The ultimate café furniture buyer’s guide

When designing a café, there’s a lot to consider: what type of café will it be? What will you serve? Who’s your target audience? The answers you give to all of these questions will have a big impact on the type of furniture you buy.

Not only does café furniture provide somewhere for customers to sit and socialise, it helps create an atmosphere. Choosing the right pieces for your business is therefore vital.

In this guide, we will offer you advice on what type of furniture to purchase for your café based on its style and audience. 

International café

European-style cafés, particularly Italian and French, are very popular in the UK. They are casual and laid-back, and yet still feel classy and sophisticated. The international drinks and snacks you’ll serve will make customers feel like they’re on holiday abroad.

To achieve this atmosphere, something we often recommend our Napoli or Rio side chairs. They are simple, modern and attractive, and you can change the seat fabric to suit your café’s colour theme. Pair these chairs with our ornate rectangular bar table with decorative centre or a simple bistro table for a great look.

Of course, you don’t have to go with a European theme. We also stock American diner-style furniture. Our American Diner stools, chairs and benches come in a red and white or black and white stripe design and will transport any space back into the 1950s.

British breakfast café

British consumers can’t get enough of the traditional fry-up, so it’s no surprise that all-day breakfast cafés do so well in the UK. Though they can vary from budget eateries to more refined affairs, they are typically very casual, friendly places. 

Your furniture should reflect your casual café: try wooden shell chairs like the Catania or Roma furniture ranges. Match the chrome legs of these chairs with our fermo pedestal or pyramid tables for an aligned look. 

Bakery café

If the focus of your café is delicious cake and other sweet treats, you’ll want to create somewhere that’s family-friendly, quaint and charming. Young, hip families frequent these types of cafés, so you’ll want to draw them in with more than just great cake. Think pastel colours and comfortable seating that encourages long dwell times.

For a traditional look, opt for solid wood chairs, such as the attractive fanback stacking chairs or simpler crossback alternatives. These chairs are easy to move around, allowing you to create larger seating areas for coffee morning groups. They also look great with our bentwood and wellington tables. Don’t forget to purchase some highchairs too!

Quirky café

Every town and city is overflowing with cafés and coffee shops, so why not do something a bit different? Quirky cafés, such as the cereal café in London, appeal to a younger crowd looking for the next hot place to eat or drink. Think bright colours, retro furniture and signage and anything that will make your café stand out on the high street.

Our steel legged Roma stacking chairs and stools are sure to catch the eyes of your customers. They come in eight different colours, so you can stick to a particular colour theme or mix and match for a more fun appearance. These retro chairs and stools are also stackable and can be used outside, as they won’t fade in the sunlight. They look great with our Bella or alma café tables.

Fast food café

Cafés that target the commuters rushing to and from work who just want a quick coffee or sandwich might not be too concerned about providing seating for its customers, but not everyone wants to eat or drink on the go.

Focus on providing cost-effective yet functional seating options, such as our Monza or Dakota bar stools. They are perfect if you only have a small space to work with, as you can fit more seats in. Pair them with alma poseur tables.

Outdoor café

If your café has an outside space, whether on the street or in a dedicated garden, you’re going to need some outdoor furniture. Luckily, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to rust-proof, UV-protected and water-resistant seating.

Our Monaco aluminium stacking chairs are a simple and cost-effective option. They also come in wicker versions if you’d like to make your customers a bit more comfortable. Stackable chairs are easy to clear away when you need to, allowing you to transform outdoor spaces quickly for events and other special occasions. Our rossa stacking tables are the perfect accompaniment! 

Whatever type of café you decide to create, we wish you all the best with your new business. If you’d like further advice, check out the guides below or get in touch – we’re more than happy to help.

•    Choose the best outdoor café furniture for your terrace
•    How do restaurant and café furniture differ?
•    How to design and run a successful restaurant – a comprehensive guide
 

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