There are all kinds of reasons a restaurant might go viral on social media, whether it’s particularly eye-catching decor or simply really good food. Your feed might be full of photos of picturesque restaurants serving delicious dishes – but which are really the most popular of all, according to Instagram?
A new study from Betway reveals the answer, analyzing hashtags for 100 restaurants in the US (and another 100 around the world) to determine which are the most popular on Instagram.
Nobu Malibu is the most viral restaurant in the US, with over 61k Instagram posts dedicated to it
Nobu Malibu tops the ranking as the most popular restaurant in the US. The Malibu branch of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s chain has amassed an impressive 61,447 Instagram posts under the hashtag #nobumalibu.
This isn’t a surprise when you see pictures of the restaurant, which overlooks a beautiful sandy beach and has a rating of 4.4 stars on Google. It’s also frequented by many famous celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Kardashians in recent months.
Taking second place is The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee. This small and intimate cafe doubles as a music venue, playing host to iconic artists like Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks over the years. It receives over 70,000 visitors each year, which explains why it’s gained 50,546 Instagram posts under its hashtag.
Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City comes in third, with 41,382 Instagram posts to its name. Self-described as “NYC’s oldest deli”, Katz’s has been serving delicious sandwiches since 1888.
| Rank | Restaurant | City | Number of posts for hashtag |
| 1 | Nobu Malibu | Malibu | 61,447 |
| 2 | The Bluebird Cafe | Nashville | 50,546 |
| 3 | Katz’s Delicatessen | New York City | 41,382 |
| 4 | Bavel | Los Angeles | 33,207 |
| 5 | The French Laundry | Yountville | 26,627 |
| 6 | Commander’s Palace | New Orleans | 26,220 |
| 7 | Mystic Pizza | Mystic | 24,233 |
| 8 | Girl & the Goat | Chicago | 23,341 |
| 9 | House of Prime Rib | San Francisco | 20,138 |
| 10 | Geno’s Steaks | Philadelphia | 17,126 |
The most popular restaurant in the world is The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney, which has racked up over 120k Instagram posts
On a global scale, there’s no beating The Grounds of Alexandria, which ranks as the most popular restaurant in the world according to Instagram. There are currently a whopping 120,440 Instagram posts under the hashtag ‘#thegroundsofalexandria’ on Instagram – which is double the number held by Nobu Malibu, the most popular restaurant in the US.
The Grounds of Alexandria describes itself as “an all-in-one café, bar, restaurant, garden and event hub” on its website, which is an accurate description. The eatery is a popular events venue thanks to its beautiful decor, frequently playing host to weddings, parties and photoshoots.
In second place is Sketch in London, with a very respectable 94,098 Instagram posts under its hashtag. While some of these posts are from people literally sketching London, the majority are dedicated to the very Instagrammable tea-room-slash-cocktail-lounge. It’s famed for its iconic egg toilets – which really have to be seen to be understood.
Catch in Los Angeles comes third, garnering 66,092 Instagram posts dedicated to it. The seafood restaurant is a beautiful venue and is apparently known for frequent celebrity sightings.
| Rank | Restaurant | City | Number of posts for hashtag |
| 1 | The Grounds of Alexandria | Sydney | 120,440 |
| 2 | Sketch | London | 94,098 |
| 3 | Catch | Los Angeles | 66,092 |
| 4 | Pink Mamma | Paris | 29,242 |
| 5 | The Salt Lick BBQ | Driftwood | 23,741 |
| 6 | Man Wah | Hong Kong | 19,468 |
| 7 | Thip Samai | Bangkok | 16,846 |
| 8 | Le Coucou | New York City | 15,898 |
| 9 | La Favela | Bali | 15,444 |
| 10 | Dalloway Terrace | London | 13,471 |
You can read the full research here.
