Google vs ChatGPT: How Restaurant Discovery in Marbella Is Changing
If you run a restaurant in Marbella, chances are you’re used to thinking about Google, TripAdvisor, and Instagram as your biggest sources of discovery.
But something big is changing — and fast.
More and more travellers and locals are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT when deciding where to eat. Instead of scrolling through ads and endless reviews, people are now simply asking:
“What are the best restaurants in Marbella?”
And the answers they get look very different depending on where they ask.
The Test: Google vs ChatGPT
We ran a simple experiment to see the difference. We asked the same question to both Google and ChatGPT:
“What are the best restaurants in Marbella?”
Google’s results:
Nomad
La Scala
Arde
Cibo
Nobu
ChatGPT’s results:
Skina
Lobito de Mar
El Lago
Breathe
Nativo
The Difference Is Clear
Google gives you a familiar mix — some well-known spots, a few smaller ones, and even some that don’t necessarily represent the best Marbella has to offer in 2025.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, highlights award-winning restaurants and true local favourites — the kind of places that actually define Marbella’s dining scene.
And that difference says everything about how restaurant discovery is changing.
The Rise of AIO (AI Optimisation)
At Snack Hospitality, we’ve been tracking this shift closely. SEO is still vital, but it’s no longer the whole story.
Today, customers aren’t just searching — they’re asking AI assistants to decide for them.
That’s where AIO — AI Optimisation — comes in.
AIO focuses on helping your restaurant show up in the data and signals that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT use to make recommendations.
Just like SEO, it’s about visibility — but the strategy is completely different.
SEO vs AIO: The New Reality
SEO:
Optimises for Google rankings
Focused on keywords and backlinks
Takes months to see impact
Competes with ads and listings
AIO:
Optimises for AI recommendations
Focused on reputation, consistency, and structured data
Can deliver faster wins with the right signals
Appears in curated, ad-free answers
Why This Matters for Marbella Restaurants
Imagine a potential customer arriving this weekend. They don’t open Google. They open ChatGPT or another AI assistant and type:
“Find me a Mediterranean restaurant in Marbella with outdoor seating and a good wine list.”
If your restaurant isn’t optimised for AIO, you might never appear in that conversation — even if you’re one of the best in town.
And here’s the key: AI-driven discovery converts better.
When people ask an LLM for recommendations, they already know what they want. It’s high-intent traffic. They’re not browsing — they’re booking.
That’s a huge opportunity for restaurants who act early.
Why Snack Hospitality Built “AIO for Hospitality”
We created our AIO for Hospitality service to help restaurants, bars, and hotels adapt to this new era of discovery.
We make sure your venue appears where customers are now asking — inside AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other emerging LLMs.
That means:
Ensuring your data and listings are clean, consistent, and connected.
Building online authority and reputation signals that LLMs actually trust.
Optimising for high-intent AI queries (“best restaurants in Marbella,” “romantic dinner near Puente Romano,” etc.).
And ultimately — helping AI recommend you.
Get Ahead Before Everyone Else Does
Most restaurants in Marbella are still thinking about SEO. Very few are thinking about AIO.
That’s your chance to get ahead — and be one of the first restaurants ChatGPT recommends when visitors ask where to eat in Marbella.
Because the future of restaurant discovery isn’t on a search results page.
It’s in the conversation.
Want Your Restaurant to Be Recommended by AI?
Let’s make it happen.