Commercial Patio Furniture Overview
Adding restaurant patio furniture to an outdoor space enables you to expand your seating capacity while also drawing attention to your establishment. When the weather allows it, customers may prefer dining outside, so furnishing your patio with attractive pieces can help ensure these patrons are accommodated and comfortable. Knowing what type of commercial patio furniture is best for your business is important for finding pieces that match your establishment's theme and can endure your area's weather conditions. Below, we'll cover the types of patio furniture available and how they can benefit your business.
Outdoor Patio Tables
Outdoor restaurant tables are designed to withstand heat, rain, and snow, making them a great addition to restaurant patios, bistros, and ice cream shops. These tables come in several different sizes, styles, and materials. They typically sit at standard dining or bar height and may be square, rectangular, or circular. While steel and metal are the most common patio table materials, resin and plastic are also available. To prevent the accumulation of rain or snow, steel and metal tables often have a mesh top that could also feature a hole in the center to hold a patio umbrella.
Commercial Patio Seating
Outdoor patio chairs come in several styles to match any restaurant's concept. These chairs pair with standard dining-height tables and are usually made of steel or aluminum, though plastic chairs are also available. Some of these chairs can be stacked to streamline cleaning duties. Along with restaurant chairs, there are commercial chairs designed specifically for poolside applications in community centers, country clubs, or gyms as well as canvas folding seats made for stadiums.
Outdoor bar stools can help increase alcohol sales without expanding your interior bar area. Unlike their indoor counterparts, these bar stools are built to withstand excessive use and wear from poor weather conditions. Though they typically have backs for support, some outdoor bar stools are backless to easily fit underneath counters or bar-height dining tables when they aren't being used. To streamline outdoor cleaning, many of these bar stools are stackable, so they can be stored away during the colder months.
For a more interesting patio layout, outdoor benches can be paired with tables or used as seating for guests waiting on a table or a to-go order. Typically, outdoor benches have horizontal slats or a mesh design to drain rain and snow, though some benches may feature an intricate wicker design – ideal for casual cafes and restaurants. To prevent theft, vandalism, and annoying wobbly seats, many of these outdoor benches can be bolted to the ground.
To add variation to your outdoor patio, these pieces can be combined to create an interesting and dynamic space.
Patio Umbrellas & Heaters
Uncovered restaurant patios can benefit from adding patio umbrellas to provide shade for their guests. Patio umbrellas are usually placed in the center of an outdoor table and are supported by a base to prevent wobbling. Available in several colors, these umbrellas are a great addition to cafes, public swimming pools, and other eateries wanting to give their guests a more comfortable outdoor dining experience.
If your restaurant plans to offer outdoor service during the colder months, investing in a patio heater will help keep customers comfortable while at your establishment. There are freestanding and ceiling-mounted units available, with freestanding units being ideal for mobility and ceiling-mounted heaters being a more permanent solution. Commercial patio heaters also help limit the amount of ice and snow that accumulates on your patio.
