Restaurant Furniture Blog

Bar furniture is different than restaurant furniture in general. In restaurants you have to perform a fine juggling act. Get as many tables and as many seats into the available space as possible - without causing any discomfort for your diners. From your diners’ perspective, they want as much space as possible. When it comes to your bar area - the reverse is true. You can squeeze them in with a crowbar if necessary - forget the open spaces.

It’s true. At a bar people are used to sitting much closer. The bar itself becomes the table and people around part of the one big group. I probably went a little far in suggesting you squeeze them in. You do need a little elbow room, even if it is to raise the glass to your lips. You may need a little knee room as well, especially if you include swivel bar stools.

There is a big difference between the amount of space required in your dining room and the space required in a bar area. You can often do an experiment - place your bar stools about 4 feet apart then as the evening (or afternoon) evolves, watch how these stools seem to migrate along the bar. At some stage you will find the stools all bunched up with large empty spaces at one or both ends.

We humans are strange creatures. We will want to eat in private, often not even aware of our neighbors. We certainly wouldn’t strike up a conversation with them. Move us ten feet to the bar and suddenly the opposite is true - for some people, you wish you could stop them talking. Your bar furniture can help facilitate this interaction. Bar furniture that swivels, has arm rests and padded seats and backs encourages a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You certainly don’t have to be generous with your bar furniture spacing.