Essence Marketing & Design
PortfolioDining & Hospitality

Industry

Dining & Hospitality

Dining & HospitalityCase Studies.

Restaurants, bars, cafes, and food concepts. We build appetising identities and marketing that drives foot traffic, builds loyal regulars, and earns great reviews.

8

Case Studies

13+

Services Delivered

01
Featured
Skybox Taphouse — slide 1
1 / 3

2x

Event night attendance

400%

Social reach growth

4.7

Google rating achieved

Skybox Taphouse

Sports bar elevated — great food, great pours, great energy.

Social MediaWebsitePhotography

The Challenge

A well-loved taphouse that struggled to grow beyond its regular crowd and missed opportunities during big sports events and peak tourist season.

Our Approach

Produced vibrant food and atmosphere photography, built a social content engine around events and specials, and created an event marketing framework that sold out game-night reservations.

Start a Similar Project
02
Shorefyre Grill & Bar — slide 1
1 / 3

180%

Instagram follower growth

55%

More weekend covers

8x

Story reach multiplied

Shorefyre Grill & Bar

Open-flame cooking with an island soul.

Social MediaPhotography

The Challenge

A grillhouse with a distinctive concept but branding that did not convey the fire, energy, and quality of the experience they delivered.

Our Approach

Built a bold, fire-inspired brand identity and produced dramatic food photography that stopped the scroll — launching a social strategy built around daily specials and chef stories.

Start a Similar Project
03
Goodfella Supreme Burger

3x

Opening week foot traffic

12k

Social followers at launch

4.9

Yelp review score

Goodfella Supreme Burger

The burger Oahu did not know it was missing.

Branding

The Challenge

A new burger concept entering a competitive market that needed to launch with brand authority and social buzz to stand out from day one.

Our Approach

Built the entire brand from scratch — logo, menu design, packaging, photography, and a pre-launch social campaign that built a following before the doors opened.

Start a Similar Project
04
Legend Seafood Hawaii — slide 1
1 / 3

2x

Walk-in foot traffic

400%

Social reach growth

4.7

Google rating achieved

Legend Seafood Hawaii

Fresh from the ocean to the plate — daily.

WebsiteSEOSocial Media

The Challenge

Strong local reputation but no social presence or modern brand identity — missing the tourist traffic that other Chinatown seafood spots were capturing.

Our Approach

Produced mouth-watering food photography, rebuilt their brand visuals, launched a social account with daily specials content, and redesigned the menu.

Start a Similar Project
05
Irie Jerk — slide 1
1 / 2

250%

Social reach increase

40%

More catering bookings

5x

Content share rate

Irie Jerk

Caribbean soul food with an Oahu heartbeat.

Social Media

The Challenge

A beloved jerk chicken spot with a cult following but no consistent brand or social presence to grow beyond its regular customers.

Our Approach

Developed an authentic, culture-rich brand identity and content strategy that celebrated the food, the story, and the community around it.

Start a Similar Project
06
Blue Hawaii Lifestyle Acai

90%

Tourist discovery rate

4.9

TripAdvisor rating

150%

Summer revenue growth

Blue Hawaii Lifestyle Acai

Healthy, beautiful bowls that fuel the island lifestyle.

Graphic Design

The Challenge

A health-forward acai concept that needed to break through in a competitive market and become a go-to destination for both tourists and locals.

Our Approach

Created a vibrant, lifestyle-driven brand and photography style that made every bowl social-media-worthy, then optimised all tourism platforms to capture visitor search traffic.

Start a Similar Project
07
Rise Cafe — slide 1
1 / 3

180%

Instagram followers gained

30%

New customer growth

5x

Story view rate increase

Rise Cafe

Oahu's favourite morning ritual.

Content Shoot

The Challenge

A beloved local cafe struggling to compete with chain brands on visual appeal and social media presence.

Our Approach

Created a warm, island-inspired brand refresh and launched a daily content strategy built around the culture, people, and rituals that make the cafe special.

Start a Similar Project
08
Sunset Noodle House — slide 1
1 / 9

500+

Email subscribers built

60%

Friday sellout rate

8x

Content share rate

Sunset Noodle House

Comfort bowls with a Pacific rim twist.

Content Shoot

The Challenge

A noodle concept with incredible food and zero digital visibility — relying entirely on walk-by traffic and word of mouth.

Our Approach

Built a cosy, distinctive brand identity, captured the food and experience on camera, and launched a social strategy that made every bowl a shareable moment.

Start a Similar Project

Explore More

Other Industries

View All

Non-Profits

Purpose-driven brands that move communities.

View

Health & Wellness

Brands that heal, energise, and inspire trust.

View

Tours, Activities & Nightlife

Oahu's energy — captured and amplified.

View

Professional Services

Authority brands built for long-term trust.

View
Essence Marketing & Design | Honolulu, HI Agency