Make every order count with the best POS system for your restaurant

A restaurant POS system — or point of sale system — is the central hub of a food business. It helps restaurants take orders, process payments, manage menus, track sales and monitor staff performance — all in one place.

Unlike traditional methods like paper tickets or outdated cash registers, a restaurant point of sale system connects the front and back of house in real time. Orders go straight to the kitchen, tables are easier to manage, bills can be split with just a few taps, and updates to the menu happen instantly.

The best POS system for restaurants is designed to make service faster and more accurate, even during peak hours. It supports tipping, handles multiple payment methods, and gives managers full visibility into what’s selling and when — helping them make smarter decisions.

Whether you're running a cosy café, a fast food outlet or a full-service restaurant, having a modern POS software for restaurants ensures smooth daily operations. From small businesses to busy dining spots, the right system keeps things organised, improves customer experience and helps your team focus on what matters: serving great food.

Today’s restaurant POS systems go far beyond basic checkout. They’re flexible, mobile-friendly, and packed with features tailored to food service — making them one of the most valuable tools in any restaurant’s toolkit.

Switching to SumUp POS is straightforward. You can import your menu and inventory quickly via a spreadsheet or PDF, and configure your hardware in just a few steps.

Our customer support team is available to assist with menu setup, inventory transfers, and hardware connections, making the transition smooth.

SumUp’s restaurant POS system is designed to simplify your daily operations and help your team work faster — all with an intuitive interface that’s easy to set up and easy to use.

With SumUp, restaurants can:

• Manage tables and floor plans for more efficient service

• Take orders tableside and send them straight to the kitchen

• Accept all major payment methods, including Tap to Pay, with split payments and tips

• Track sales in real time and access clear, actionable reports

• Customise menus quickly and manage inventory from a single dashboard

• Integrate with delivery apps and accounting tools to stay organised

You can start for free and upgrade as your needs grow — no long-term contracts, no setup fees. Whether you're running a small café or a full-service restaurant, SumUp offers a POS software for restaurants that’s flexible, reliable and built to support your business every step of the way.

You can use SumUp POS on an iPad, which serves as the main interface for order-taking and payment processing. Additional hardware, like card readers, receipt printers, cash drawers, and kitchen displays, can be added based on your business needs. SumUp’s hardware is compact, making it suitable for both counter and table service environments.

The pos system includes comprehensive staff management features, such as individual logins, role-based access, and shift scheduling.

It tracks hours worked, calculates tips, and monitors staff performance, helping managers optimize labor costs and productivity.

Additionally, built-in reporting tools offer insights into staff efficiency, enabling better decision-making regarding staffing needs, peak hours, and overall service improvements.

If you're wondering how much a restaurant POS system costs, SumUp offers a flexible pricing structure tailored to different business sizes and needs.

The basic plan starts at £49/month, covering core POS features such as order management, payment processing and reporting. For businesses that need more advanced tools — including integrations, menu management and staff performance tracking — an upgraded plan is available.

Additionally, transaction fees apply based on card payments. There are no long-term contracts, which allows businesses to scale their usage as needed. For larger operations or businesses with high transaction volumes, custom pricing and personalised support can be arranged.

The benefits of having a restaurant POS system include faster service, fewer errors, smarter inventory control and a better experience for your customers.

With the right POS software for restaurants, your team can take orders tableside, send them directly to the kitchen and accept all types of payments — including cards, mobile wallets, split bills and tips.

You can update menus in real time, track stock as you sell and reduce food waste with better inventory visibility. Sales reports help you understand what’s working — from bestsellers to peak hours — so you can make informed decisions.

And when you choose a point of sale from SumUp, you also get powerful integrations with delivery apps, accounting tools and loyalty programmes. That means you can manage orders, payments, reports and customer relationships — all in one system that adapts as your restaurant grows.

Whether you run a café, a food truck or a full-service restaurant, SumUp gives you a complete solution to save time, stay organised and grow with confidence.

A restaurant POS system works as the central hub of your operation, connecting orders, payments, inventory and reporting in one place. It replaces paper tickets and disconnected tools with a single, real-time workflow.

Instead of writing down orders or entering them manually, your team can take orders on a tablet or POS terminal and send them directly to the kitchen. Payments are processed instantly at the counter or tableside, while menus and stock update automatically in the background.

By handling everything in sync — from the floor to the kitchen to the back office — a POS system helps your restaurant run faster, stay organised and deliver a better experience to every customer.

A restaurant POS system optimises operations by automating daily tasks like order processing, payment handling, and menu management. It enables real-time updates to the menu, allowing you to quickly adjust prices, add specials, or manage sold-out items, which keeps your offerings current and reduces confusion for staff and customers.

In terms of customer experience, a restaurant POS system supports quick and secure payments, with options like card, mobile wallets, and contactless methods, leading to a faster checkout process. Integrating loyalty programs and personalized promotions helps encourage repeat visits and build customer relationships.

It also aids staff management with features like shift scheduling and performance tracking, ensuring a more efficient team. By centralizing data on sales trends, peak hours, and inventory, the POS system for restaurants provides insights that empower better decision-making, ultimately enhancing overall service quality and operational flow.

Beyond our POS Pro, which is perfect for restaurant setups as you’ve seen here, SumUp offers a comprehensive suite of tools to meet the needs of any business.

For those seeking a fast, no-cost solution, our Free POS turns your tablet into a fully functional POS, with essentials like product catalog management, order processing, and secure payment handling at zero monthly cost.

To simplify financial management, the business account gives you a free UK current account and Mastercard, ideal for tracking expenses and maintaining cash flow. Paired with a card reader, you’ll have the flexibility to take payments anytime, anywhere.

For a streamlined in-store experience, POS Lite offers essential tools and hardware to enhance checkout efficiency. We also provide kiosk solutions for larger venues, helping to reduce queues and deliver actionable reporting insights for growth.

Talk to the sales team to find the SumUp solution that best suits your business needs!

The best point of sale system is one that works the way your team does: fast, simple and ready to keep up with the pace of service.

Whether you run a fast food outlet, a pizza place or a bar, the right POS should help you manage tables, customise orders, send tickets straight to the kitchen and track everything in real time. It's all about making the day-to-day smoother, especially during busy hours.

That’s where SumUp comes in.

With our restaurant-ready system, you can:

• map your floor plan to keep tables organised

• add custom order options like sauces, toppings or preferences with just a tap

• send tickets directly to the kitchen to speed up preparation

• split bills easily, even with large groups

• access sales data and insights instantly, from anywhere

Since everything runs through one platform, your team spends less time on admin and more time focusing on great service.

Many people also ask what POS system most restaurants use or what the most popular POS system is in the hospitality industry. The answer depends on what matters most to your business — but for thousands of cafés, food trucks and restaurants across the UK, SumUp is the choice for simplicity, reliability and room to grow.