For most bar or pub profiles the best primary category is Bar — use it when: general bar. Choose Pub instead if pub / tavern (common UK/AU/CA). Choose Cocktail bar instead if cocktails are the focus. Choose Sports bar instead if sports-screening bar. For restaurants the primary category usually works best as the most specific cuisine or format you actually serve; menu items and dishes belong in the menu, not in categories.
Open the free tool for a bar or pub → tick what you really offer and get a copy-ready setup sheet
Primary category
- Bar — General bar who else uses it
- Pub — Pub / tavern (common UK/AU/CA)
- Cocktail bar — Cocktails are the focus who else uses it
- Sports bar — Sports-screening bar
Secondary (additional) categories
Add one only if the condition is genuinely true at this location. Fewer, accurate categories beat a full list of nine.
- Gastropub — only if: food menu / kitchen who else uses it
- Live music venue — only if: live music
- Wine bar — only if: wine focus who else uses it
- Beer garden — only if: beer garden
- Karaoke bar — only if: karaoke nights
Categories to avoid
These are often added to bar or pub profiles but usually describe a different or broader business:
- Night club (unless a real club)
- Restaurant (unless food-led)
Address or service area?
Usually a storefront: show the full address exactly as it appears on your signage, and keep it identical on Google, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places and your website. Service-area vs storefront rules.
Starter services to add
Categories say what you are; services say what you do. Good first entries:
- Happy hour
- Live sports
- Private hire
Check before you change anything
Search “bar” on Google Maps in your own area, open the top few profiles and note their primary category (shown under the business name). Use what's common as a sanity check, not a template — your categories must describe your business. Ready to switch? How to change your category safely.
Profile problems?
Suspended, stuck in verification, or not showing on Maps? See the free fix guides: suspended profile · verification failed · not on Maps · name rules.