How to Choose the Right Background Music for Restaurants

Overview

Background music is often one of the last things restaurant owners think about. The playlist ends up being whatever someone puts on their phone, and the volume gets adjusted only when guests complain. But your guests don't separate food, service, and music. They notice how the whole place feels.

The sound in your dining room can help people relax, stay a little longer, and enjoy their visit - or it can make them feel rushed, stressed, or out of place. For example, some studies in retail and hospitality show that well-chosen music can increase sales by around 5-10%, simply by keeping guests comfortable and engaged.

Music also affects how staff move and work. Too loud, and they get tired and irritable. Too quiet, and the room can feel empty, even when you have guests. This guide will walk you through simple steps to match your music to your brand, concept, and guests so your background music actually helps your restaurant instead of just filling silence.

Define Your Brand Before You Touch the Playlist

Before you pick a single song, you need to be clear about what kind of restaurant you are and who you serve. Music should support your brand, not compete with it. If this part is fuzzy, the playlist will feel random too.
Start with a few basic questions -

- Are you casual, fast, and high-volume (QSR or fast casual)?
- Are you relaxed and social (family dining, neighborhood bar and grill)?
- Are you refined and slow-paced (fine dining, wine-focused, special-occasion)?

Next, think about your main guests. Picture them clearly -

1. Age - range college students, young professionals, families, older regulars?
2. Why they visit - quick meal, date night, celebration, after-work drinks?
3. Average spend - budget-friendly, mid-range, or premium?

Now turn those answers into simple "sound words." For example -

- A QSR might want music that feels energetic, upbeat, modern.
- A family restaurant might choose friendly, familiar, warm.
- A fine dining room might go for calm, elegant, rich.

Write down 3- 5 words that describe how you want the room to feel. These words will guide your choices on tempo, genre, and volume. If a song doesn't match those words, it probably doesn't belong in your playlist.

Defining your brand in this way also helps your team. Instead of arguing over "good" or "bad" songs, you can ask a simple question- "Does this sound like us?" When everyone is using the same brand words, music decisions become faster, more consistent, and less stressful. This step takes a little time, but it makes every later decision about background music much easier.

Match Music to Concept and Cuisine

Once you're clear on your brand, it's time to connect it to what guests actually hear. Your concept and cuisine already set certain expectations in people's minds. Your music should support those expectations, not fight them.

Think about your concept first. A busy QSR with counter service usually needs music that feels quicker and more energetic. Slightly faster tempos (more beats per minute) can help keep the line moving and support a fast pace. A full-service neighborhood restaurant might want mid-tempo, easy-to-follow songs that feel friendly and relaxed. Fine dining rooms often work best with slower, smoother music that encourages guests to settle in and enjoy a longer meal.

Now think about your cuisine. While you don't need to play "theme park" music that matches every dish, there should be some harmony between what's on the plate and what's in the air. For example -

- A modern Italian restaurant might lean toward soft jazz, acoustic, or light contemporary tracks.
- A casual Asian street-food spot might choose upbeat, modern tracks with a bit more rhythm and edge.
- A classic steakhouse might use jazz, soul, or low-key classic rock that feels rich and familiar.

Use a simple test - if someone walked in blindfolded and only heard the music, would they be surprised when they opened their eyes and saw your space and menu? If the answer is yes, the music and concept are not aligned.

Finally, remember that your guests come from different backgrounds. Aim for music that fits your concept but is still accessible. Avoid extremes that may confuse or push away regulars. Over time, you can fine-tune genres and artists, but start with a simple rule- the music should feel like a natural extension of your food and environment.

Daypart Strategy

The music that works at 8-00 a.m. rarely works at 8-00 p.m. Your guests have different energy levels, needs, and moods throughout the day. A strong background music plan changes with those rhythms instead of using one playlist from open to close.

Start with breakfast or opening hours. Guests are waking up, getting ready for work, or easing into their day. Choose calmer, lighter tracks with slower to mid-tempo beats. The goal is to help people feel comfortable and relaxed, not jolted awake. Acoustic, soft pop, light jazz, or mellow instrumental can work well here.

Lunch has a different job. Many guests are on a break or squeezed between meetings. Music should feel a bit more energetic than breakfast but not overwhelming. Mid-tempo songs help the room feel alive and efficient. In busy urban or QSR settings, slightly faster music can support quicker table turns and a steady flow without stressing guests.

Dinner is often when people want to slow down and enjoy themselves. For family or casual dining, think warm, familiar, and inviting. For date-night or fine dining, go for richer, smoother tracks that encourage conversation and lingering. The volume should support privacy at the table but still keep the room from feeling flat.

If you have late-night hours, the energy can rise again. Bars and busy social spaces do well with stronger beats and more modern tracks, but volume still needs to be managed so people can talk.

To make this easier, create separate playlists for each daypart and schedule automatic changes through your music system. That way, your staff isn't constantly switching playlists, and your guests always get music that matches the time of day.

