Cafe Furniture vs Restaurant Furniture

When it comes to buying furniture for your café or restaurant you may think that cost is the main thing to focus on, rather than the aesthetics. However, there are quite a few differences between café furniture and restaurant furniture, so it’s important to know what to look out for. Here we talk about what distinguishes each type and what to look out for when shopping around.

Café furniture

Café furniture is arguably going to face more tests on a daily basis than a restaurant, as footfall happens throughout the day with customers on their feet and using indoor and outdoor furniture. The hustle and bustle of a café usually tends to be different to most restaurants, with people popping in and out quickly and sometimes delivery drivers coming in and out to collect new orders.

Due to the faster pace of a café, the furniture does need to be too upmarket or upholstered. Practicality wins the day in this type of environment, and providing the commercial café chairs are comfortable, able to accommodate someone sitting down and not cheaply made, this is more than adequate. You can find high quality furniture that fits this description and without breaking the bank.

Café furniture tends to be lighter in colour (although this comes down to the aesthetics of the space) and more modern in design. In general terms, you could class it as more informal, which is the type of atmosphere you would expect in most cafés.

You’ll also find that most café tables are smaller than what you’ll find in a restaurant. Modern café tables with smartly finished wood veneer tops and metal legs are commonplace, while traditional wooden and cast-iron designs are still used by many establishments today.

For customers who are popping in for a quick coffee break or only need to be seated for a short while, coffee shop furniture such as stools are a good idea around the service counter. Communal tables have also become popular in recent years, allowing customers to share a single, large table (or several smaller tables brought together), which is ideal for individual couples or even those in groups of two or three.

Restaurant furniture

Customers that head out to a restaurant are heading there with a certain expectation in mind. After all, eating out is a treat, even if it’s a burger bar, so the restaurant furniture needs to ensure they have an extra level of comfort. Of course, customer service and the food they eat will determine most of that, but their first impression will come from how the interior looks and feels once seated.

While restaurants do not experience as much footfall as cafes, even the smallest of establishments tend to get busy. So, while comfort is important, practicality also has to be considered with dozens of covers using the same restaurant furniture throughout the day. Even upholstered restaurant tables and chairs should be easy to clean and maintain and able to handle spillages and general wear and tear that is bound to happen.

Furniture for restaurant spaces tend to be more classic in style and that is often reflected in the colour tones. The setting is usually more formal, so darker woods and metals are used to create a different ambience compared to a café.

Restaurant tables are larger than café tables to accommodate the type of food being served. At a café it is mostly pastries and smaller bites to eat that are served, while a restaurant provides larger plates of food. Tables for four people are also common and with starters, desserts and drinks being served, more is needed for people to be able to enjoy the cuisine on offer.

Sustainability

Many cafés and restaurants are turning to eco-friendly furniture for their establishments. It’s a good idea to look for restaurant and café furniture suppliers that can provide this option if it is important to you. For wooden furniture it means the wood has been taken from responsibly managed sources, where felled trees are replaced. Sustainable furniture is a good fit if this is central to the theme of your business, for example, if you use organic ingredients and promote healthy eating, expanding the brand image into every aspect of your café or restaurant makes sense.

Summary

When comparing café furniture and restaurant furniture, there is no clear winner, as it all comes down to which one suits the type of establishment you own. There is also a crossover point, of sorts, between the two. For example, if the restaurant is more informal and offers street food-style cuisine, the furniture will likely be more relaxed and closer in style to that of a café.

Similarly, a café that is looking to create a premium brand may spend money on the type of chairs you’d usually find in a restaurant. So, while there are typical types of furniture you’ll find in a café or restaurant, it all comes down to the preferred style, budget and requirements of the customer.

Get started on your breakout room design

Spaceist is an established restaurant furniture supplier that works with all types of cafés and restaurants. Whether you are refurbing an existing space or looking to build a brand new breakout space, we can help you find the right furniture to suit your design ideas. Take a look at our website or come and visit us at our 2,5000 sq. ft. showroom. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.