How AI search optimization brought more tourists to a local restaurant

Centella Media

TL;DR

By combining SEO, content strategy, local optimization, and social media, we helped Theatrum Bar & Food improve discoverability in a crowded restaurant market in Split and even get recommended via AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT.

SEO Local SEO Content Strategy Social Media Higher Google rankings AI-driven discoverability

Introduction

We partnered with Theatrum Bar & Food, a modern restaurant in the heart of Split. Split is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia, with restaurants and cafés on nearly every corner, many with decades of tradition behind them. Standing out in such a crowded market isn’t easy.

Our goal was to position Theatrum in a way that would attract the right guests, not just by competing in traditional search, but by preparing the brand for the future of search powered by AI tools like ChatGPT.

The Challenge

Split has over 400+ restaurants competing for visibility, each trying to win over tourists searching for their next meal. In such a saturated market, being “good” isn’t enough; you have to be discoverable where potential guests are searching. With the rise of AI-driven recommendations, the challenge was clear:

How do we make Theatrum Bar & Food stand out and get recommended, even against well-established local competitors?

Our Approach

Keyword & Topic Optimization We identified the queries that tourists were most likely to use when searching for dining experiences in Split and optimized Theatrum’s website around those.
SEO + Content Strategy We built authority around topics that aligned with the restaurant’s offer, ensuring visibility for both traditional Google search and AI-powered search engines.
Local SEO We optimized the Google business profile with everything relevant and with transparency in mind. The information that is provided makes it easy for guests to decide if they want to visit or not. Along with that, the website is also supporting this and giving strong local presence signals.
Organic Social Media We showcased Theatrum’s atmosphere and dishes across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to reinforce discoverability and credibility when guests cross-checked recommendations.

By combining digital data with the local expertise of the staff, we made sure the content was not only optimized but also authentic and appealing to the right audience. Each step of the way was well calculated and we knew that in today’s world, whole delivery must be as efficient as possible.

The Results

  • Higher Google rankings for conversion-driven keywords that is constantly bringing more people to the restaurant, both during the tourist season and outside of it.
  • Guests reported discovering Theatrum through ChatGPT recommendations, demonstrating that our AI-driven search optimization was effective in practice.
  • As AI usage grows, more and more visitors are finding their way to the restaurant thanks to its strong presence in both search engines and AI models.
This case study shows a key lesson: the way people search is changing fast. By anticipating that shift and optimizing for AI-driven discovery, we positioned Theatrum Bar & Food not just for today’s competition, but for the future of how tourists choose where to dine.
Theatrum AI search result screenshot Theatrum AI search result second screenshot

ChatGPT AI search recommendations showing Theatrum Bar & Food presence