Volume, Tempo, and Acoustics

Even a great playlist won't work if the sound is wrong. If music is too loud, too soft, or echoing around the room, guests feel it right away - even if they can't explain why. Here's how to get the basics under control -

1. Set a Comfortable Volume - Guests should be able to talk at a normal level without raising their voices. A simple test - if people have to lean in or repeat themselves, it's too loud. Many dining rooms feel good around 60-70 decibels, with slightly higher levels near the bar. Too quiet isn't ideal either - it makes the room feel empty and every noise too sharp.
2. Match Tempo to the Pace You Want - Faster songs (more beats per minute) create energy and can make service feel quicker and more active - useful for lunch or QSR settings. Slower to mid-tempo music helps guests relax and stay longer, which often works better for dinner or date-night service.

3. Tame Your Acoustics - Hard surfaces like tile, glass, and metal bounce sound and make the room noisy. If your restaurant feels echoey, add sound-absorbing elements - rugs, curtains, wall panels, upholstered seating, or even large plants. Small changes can make a big difference in how clear conversations and music sound.

4. Do Regular Sound Checks - Teach managers to walk the floor at different times of day and simply listen. Can guests talk easily? Does the music feel comfortable or tiring? Adjust the volume in small steps and notice how the room changes.

By focusing on these basics, you can quickly improve the atmosphere without changing the songs themselves.

Choosing Genres, Vocals Songs

Once you have your brand, concept, and day-parts clear, you can start choosing the actual sound of your playlists. This is where many restaurants get stuck, because music tastes personal. The goal is not to please every single person. The goal is to pick music that fits your brand, feels comfortable for most guests, and avoids obvious problems.

Start with genres that match your "sound words" from earlier. If your brand is modern and energetic, you might lean toward current pop, indie, or electronic with a clean, polished feel. If your brand is cozy and familiar, soft rock, acoustic, soul, or mellow classics can work well. For more refined spaces, jazz, neo-soul, classical, or instrumental versions of popular songs often feel natural.

Next, think about vocals. Lyrics can help a room feel lively and human, but they can also distract. In busy or tight dining rooms, instrumental tracks or songs with softer vocals often work better because they don't compete as much with conversation. For bars or more social concepts, stronger vocals and recognizable songs can add to the energy.

One of the most useful tools you can create is a no-go list. Decide in advance what you don't want -

- No explicit lyrics or strong language.
- No songs with heavy political or controversial messages.
- No tracks that clash with your brand (for example, aggressive music in a calm fine dining space).

Ask your team to suggest songs, but filter everything through your brand and your rules. If a song makes you wonder, "Could this offend or annoy a guest?" it's safer to leave it out. Over time, your playlist will become a consistent "sound" that your regulars recognize and trust, even if they can't name the songs.

Tools, Licensing, and Consistency Across Locations

Many restaurant owners handle music with a phone, a personal streaming account, and a Bluetooth speaker. It feels simple - but it creates three problems- legal risk, uneven quality, and zero control across shifts or locations. Getting the right tools in place fixes all three.

First, licensing. Most personal streaming services (like standard consumer accounts) are not licensed for business use. Playing them in a restaurant can technically violate copyright rules and lead to fines. Business music services are designed for commercial spaces. They include proper licensing and often let you control multiple locations from one dashboard. It's an extra cost, but it protects you and saves headaches later.

Second, tools and hardware. A good setup usually includes -

- A reliable business music platform with curated channels or custom playlists
- An amplifier and properly placed speakers (zones for bar, dining room, patio)
- Simple controls for volume by area

This doesn't have to be high-end or complex. The goal is consistent, clear sound and easy control, not a nightclub system.

Third, consistency across locations. If you run more than one restaurant, music should support the same brand feel everywhere. A central music system lets you -

- Set default playlists for each concept and day-part
- Lock in "no-go" songs and volume ranges
- Give local managers limited control (for small adjustments, not complete changes)

Document your music rules in a short guide - brand sound words, approved genres, day-part playlists, volume guidelines, and licensing details. This way, when you open a new location or bring in a new manager, your soundtrack doesn't reset. It stays aligned with the brand you worked hard to build.

Test, Measure, and Evolve Your Soundtrack

Choosing background music isn't a one-time task. Your guests, staff, and even your menu will change over time. Treat your music like any other part of operations - test it, measure it, and improve it.

Start simple by asking for feedback. You don't need long surveys. Managers can casually ask guests, "How does the music feel tonight - too loud, too soft, just right?" Add one or two quick questions to digital comment cards - "Rate the music. 1-5" or "Any music suggestions?" Do the same with your staff. They spend hours in the space and can quickly tell you when a playlist gets repetitive or tiring.

Next, watch the numbers. You're not trying to run a science experiment, but you can look for patterns

- Do certain playlists line up with higher check averages or longer stays?
- Do you get more too loud complaints during specific shifts or day-parts?
- Do staff report feeling more tired or stressed when certain music is playing?

Use your POS and guest feedback together. For example, if you notice slower nights feeling even emptier, a slightly more energetic playlist might help the room feel more alive. If busy nights feel chaotic, calmer music and tighter volume control may reduce stress.

Then, adjust in small steps. Don't overhaul everything at once. Change one thing - tempo, volume, or playlist - for a week and see what happens. Keep notes in a simple music log where managers record what was playing and how the room felt.

Finally, update your music playbook at least a couple of times a year. Add or remove genres, refine your "no-go" list, and refresh playlists so regulars don't hear the same 20 songs every visit. When you treat your soundtrack as a living part of your brand, it becomes another tool that quietly supports a better guest experience and smoother operations.