In short: menuQR works the same way for hospitality businesses across Europe: upload your PDF menu, print the QR code, update the menu whenever you like. What differs are the mandatory details – how allergens are declared, whether the origin of meat must be shown and which price displays apply. This page summarises the key points per country and links to practical guides for individual cities.
Country rules at a glance
| Country | Allergens | Verbal information | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14 major allergens for food that isn't prepacked; written or verbal with clear signposting (the FSA recommends written information) | Allowed if guests are clearly told how to get the information | England: calories (kcal) on menus for businesses with 250 or more employees; Natasha's Law applies to food prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) |
| Ireland | Allergen information for non-prepacked food must be given in writing (S.I. No. 489 of 2014) | Not sufficient on its own | Prices must be visible before guests enter (Retail Price (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order 1984) |
| France | Written allergen information for non-prepacked food (Décret n° 2015-447) | Not sufficient on its own | Menu with prices displayed outside during service; origin of beef, pork, poultry and lamb (Décret n° 2022-65); final prices including tax and service |
| Spain | EU allergen rules for non-prepacked food via Real Decreto 126/2015 | Allowed where the information is easily accessible before ordering | Final prices including VAT (IVA) |
| Italy | 14 major allergens on the menu itself or in a documented allergen record shown on request | Allowed via documented record, with a notice on the menu | Frozen ingredients must be marked; cover charge (coperto) must be stated |
| Netherlands | 14 major allergens for non-prepacked food | Allowed if guests are clearly told where to get the information | Final prices including VAT (btw) |
| Germany | LMIV plus LMIDV for food served loose, i.e. dishes in the restaurant | Allowed with written documentation and a notice to guests | Price list next to the entrance (PAngV); mandatory additive labelling |
| Switzerland | Allergens must be declared for unpackaged food (Swiss Food Information Ordinance, LIV) | Allowed with a written notice that staff can provide it | Meat origin in writing; prices in Swiss francs including VAT (PBV) |
Simplified overview, as of October 2026, and not legal advice. When in doubt, check with your local food authority or trade association.
City guides
For these cities we've put together which venue types, seasons and guest groups shape the use of a QR code menu:
Amsterdam
Dutch and English side by side, borrel menus in the brown café, canal-side terraces and kitchens with changing specials.
Barcelona
Menú del día, three languages at one table, tapas bars with a changing counter and beach bars in season.
Berlin
English-speaking guests and teams, weekend brunch, street-food markets and pop-ups, plus trade-fair visitors.
Dublin
Allergen information in writing, early bird menus, pub food and carvery lunch, and visitors from around the world.
London
Pubs with rotating beer lists, food halls and street-food markets, calorie labelling in England and international visitors.
Madrid
From la hora del vermut to a late dinner, tapas routes in La Latina, gourmet food markets and trade-fair weeks.
Milan
Aperitivo, Design Week and Fashion Week, business lunch and terraces along the Navigli.
Paris
Formule du jour and the ardoise, terraces, bilingual menus for international guests and mandatory details in the PDF.
Zurich
German, English and French on one table, lunch for the business crowd, badi kiosks in summer, meat origin and francs in your PDF.
Country rules in detail
What applies to digital menus in Germany
- Allergens: the 14 major allergens under the LMIV must be declared for food served loose, i.e. dishes in the restaurant. Under the LMIDV, verbal information is allowed if written documentation exists and guests are pointed to it.
- Price list: the Preisangabenverordnung requires a price list next to the entrance. A QR code doesn't replace that price list, but it can complement it.
- Additives: additives that must be labelled (additive labelling) belong on the digital menu too. menuQR shows your PDF exactly as you upload it.
What applies to digital menus in Austria
- Allergens: the Allergen Information Ordinance governs how the 14 major allergens are declared for unpackaged food. Information may be written or – with a clear notice and trained staff – verbal. Letter codes A–R with a legend are common.
- Prices: prices for food and drinks must be clearly visible for guests. A printed menu on request is still worth keeping for guests without a smartphone.
What applies to digital menus in Switzerland
- Allergens: under the Swiss Food Information Ordinance (LIV) allergens must be declared for food served unpackaged. Verbal information is allowed if there's a written notice that staff can provide it.
- Meat origin: restaurants must state the country of origin of meat in writing – easiest directly on the menu or in a footnote.
- Prices: under the Price Disclosure Ordinance (PBV) prices are shown in Swiss francs including VAT. These belong in your PDF; the menuQR subscription itself is billed in euros.
What applies to digital menus in United Kingdom
- Allergens: the 14 major allergens must be disclosed for food that isn't prepacked. Information can be given in writing or verbally – if verbally, you must clearly signpost how guests can get it. The Food Standards Agency recommends written information.
- Calories: in England, businesses with 250 or more employees must show calories (kcal) on menus, including online and digital menus (Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021).
- Natasha's Law: food prepacked for direct sale (PPDS), such as sandwiches packed on site, needs a full ingredients label on the packaging. A digital menu doesn't replace that label.
Rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may differ in detail.
What applies to digital menus in Ireland
- Allergens: for food that isn't prepacked, allergen information must be provided in writing (S.I. No. 489 of 2014) – verbal information alone isn't enough. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) publishes guidance for caterers.
- Price display: catering businesses must display prices so guests can see them before entering (Retail Price (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order 1984). A QR code can complement this display but doesn't replace it.
- Printed alternative: keep a printed copy of your allergen information for guests without a smartphone.
What applies to digital menus in France
- Allergens: for food that isn't prepacked, France requires allergen information to be available to guests in writing (Décret n° 2015-447).
- Menu outside: restaurants must display a menu with prices outside the venue during service. A QR code can complement this display but doesn't replace it.
- Meat origin: the origin of beef, pork, poultry and lamb served must be indicated (Décret n° 2022-65).
- Prices: menu prices must be final prices including taxes and service.
What applies to digital menus in Spain
- Allergens: Spain applies the EU allergen rules for non-prepacked food through Real Decreto 126/2015. The 14 major allergens must be disclosed and easily accessible to guests before they order.
- Printed alternative: keep a printed menu or staff with documented allergen information for guests without a smartphone.
- Prices: show final prices including VAT (IVA) on your menu – menuQR displays your PDF exactly as designed.
What applies to digital menus in Italy
- Allergens: the 14 major allergens must be disclosed for non-prepacked food – either directly on the menu or in a documented allergen record that staff show on request, with a clear notice on the menu.
- Frozen ingredients: dishes made with frozen products should be clearly marked on the menu, usually with an asterisk and a footnote.
- Coperto: if you charge a cover charge, state it clearly on the menu so guests know before ordering.
What applies to digital menus in Netherlands
- Allergens: the 14 major allergens must be disclosed for non-prepacked food. Information can be given in writing or verbally, as long as guests are clearly told where to get it – for example with a note on the menu.
- Prices: show final prices including VAT (btw).
- Printed alternative: keep a printed menu or well-informed staff available for guests without a smartphone.
Who is behind menuQR?
menuQR is an online service from Germany, developed and operated by thinkrs (owner: Robin Steppat). Venues across Europe set up their digital menu themselves – no on-site appointment needed. Support is available by email at support@menuqr.codes.
FAQ: QR code menus in Europe
All cities at a glance
- QR code menu Amsterdam
- QR code menu Barcelona
- QR code menu Berlin
- QR code menu Dublin
- QR code menu London
- QR code menu Madrid
- QR code menu Milan
- QR code menu Paris
- QR code menu Zurich
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Information on regulations is general guidance (as of October 2026), not legal advice.