Top EPOS Solutions for Cafés, Bars, and Restaurants

By Olivia Johnson - Trusted UK Business Expert

Last Updated 8th of February 2026

4 minute read

Running a café, bar, or restaurant takes more than good food and drinks—it needs smooth service, quick payments, and smart stock control. That’s where an EPOS system helps. We’ll guide you through the best solutions, so you can pick the right one with confidence.

The top EPOS solutions for cafés, bars, and restaurants include Square, Lightspeed, EPOS Now, TouchBistro, and Clover. These systems offer order management, payment processing, stock tracking, staff scheduling, and customer loyalty tools tailored for the hospitality sector.

Choosing the best EPOS for your hospitality business can feel complex, but don’t worry. In this guide, we break down what makes each solution shine and why it could be the perfect fit for your café, bar, or restaurant.

Looking for the best way to serve customers faster and manage sales with ease? Click below to explore the Top EPOS Solutions trusted by cafés, bars, and restaurants.

Top EPOS Solutions for Cafés, Bars, and Restaurants

Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems are now the beating heart of the hospitality world. Whether you run a small café, a lively bar, or a fine dining restaurant, the right EPOS will help you manage sales, track stock, serve customers faster, and cut costs. Unlike a simple till, today’s EPOS tools are cloud-based, mobile-friendly, and packed with features to support growth.

For cafés, speed and simplicity matter most—fast coffee service and quick transactions. Bars often need split-bill options, tabs, and strong reporting on peak times. Restaurants want table management, menu customisation, and kitchen integration. The best EPOS systems bring all these together in one smart package.

Let’s look at the leading solutions available and what sets them apart.

Top Epos Solutions 

Square for Hospitality

Square is one of the most popular EPOS solutions for small and medium hospitality businesses. Known for its sleek hardware and simple software, it’s often the first choice for cafés and bars that need fast, reliable service without big setup costs.

  • Ease of Use: Square’s system is beginner-friendly. Staff can learn it in minutes, making it perfect for high staff turnover environments like cafés and bars.
  • Pricing: Square has no long contracts. You pay per transaction, which is ideal for smaller venues.
  • Features: It includes inventory tracking, customer loyalty programmes, digital receipts, and integrations with delivery apps.
  • Best For: Start-up cafés, small bars, and venues wanting a flexible, low-cost system.

Example: A small café in London used Square to set up in one day, with instant access to real-time sales reports through their mobile phone.

Lightspeed Restaurant

Lightspeed is designed with restaurants in mind. It’s powerful, cloud-based, and packed with tools that go beyond basic payment processing.

  • Table Management: Lightspeed allows staff to see table layouts, move bookings, and track multiple courses.
  • Kitchen Display Systems (KDS): Orders go straight to the kitchen screen, cutting errors and speeding up service.
  • Advanced Analytics: Real-time data helps managers plan menus, monitor busy times, and manage labour costs.
  • Integrations: Links with delivery apps like Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo.

Lightspeed works well for mid-size to large restaurants, but its price point might be higher for small cafés.

EPOS Now

EPOS Now is a UK-based provider and a favourite in hospitality for its versatility. It works for cafés, pubs, bars, and restaurants.

  • Flexibility: You can run it on tablets, touchscreen tills, or mobiles.
  • Cloud-Based: Data is stored online, giving managers remote access.
  • Add-ons: Integrates with accounting tools like Xero and QuickBooks, plus stock management and staff rotas.
  • Pricing: Offers both hardware bundles and software-only plans, giving businesses budget options.

Anecdote: A busy Manchester bar reduced waste by 20% using EPOS Now’s stock control features.

Top Epos Solutions 

TouchBistro

TouchBistro is built for restaurants, with a strong focus on menu and table management. It’s an iPad-based system, making it mobile and easy to use across the floor.

  • Table-side Ordering: Staff can take orders at the table and send them directly to the kitchen.
  • Upselling Tools: Prompts servers with suggestions for pairings or add-ons.
  • Offline Use: Works without internet, so service never stops.
  • Customer Loyalty: Offers built-in programmes for discounts and rewards.

TouchBistro is ideal for restaurants with table service, but it also adapts well to cafés and small bars.

Clover

Clover offers a modern, customisable EPOS with smart hardware and a wide app marketplace.

  • Customisation: Pick apps for loyalty, stock control, reservations, or accounting.
  • All-in-One Hardware: Terminals, handheld devices, and printers.
  • Payments: Accepts cards, contactless, and mobile wallets.
  • Data Security: Built with strong compliance and encryption, protecting customer data.

Clover is a strong choice for businesses wanting flexibility and scalability as they grow.

Comparing Top EPOS Systems

EPOS System Best For Key Strengths Pricing Style
Square Small cafés & bars Easy setup, pay-per-transaction, simple UI Per-transaction fees
Lightspeed Restaurants Table & menu management, delivery links Subscription-based
EPOS Now Pubs & bars Versatile, add-ons, accounting integration Hardware + software
TouchBistro Table-service dining Table-side ordering, upselling, offline use Subscription-based
Clover Growing venues Customisable, strong hardware, secure Subscription + fees

Why EPOS Matters for Cafés, Bars, and Restaurants

A good EPOS is more than a till. It helps hospitality businesses:

  • Serve Faster: Speed up orders and payments.
  • Reduce Waste: Track stock and cut costs.
  • Boost Sales: Upsell items and manage loyalty schemes.
  • Make Smarter Choices: Real-time reporting guides decisions.
  • Stay Secure: Keep customer data safe.

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, an EPOS is a must-have for efficiency and growth.

Top Epos Solutions

How to Choose the Right EPOS for Your Venue

When choosing an EPOS, think about:

  • Size of Business: Small café or large restaurant?
  • Budget: Subscription, upfront, or pay-per-transaction?
  • Features: Do you need table service, delivery integrations, or loyalty tools?
  • Ease of Use: Staff should learn it quickly.
  • Scalability: Will it grow with your business?

Looking for the best EPOS for your café, bar, or restaurant? Click the link below to compare top deals and find the perfect match for your business today.

FAQ

What is an EPOS system in hospitality?

An EPOS is a digital till system that processes sales, tracks stock, manages tables, and provides business insights for cafés, bars, and restaurants.

Do small cafés need an EPOS?

Yes, even small cafés benefit from EPOS systems as they make payments faster, track stock, and cut admin time.

Can EPOS systems integrate with delivery apps?

Many modern EPOS systems, such as Lightspeed and Square, integrate with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.

How much does an EPOS system cost?

Costs vary. Some charge per transaction (like Square), while others use monthly subscriptions. Expect £30–£100+ per month for software, plus hardware costs.

Which EPOS is best for bars?

EPOS Now and Clover are popular for bars, thanks to strong stock tracking, split-bill features, and tab management.

Maximise speed, accuracy, and customer satisfaction with proven EPOS tools. Tap the button below to explore the Top EPOS Solutions designed for hospitality businesses like yours.