What is the Best Seating in a Restaurant?

One of the primary concerns in restaurant design is the seating arrangement. The right restaurant seating arrangement plan will affect the customer's happiness, comfort, and even mood. The different types of seating furniture and their positioning affect the length of time a guest spends in a restaurant as well as the time he spends there. Whatever the type of dining area, whether indoor or outdoor, it is important to arrange the right furniture and space for the comfort of consumers.

In this blog post, the different types of seating furniture will be analyzed and the advantages and disadvantages of indoor and outdoor dining arrangements will be discussed, along with several practical tips to improve your restaurant's seating arrangement. 

The Importance of a Thoughtful Restaurant Seating Arrangement Plan

The optimal restaurant seating arrangement plan is as functional as it is beautiful. Yes, you want the restaurant to be visually appealing, but it is important to understand that the premises should be sensible and easy to operate. If the seating area is uncomfortable or poorly arranged, customers will not be happy and that means you will suffer a loss. On the other hand, the free planning layout lets the guest eat their meal and spend most of their time on the premises, so increased sales.

Restaurants need to consider certain factors when planning their seating arrangement. Among them, you can identify such as the concept of the restaurant, what audience it attracts, the square footage of the area to be covered, the type of food, and even the traffic pattern of guests in the dining section. If so, taking these factors into account, you can design the optimal seating plan as a perfect solution for customers.

Types of Seating Furniture for Restaurants

Choosing the type of seating furniture is very important in the case of dining and this section elaborates on it. The choice will largely depend on your restaurant’s concept and target audience, but some general categories of seating options include:

Dining Chairs

The most common products are dining chairs which are used regularly in most restaurants. They are usually located near the dining tables in the main dining hall and can be designed to complement the overall tone of the restaurant, such as traditional or modern, or even an unusual theme.

• Pros: Offered in many different styles, material types, and looks. Optionally, they can be padded for comfort, and if necessary, armrests can be included to ensure backing.
• Cons: If they are too large, they can limit the number of seats in the dining area thereby affecting the overall business of the restaurant. Also, chairs with armrests are not very friendly with space limitations for obvious reasons.

Bar Stools

Most styles of bar stools can be used for restaurants with bar sections, long tables, or counters. They are more comfortable seating furniture and can be best used where space is an issue

• Pros: They occupy less space than dining chairs hence are suitable for areas with limited space. Barstools make the place pleasant and socialist.
• Cons: May be less comfortable than dining chairs for lengthy periods of time.  Some guests will get uncomfortable on swivel and backless bar stools.

Booths

Booths are perfect for restaurants where people want to feel as comfortable as possible. Most booths are upholstered and represent comfortable seating for groups of people.

• Pros: It provides a situation where they can eat and drink privately and comfortably. This means that booths can accommodate noise to avoid interference that is common for families and larger groups.
• Cons: Booths require more space to accommodate than chairs and tables, so adequate seating may not be provided. They are also not very convenient to use, in the sense that the physical arrangement of the seating cannot be easily modified.

Benches

Benches are mostly used for seating in cafes and bistros, although they can also be placed in areas where people dine in larger groups. Such chairs can be paired with long tables so that many guests can be accommodated at once.

• Pros:  Ideal for designing to accommodate the maximum number of guests possible within an efficient space and area. It is highly suitable for casual dining and is perfect for casual wear and dining.
• Cons:  It offers less personal comfort and is inconvenient for guests to move around, especially if it is installed against a wall.

Restaurants Outdoor Seating vs. Indoor Seating

Since restaurants have indoor and outdoor seating, this can be an added advantage for customers who prefer this type of seating arrangement. Their selection will therefore depend on the region of the restaurant, whether it is in a cold or hot climate, and the theme of the restaurant.

Restaurants Indoor Seating

The most common type of seating arrangement adopted by most is restaurant's indoor seating. They are more flexible – allowing control over the climate, lighting, and the type of music being played. As for the layout of an interior seating concept, several factors must be considered including the space between tables, chairs, and any other features that may be incorporated into the design.

• Advantages:
• Controlled Environment: Indoor seating provides a constant environment and maintained lighting which complements the entire establishment’s atmosphere.
• Privacy: Comfortable indoor seating solutions can also provide customers with a greater level of privacy.
• Design Flexibility: This is a good aspect because in inside design and decoration, there is a lot of freedom as other as to ensure that the restaurant environment promotes the theme of the restaurant.
• Disadvantages:
• Limited Views: Indoor seating may not be so much as laden with scenes of the environment as outdoor seating may be. 
• Space Limitations: There may be restrictions from the construction of the building to the number of people who can sit on the chairs. 

Restaurants Outdoor Seating

The ambiance of the Restaurant's outdoor seating is a different paradigm, which is calm and lively. Outdoor seating is also an important concern because if your restaurant is near a beautiful place or park or has a good view then customers will like it. However, there are some disadvantages to outdoor seating arrangements, for example, it can be sunny and noisy.

• Advantages:
• Scenic Views: Outdoor dining allows customers to see the surrounding environment; a factor that makes the dining occasion valuable. 
• Natural Lighting: Eating out is less formal than a home setting; light from the sun and fresh air increases the comfort feeling during the meal.
• Additional Seating Capacity: Outdoor seating will enable the business to serve more customers during busy periods because of limited indoor space.
• Disadvantages:
• Weather Dependency: Outdoor dining arrangements are weather-dependent. For example, when it is raining, windy, or very hot, people do not feel comfortable eating outside.
• Noise Distractions: In some cases, outside noises such as traffic can be heard and disturb customers.

Factors That Make Restaurant Seating Comfortable

Seating comfort is one of the important attributes of restaurant seating since it has a direct impact on the meal. Here are some of the main aspects that affect the comfort level of restaurant seating:

• Seat Cushioning and Back Support: Well-cushioned and back-supported seats help guests spend a lot of time on them and enjoy their meals.
• Table Height and Spacing: It is also important to see that the height of the table is appropriate according to the chairs or stools used in that particular table. Adequate distance between tables also protects patrons from the feeling of Roosevelt violation.
• Ergonomic Design: Seats should be ergonomic for the positions usually adopted by the body, especially for restaurants where guests spend a lot of time.
• Material and Texture: Upholstered seats have a skin feel and are more comfortable than other hard materials. However, in some informal environments, wooden or metal seating may fit the restaurant theme.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best seating arrangement for the seats varies according to the kind of restaurant, its clientele, and the area of the restaurant. When selecting dining chairs, bar stools, booths, etc, the concept regarding the restaurant should be considered. Similarly, optimizing the physical interiors by providing the option of both indoor and outdoor dining can increase customer happiness.

If you are looking for the most suitable seating furniture for your restaurant seating arrangement, it's time to visit the Wholesale Bar Stool Club. Our products provide the comfortable and stylish seating solutions you need in your restaurant.