Restaurant & Lounge Platform (Booking System, Admin Dashboard)

Project Description

I’m looking for a strong UI/UX designer (and ideally someone who can also build, or work closely with a developer) to help create a modern website and internal system for a restaurant/lounge business.

This isn’t just a basic website — the goal is to build something that actually supports the day-to-day running of the business while also giving customers a great experience.

On the front end, the site should feel premium and mobile-first. Customers should be able to book tables easily, see what’s going on (for example live sports, events or themed nights), and contact us quickly via WhatsApp or similar. We want it to feel more like a destination (sports lounge / social space), not just a standard restaurant website.

Bookings are a key part of this. I’d like the ability to take deposits for certain bookings (e.g. larger groups or busy nights), but also have the flexibility to override this when needed.

On the backend, I want a simple but powerful admin system where we can manage bookings, events and customers. Staff should also be able to log in — for example to clock in/out or record expenses during a shift, which can then be reviewed later.

Another important part is capturing customer data properly — for example through bookings or WiFi login — so we can use it later for marketing (email, SMS, offers, etc.).

We’ll also need to connect in some way with delivery platforms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat — even if it starts simple (links or basic integration).

Overall, I’m looking for someone who understands how to design and build systems — not just websites.

Key Features (Must Have)
Customer-facing website (premium, mobile-first design)
Table booking system (with optional deposits)
Ability to override booking rules (admin side)
Events & live sports display (e.g. football, boxing nights)
WhatsApp contact / QR integration
Customer data capture (for marketing use later)

Admin / Back Office:

Admin dashboard
Booking management
Event management
Customer management
Staff login (with basic tracking like clock-in/out)
Expense logging system (simple but usable)
Tech / Stack (Preferred – Open to Suggestions)

I’m open to recommendations, but I’d prefer this to be built as a modern custom platform rather than a basic WordPress site.

Preferred setup would be:

Frontend: Next.js / React, ideally deployed on Vercel
Backend: Node.js (Express, NestJS or similar), ideally hosted on Railway
Database: PostgreSQL (via Railway or Supabase)

The main priority is that it’s scalable, maintainable, and set up properly from the start. If you think there’s a better approach, I’m happy to hear it.

What I’m Looking For
Clean, premium UI (not template-based)
Strong UX thinking (customer + admin + staff journeys)
Someone who understands building platforms/systems
Ideally experience with dashboards, bookings or hospitality systems
Budget / Approach

This is a startup project, so I’m mindful of costs and looking for someone reasonable and practical to work with.

That said, I’m not looking for the cheapest option — I’d rather work with the right person and build this properly, with potential for ongoing work as the platform grows.

Deliverables
UI/UX designs (Figma preferred)
User flows / wireframes
Optional: Frontend or full build
Please Include
Examples of similar work (especially dashboards or booking systems)
How you would approach a project like this
Your availability and estimated timeline
Final Note

I’m not looking for a basic WordPress/Elementor-style site. I’d prefer a modern, scalable solution that can grow into a proper platform over time.