Eat, drink and be stylish

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Butterfly from Carpe Diem.

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Deauville from Carpe Diem.

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Butterfly from Carpe Diem.

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VIP container set from Bin Hendi’s Moooi Collection.

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Multiconcept chairs from Fenabel.

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Andy Thornton furniture at HD One Bar & Lounge.

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Andy Thornton furniture at Quo Vadis Restaurant.

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A successful restaurant, café or bar needs a recipe of different ingredients for the perfect mix. Food and drink quality and presentation; the service staff; price and the interior design all play their part, as does the style of furniture incorporated into the design, whether it be dining chairs, tables or barstools.

The required atmosphere and consequently design style of a hospitality venue is often dependant on the social group it wants to target. So a more mature clientele will be looking for comfort and relaxation, while a younger crowd is likely to prefer more innovation and interaction and this will affect the choice of furniture. But overall the furniture chosen should be attractive, create an inviting atmosphere and serve its function.

Lucie Bartle, marketing co-ordinator, Andy Thornton, agrees the type of atmosphere of the location will have the biggest impact on the choice of furniture for food and beverage outlets. She says: "Considerations when specifying furniture largely depend on the atmosphere the client wishes to evoke. This determines the size, colour and the configuration of the furniture. The size of the space is also important as well as the size of parties that are likely to use it." And of course it goes without saying that the choice of furniture should be comfortable given that eating and drinking out is meant to be an enjoyable experience. Ahmad Al Shafeai, Al Aqili Furnishings explains: "When choosing furniture for restaurants we have to choose cosier and more comfortable furniture which maintains healthy positions for dining. Furniture selection in restaurants, bars and cafés can be either contemporary or classic but should always match the theme or type of cuisine of the restaurant."

Considerations

Kamal Helou, interior designer, Carpe Diem, considers the basics when looking into buying furniture for food and beverage outlets. He says: "For cafés I would say go for low seating like benches combined with low tables allowing people to engage in conversation. For bars, high chairs and tables allow free movement to roam around and bar stools against the main bar are a must. For restaurants it's the usual dining set of table and chairs to fit small or large groups. Long benches are also something that you should think about."

But with the amount of human traffic that this type of furniture will inevitably receive, the practicalities must not be overlooked, as Steel Olsen of Moroso explains: "Choosing furniture for restaurants, cafés and bars depends on the type and style of the space in question but designers have to consider the practical side regarding cleanliness and durability. Also some of these areas are used for other functions and cleaning will take place on a frequent basis, so the furniture shouldn't be too heavy and you might want them to be stackable. If the chairs are upholstered then they should be easy to wipe down."

Veenu Kanwar of Warps and Wefts adds that an initial higher investment may be needed if the furniture is to last: "In addition to aesthetics, the durability aspect needs to be kept in mind considering the use. Durable furniture that can withstand the rigours of 24/7 use reduces the expenses associated with repairs and replacements."

She advises designers to value quality over price: "When evaluating cost, the lowest price doesn't necessarily equate to the best value or return on investment. The use of certain finishes or fabrics may cost more up front, but over time will extend both the life and performance of the furniture."

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