Introduction
Monte Mar, part of the prestigious ONYRIA Group, is more than just a restaurant — it’s a synonym for fresh seafood, sea views, and a true gastronomic experience that celebrates the authentic flavours of Portugal.
With more than three decades of offline success, Monte Mar has earned loyal followers among both locals and tourists. However, when it came to online visibility, the brand was missing a key ingredient: a strong digital presence in search engines.
At a time when most customers search on Google, Google Maps, and even ChatGPT before choosing where to dine, even the best restaurants can go unnoticed without proper SEO. That’s when Monte Mar partnered with WonderAds to elevate its digital presence to match its real-world reputation.
“We’ve been invisible in search engines. That’s why we asked for your help.”
— João Pinto Coelho, Commercial Director of the ONYRIA Group, in an interview with WonderAds for YouTube.
The Challenge
Despite its excellent reputation and enviable locations in Lisbon, Cascais, and Lagos, the Monte Mar chain faced serious digital challenges:
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The website wasn’t ranking for crucial search terms (keywords) such as “seafood restaurant Lisbon” or “restaurant with sea view Cascais.”
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The existing pages needed keyword optimisation and weren’t structured according to SEO best practices. Some pages didn’t even have a target keyword.
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Organic traffic had stagnated, and most of the customer base was coming from direct searches or offline word-of-mouth.
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New pages weren’t being indexed quickly (as the website wasn’t using Google Search Console), and performance insights showed low engagement on the main landing pages.
For a brand that had built its name on quality, location, and service, this online invisibility represented a missed opportunity.
The WonderAds SEO Approach
WonderAds began with a clear mission: to transform Monte Mar’s digital presence into a true reflection of its offline excellence. From the very beginning, the goal was to ensure that both the website and SEO strategy reflected the same level of quality that Monte Mar restaurants deliver in every service and every meal.
Step 1: Fixing All Technical SEO Issues (Technical SEO)
Before any SEO optimisation, it’s part of our standard process to fix all existing errors on the client’s website — whether technical or not.Since 2023, as an SEO agency, we’ve made this step mandatory in our roadmaps, as almost every new project had small technical adjustments that the original web design teams hadn’t considered.
We carried out an in-depth audit of Monte Mar’s website to identify indexing errors, slow-loading pages, and low responsiveness on mobile devices and tablets. Fixing these technical obstacles ensured that search engines could properly index all the content.
Step 2: On-Page SEO Optimisation
Many of Monte Mar’s key landing pages were underperforming due to weak metadata, poor keyword alignment, and shallow content. We optimised titles and meta descriptions to increase keyword clarity and relevance. We updated the content to align it with actual search intent and improved internal linking between city-specific pages (Lisbon, Cascais, and Lagos).
Once this phase was completed, we ensured that the content on each page (headers, meta tags, paragraphs, etc.) was fully optimised for the defined keywords.
For example, the pages targeting the Lisbon area now included meta tags with essential terms such as “Seafood Restaurant Lisbon” and “Seaside Dinner Lisbon.”
Step 3: Keyword Strategy and Content Roadmap
We created a detailed keyword map based on search behaviour in both English and Portuguese.
Next, we updated or created targeted pages (new landing pages) for:
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Local search terms like “seafood restaurant Cascais” and “best seafood restaurant Lisbon.”
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Business/event keywords such as “corporate event venue Lisbon” and “company parties in Lisbon.”
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Experience-based searches like “dinner with river view Lisbon” and “seaside dining Cascais.”
With the increase in the number of optimised landing pages and the consistent publication of blog articles, we demonstrated to Google that Monte Mar is an authority – fully deserving of appearing among the top search results.
“In SEO, it’s essential to understand that our role is to prove to search engines that a website deserves that position.”
— André Pavlenco, Operations Director at WonderAds
Step 4: Off-Page SEO and Link Building
To strengthen the domain’s digital authority, we implemented a high-quality link-building strategy focused on well-known gastronomy blogs, tourism portals, and Portuguese media outlets.
Backlinks are one of the most important pillars of SEO. In our sales team, we often explain this to clients with a simple analogy: “If several doctors cite a particular doctor’s articles, that professional naturally gains more authority in their field.” It’s the same with websites — the more quality references and mentions a site receives, the greater its authority in Google’s eyes. That’s why we always emphasise creating backlinks on partner sites, ensuring our clients’ websites build a solid and trustworthy reputation.
Step 5: Creating a Wikipedia Page and Continuing the Project to This Day
In 2025, the partnership remains strong and continues to generate positive results for both sides.The most recent milestone, as of this article, was the creation of an official Wikipedia page for the ONYRIA Group, available here.
This is a highly significant step for the group’s online reputation and, consequently, for the Monte Mar chain – now mentioned on one of the most credible and recognised platforms in the world – Wikipedia.
The Results
After months of focused effort, the results were undeniable:
1. Organic Traffic Growth
Monte Mar saw a 152% increase in organic website traffic in under a year:
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- October 2024: 1,341 monthly visits
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- August 2025: 3,378 monthly visits
This growth wasn’t driven by paid advertising but achieved organically, from users actively searching for exactly what Monte Mar offers.
2. Top Keyword Rankings
Through consistent optimisation, Monte Mar achieved:
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14 keywords in the Top 3 positions on Google- 22 keywords ranking on Page 1 (Top 10 results)
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8 more keywords on Page 2–3, with potential to climb higher in the following months
Examples of high-performing keywords:
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“Seaside dining Cascais” – 3rd position
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“Grilled fish Lagos” – 4th position
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“Seafood restaurant Lisbon” – 5th position
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“Fish restaurant Lagos” – 6th position
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“Best seafood restaurant Cascais” – 8th position
(Many others are still being optimised to this day.)
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In Lisbon alone, where competition exceeds 8,000 other restaurants – Monte Mar is ranking for one of the most competitive keywords: “Traditional Portuguese restaurant,” currently in 11th place without paid ads, almost reaching the first page. We expect to reach that goal very soon.
3. Better On-Site Engagement
With pages now better aligned with user search intent, visitors are spending more time on the site, exit rates have decreased, and internal navigation has become more fluid – all clear signs of a healthier and more engaging website.
What Made the Difference?
The success didn’t come from guesswork — it came from strategy.
Three things set WonderAds apart:
Localized SEO
We don’t just optimise for general terms; we tailor each client’s strategy to their specific locations — as with Monte Mar’s restaurants in Lisbon, Cascais, and Lagos — knowing that tourists and locals search differently.
Bilingual Execution
Keywords were prioritised in both English and Portuguese, allowing the client to capture both domestic and international traffic.
Continuous Optimisation
SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” service. We review rankings weekly, adjust strategies monthly, and continuously improve underperforming pages.
Client Testimonial
“So far, it’s been really great. We’ve noticed major improvements, especially in our restaurant business.
We’ve seen a significant evolution in our Google rankings and also realised that we’ve become much more visible to the public.”
— João Pinto Coelho, Commercial Director of the ONYRIA Group, in an interview with WonderAds for YouTube.
Conclusion
Monte Mar is no longer just a famous local brand with 35 years of history – it is now a brand with strong online visibility and fully optimised digital presence for search.
By combining technical precision, localized SEO, and a bilingual strategy, WonderAds helped Monte Mar turn its reputation for quality and excellence into measurable digital growth.
Monte Mar’s case proves that when SEO is guided by data, strategy, and continuous optimisation, even the most traditional businesses can stand out online – just as they do in the real world.
