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What Are The Different Types Of Chairs Used In Restaurants?

When you walk into a restaurant, one of the first things you notice is the seating. Whether it’s a cosy café with plush armchairs or a bustling dining room with stylish, upholstered chairs, the furniture plays a big role in shaping the overall experience.

Restaurant chairs do so much more than provide people with a place to sit. They set the tone, reflect your brand, and endure daily use – all while keeping your guests comfortable. From casual eateries to high-end dining rooms, the right choice of dining chair helps bring a restaurant’s vision to life.

So, what types of restaurant chairs are out there? And how do you choose the best seats for your dining space? Let’s look into the options.

Hatton cafe tables and chairs design in blue and black combination

Why does the type of restaurant chair matter?

Restaurant chairs aren’t just part of the décor. They shape how guests experience your dining space. Whether you’re furnishing a casual café, a fine dining restaurant, or a bistro, the type of chair you choose directly affects customer satisfaction, turnover rate, and even how long guests stay. The right restaurant furniture can place your guests at ease during their meal which can turn first-time guests into regular visitors.

Well-chosen contract furniture supports the purpose of your space. From ergonomics to materials, every detail contributes to the performance and perception of your restaurant. A chair that complements the environment not only enhances the dining experience, but also reflects your brand’s identity and values. What would a 50s-style diner be without retro booths or bar stools? No garden room or conservatory dining space would be complete without a rattan chair. Your choice of restaurant chair really matters to the overall experience.

What to consider when choosing restaurant dining chairs

Comfort

If you want your customers to stick around, it’s important they feel comfortable. Comfort plays a key role in how long guests linger and how likely they are to return. Look for ergonomic chairs with proper backrests for support, especially in full-service restaurants. Upholstered seating with padding may be more appropriate for longer dining experiences, while lighter, minimalist options work well in faster-paced eating environments.

Style

Your furniture should reinforce your brand. Chairs are one of the most visible elements in a dining space and can set the tone for your entire restaurant aesthetic. Are you going for rustic charm, urban industrial style, mid-century modern, coastal chic or something eclectic? High quality leather dining chairs fit better in an upscale environment than a casual cafe. Conversely, wicker would suit a conservatory cafe chair or sofa, but would jar as sophisticated restaurant seating.

Choosing styles, colours, and finishes that align with your overall concept can enhance the ambiance and set the tone for the entire dining experience.

Durability

Restaurant chairs see heavy daily use and need to be built to last. Contract furniture’s specifically designed for high-traffic environments and is tested to commercial standards. Materials and construction need to be assessed for strength and longevity. Chairs should resist scratches, stains and structural wear, especially in high-turnover or family-friendly venues.

Don’t choose dining tables or chairs that you’d like in your home. They serve very different purposes. At home, they may get used for an hour a day or only on special social occasions. In a cafe or restaurant, many people will eat and drink at a table and sit in your chairs throughout the day. Restaurant table tops need to be cleaned frequently. The chairs are moved and sat upon endlessly. That’s a very different usage from your comfy armchair or wooden chair at the kitchen table.

Materials

From wood and metal to plastic and upholstery, your furniture’s materials influence everything from maintenance to mood, flexibility to function.

Location

Indoor and outdoor furniture require different performance characteristics. Outdoor chairs must be weather-resistant and easy to clean. If you choose metal chairs for outdoor dining, they must resist corrosion. Any fabric upholstery must repel the rain – an inevitability in the UK.

If you have a bistro for example, you may choose retro wooden chairs inside with lightweight chairs with a metal frame for your outdoor dining space.

Is your dining space purely used for that purpose? If you need versatility in your seating configuration; to create space for other activities; then lightweight and stackable chairs are a practical option.

Hatton cafe design interior trends setting

Common types of restaurant chairs

Depending on the concept and function of your dining setting, common chair types include:

British Standards for restaurant furniture

In the UK, the health and safety requirements for contract furniture apply to dining chairs. Some of the most important specify the following:

Case study: Cadbury

Cadbury chose KI Furniture for restaurant chairs and office storage solutions at its heritage office in Bournville, Birmingham.

In the restaurant, 300 of KI’s Maestro chairs were installed in a specific palette of Pantone colours to complement Cadbury’s citrus colours of lemon yellow, orange and lime green. Maestro chairs can be stacked to a height of 38 on a mobile dolly. This provides Cadbury with versatility and they can use the chairs quickly and flexibly for varied occasions.

Which restaurant chairs suit your business needs?

Whether you have a chic bistro, casual gastropub or high end restaurant, you need to choose the right dining chairs to suit your venue. At KI, we’ve spent decades designing furniture that meets each sector’s specific requirements for aesthetics, durability, functionality, flexibility and safety.

You can trust our versatile restaurant furniture to meet your specific requirements.