How to Choose the Perfect Outdoor Cafe Furniture

Pop-up or permanent eating?

Are you furnishing a pop-up with a temporary licence or investing in cafe furniture for a permanent space – like a covered restaurant patio that could open all year? Tables and chairs for permanent spaces will be heavier and more solidly built.

Lightweight or heavyweight outdoor furniture

If you want outdoor restaurant furniture to stay in place all year with minimal movement, look for heavy pieces designed to age gracefully. Alternatively choose lighter designs and bring them in for extra seating at Christmas, or for functions.

Don’t buy temporary outdoor cafe furniture

Choose wisely and furnishings initially bought for pop-ups could be reused elsewhere throughout the winter event season, provided they look smart enough. Cheap garden furniture won’t have this flexibility and it will cost you money to store out of season.

Popular materials for outdoor cafe and restaurant furniture:

1. Plastic

Lightweight and low-maintenance – plastic cafe chairs are available in literally hundreds of colours. Materials like polypropylene can be reinforced with glass fibre for extra strength.

2. Steel

Often powder coated in bright or pastel colours for extra durability, this material makes lightweight and robust outdoor cafe furniture.

3. Wood

Treated wood tables and chairs work beautifully in selected outdoor settings, particularly with heavier furniture that is designed to stay put and create an aged effect as it weathers. Most will benefit from annual maintenance and some protection in winter.

4. Concrete

Ideal for heavy table bases designed for permanent use as outdoor restaurant furniture, this material is now often admired as a modern design statement in its own right.

What’s the best size for outdoor restaurant and cafe tables?

Offering a selection of smaller and larger or differently shaped outdoor cafe tables offers greater flexibility and helps to prevent customers rearranging the furniture to suit their own groups.

Types of cafe and bar table tops:

• Round

The smaller size means extra seating can be created in even the most awkwardly shaped rooms or outside spaces.

• Square

Traditional and easy to place, can seat two or four people depending on size and menu. Available with rounded corners for a softer look.

• Rectangular

Great for larger groups or communal seating with space for social distancing. Match with practical benches for the complete look.

Types of cafe and bar seating that work well outside:

Cafe chairs

Available in a huge range of colours and materials for indoor and outdoor use in hard-wearing plastics and polished, painted or coated metals. Most will stack for ease of cleaning.

Bar stools

Great space savers and available as high or low seating to match high tables and standard cafe tables. Styles are available with or without backs and arms.