How to open a WhatsApp Business account for your restaurant, which features to use straight away, and when it makes sense to move to the API to automate reservations and messages.
Many restaurants in Rome still use personal WhatsApp for reservations: the owner's phone or a front-of-house person managing messages between tables. It works while volume is low. When dozens of messages arrive each week, manual management becomes one of the most draining jobs of the day. WhatsApp Business is not just another version of the app: it is designed for businesses, with tools that regular WhatsApp does not have.
WhatsApp Business is a separate, free app. It uses the same phone number but turns it into a business profile with public information. Whoever messages you sees the restaurant name, not your personal name. They can see the address, opening hours, the website, and a description. This information appears automatically when a customer opens the conversation, without them having to ask.
Use a number dedicated to the restaurant, not your personal one. You can use a separate SIM or a landline. WhatsApp Business also supports landlines: verification happens via voice call instead of SMS.
The welcome message can include a direct link to the restaurant's bookings page. Every first-time contact receives it automatically, without you having to send it manually each time.
WhatsApp Business exists in two versions with different purposes. The app is for manual management. The API is for automation. The practical difference is that the app requires someone to reply to messages by hand, while the API allows connecting tools that reply autonomously.
The API is the right choice when message volume exceeds what one person can handle during service, or when you want WhatsApp bookings to be confirmed and automatically reminded to the guest without manual intervention. It requires a Meta-authorized provider that handles the technical connection.
Your restaurant's existing landline or dedicated number can be connected to the WhatsApp Business API while keeping the same number your customers already know. Migrating the number does not mean losing the contact list.
Maestro is connected to WhatsApp Business API as a Meta-authorized Business Solution Provider. When a guest messages your restaurant's WhatsApp number, Maestro replies automatically: it collects the booking details (date, time, party size, any requirements), checks availability, and sends the written confirmation. The day before and two hours before the reservation, it sends an automatic reminder. The restaurant sees everything in the dashboard and can step in at any moment.
Why we know this
Maestro connects to WhatsApp Business API as a Business Solution Provider for Italian restaurants. We handle the setup, number verification, and message delivery for client restaurants, so we know the process from the inside, not just from the official documentation.