CCTV for restaurants and hotels: how many cameras you need and where to put them
A typical restaurant / hotel needs about 7 CCTV cameras — 5 to cover the essentials (entrance, cashier / bar, dining area), up to 9 for complete coverage. Below is a placement map, the right camera type for each spot, a 8-channel recorder with 2 TB of storage and a complete kit with prices in Kenya.
Where to place CCTV cameras in a restaurant / hotel
Recommended plan for a medium-sized restaurant / hotel — 7 cameras. Numbers match the table below.
| # | Area | Camera | Qty | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EntranceEssential | Eyeball | 1 | Records everyone arriving and leaving. |
| 2 | Cashier / barEssential | Dome | 2 | Every bill and payment is recorded — the main control against cash losses. |
| 3 | Dining areaEssential | Fisheye | 2 | Covers the whole dining room from the ceiling. |
| 4 | Kitchen & stores | Dome | 2 | Hygiene, safety and stock control in the kitchen and food store. |
Which cameras to use
Eyeball (turret) camera
Compact 4MP camera with a wide 2.8 mm lens and infrared night vision. Easy to aim, no glare from the dome cover.
Best for: Entrances, receptions and doors — anywhere you need clear faces.
Vandal-proof dome camera
Tough, tamper-resistant dome housing that hides where the lens is pointing.
Best for: Tills, cash offices, corridors and anywhere within reach of people.
360° fisheye camera
Mounted on the ceiling, one fisheye camera sees the whole room with no blind spots.
Best for: Open shop floors, halls, open-plan offices and dining areas.
Recorder, storage and cabling
For 7 cameras use a 8-channel PoE NVR (it powers the cameras through the network cable) with a 2 TB surveillance hard drive — about 14 days of continuous 4MP recording. Allow roughly 270 m of Cat6 cable, and a UPS so the system keeps recording during power cuts.
Complete kit & prices
- Dahua IPC-HDW5442TM-ASE 4MP WizMind IR Eyeball Network Camera × 1 KSh 12,000
- Dahua IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE 4MP Vandal-proof Dome WizMind Network Camera × 4 KSh 112,000
- Dahua IPC-EW5541-AS 5MP WizMind IR Fisheye Network Camera × 2 KSh 50,000
- Dahua NVR5216-16P-EI 16-Channel 2HDD PoE Network Video Recorder × 1 KSh 45,000
- 2 TB surveillance hard drive (quoted) × 1 —
- Cat6 Outdoor Ethernet Cable × 1 KSh 10,000
- UPS backup power (1 kVA) (quoted) × 1 —
In-stock equipment: KSh 229,000+ 2 TB surveillance hard drive, UPS backup power (1 kVA) (quoted)
Adjust to your restaurant / hotel & add to cartFrequently asked questions
How many CCTV cameras does a restaurant need?
Usually 4 to 8: the entrance, the cashier or bar, one or two fisheye cameras over the dining area, the kitchen and stores, and the parking.
Can hotels put cameras in guest rooms?
No — cameras belong in public areas such as entrances, corridors, reception and parking, never inside guest rooms or washrooms.
What recorder and storage does a restaurant / hotel CCTV system need?
For about 7 cameras, a 8-channel PoE network video recorder (NVR) with a 2 TB surveillance hard drive keeps roughly 14 days of continuous 4MP footage.
Can Kefa Solutions install CCTV for my restaurant / hotel?
Yes. Kefa Solutions technicians survey the site, recommend camera positions, install and configure the system, and set up viewing on your phone. Use the CCTV planner to send your plan and request a call back.