreen, arguably the blueprint for the modern fast-casual visual identity. Their menus are as recognizable as their salads: bold, clean, and refreshingly honest. Through vibrant ingredient-focused photography, they’ve managed to make transparency aspirational, and prove that the classic menu board remains a powerful storytelling tool. This photography not only simplifies the ordering process, but also ensures customers know exactly what they’re getting.
A New Visual Standard
What unites these menus isn’t just the presence of photography—it’s the intentionality behind it. In an era where visuals dominate how we consume information, photographic menus are becoming shorthand for clarity, confidence, and brand cohesion. When executed well, they don’t just show you what to order—they show you what the brand stands for.