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OpenResto
What it is
OpenResto is a self-hosted booking system for independent restaurants, bars, cafes, and similar businesses. Guests can choose a time, hold a table for five minutes, and book without creating an account. Restaurants can manage locations, floor sections, waitlists, and booking pauses, and customize the booking experience with their own name, colour, and icon. The guest experience works on the web and can also be published as a branded iOS and Android app. Guests can add bookings to Google, Apple, or Outlook calendars, and the site describes push reminders sent the day before plus Apple and Google Wallet passes. OpenResto runs on the restaurant’s own server using Docker Compose and stores bookings in a local SQLite database. The software is MIT licensed and has no per-cover fees. Its scoped API supports tools such as curl, cron scripts, Zapier webhooks, or a custom backend. Outgoing email is optional and uses the restaurant’s SMTP configuration. Deployment options include Linux amd64 and arm64 images for a VPS, Raspberry Pi, or NAS with Docker.
For and against
For
- Guests can book without creating an account.
- Supports locations, floor sections, and waitlists.
- No per-cover fees.
- Guest data stays on the restaurant’s machine.
- Supports calendar additions and wallet passes.
Against
- Requires the restaurant’s own server.
- Deployment uses Docker Compose.
- Outgoing email requires the restaurant’s SMTP setup.
The verdict
OpenResto offers restaurant booking and table management with self-hosted operation and no per-cover charge. Its local data storage and customization may appeal to operators who can handle the server-based deployment.
Who it suits
OpenResto suits independent restaurants and similar hospitality businesses that want to run booking software on their own server. It may also fit operators managing multiple locations and seeking control over guest data.
On the record
- API access
- Scoped, revocable API keys support CLI use, and keys without the guests scope cannot access guest names or phone numbers.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- API and integrations
- OpenResto provides a scoped API that can be called with tools such as curl, cron scripts, Zapier webhooks or a custom backend.docs.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Audit trail
- An append-only activity trail records who did what and when, with guest identities masked.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Booking flow
- Guests can book without creating an account, and a selected table is held for five minutes while they finish booking.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Branding
- Restaurants can set their own name, colour and icon for the booking experience.get.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Calendar and wallet
- Guests can add bookings to Google, Apple, or Outlook calendars, and the site describes Apple and Google Wallet booking passes.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Demo
- The live demo provides admin access and resets every two hours.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- OpenResto runs on the restaurant’s own server using Docker Compose.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment limits
- The maker lists prebuilt Linux amd64 and arm64 images and says the software runs on a VPS, Raspberry Pi or NAS with Docker.code.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Outgoing email is optional and uses the restaurant's SMTP configuration.code.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Guest apps
- The same guest screens can be published as native iOS and Android apps under the restaurant’s own name.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- OpenResto runs on the restaurant's own server with Docker and stores bookings in a local SQLite database.get.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes OpenResto as booking management for restaurants, bars, cafes and similar businesses.code.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- License and fees
- The site describes the software as MIT licensed and says it has no per-cover fees.get.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Pricing model
- The site says OpenResto is MIT licensed and has no per-cover fees.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Bookings are stored in a SQLite database on the operator’s machine, and the site says there is no managed database or CDN.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenResto is a self-hosted booking system for independent restaurants.get.openres.to · read 10 Oct 2026
- Reminders
- The site describes push reminders sent the day before a booking.get.openres.to · read 11 Oct 2026
