Furniture Essentials for Your Restaurant Patio
For businesses, small and large, outdoor patio furniture is a great way to increase profits during the summer. The weather is more enjoyable and people love the sunshine while indulging in a delicious meal. To make the most of this outdoor dining area, it is necessary to have the furniture essentials for keeping customers comfortable. Customers will have a positive experience worth sharing if they are happy. The essentials of a restaurant patio will help make customers happy and keep them coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant Patio Furniture Essentials
Pick seat types, shapes, and easy-clean tops. Choose individual or bench seating; select round or rectangular tables that fit your layout. Keep paths clear so servers can carry platters safely. Glass tops wipe quickly and protect wicker from trapped food. Patio Productions sizes sets for smooth service.
Comfort keeps guests outside—and happy. Even in summer, nights can turn chilly, and coastal winds add a bite. Patio heaters are essential to a successful restaurant patio, extending hours and helping guests enjoy the space after dark. Patio Productions helps pair heat to footprint.
They ease waits and free up tables. Use outdoor sofas for pre-meal drinks and post-dinner lounging. Cocktail-height tables aren’t for full meals, but they’re perfect for beverages and small bites—freeing dining tables for new parties. Patio Productions selects durable lounge groupings for traffic.
Warmth + a stylish social hub. Like heaters, a fire table keeps clients happy when temperatures drop. It becomes a focal point where people naturally gather and chat. Unique designs make a statement and set the mood. Patio Productions can anchor layouts with fire features.
Yes—shade keeps patios usable on hot days. Many guests love the outdoors but dislike direct sun. Umbrellas and sturdy bases provide comfort and extend seating in heat. Several dining sets include umbrella holes for easy integration. Patio Productions matches canopies to your seating plan.
Covers + storage bins = longer life. Use furniture covers during extreme heat or cold, and store cushions in dedicated bins to keep them fresh. HDPE items are highly durable and resist fading and cracking. Patio Productions recommends simple, long-wear care routines.
Add a bar, bistro sets, and a fountain. A patio bar creates extra revenue before and after meals. Compact bistro sets tuck away for intimate drinks or appetizers. Outdoor fountains enhance mood and serve as social focal points. Plus: excellent customer service—every patio needs it.
Dining Sets
First and foremost, customers need a place to sit down and eat their meals. Outdoor dining sets come in various styles to match different design tastes and accommodate small to large groups of people. Consider choosing between individual seating and bench-style seating. Bench seating allows more intimacy, but it may be difficult to get up from the table with large parties. Consider the layout of the patio to determine whether round or rectangular tables would be a better fit. Remember that waiters/waitresses need to be able to navigate the area while carrying large platters of food and drinks. Dining sets with glass tops are easy to clean between parties and can be quickly wiped down. Glass table tops protect wicker from food particles that become trapped between the weaves and lead to unsanitary conditions.
6 Seat Parlor Dining Set by Harmonia Living
Patio Heaters
Patio heaters are essential to a successful restaurant patio design. Customers may be reluctant to dine outside if they fear being cold or getting sick. Even during the summer, nighttime temperatures can get to an uncomfortable level. For restaurants in coastal areas, outdoor heaters are necessary to deal with the chilly offshore winds.
Sofa Sets
To keep customers comfortable as they wait for a table, an outdoor sofa set would work great for a restaurant patio. Sofa sets are great for socializing and enjoying drinks before a meal. The tables that come with sofa sets are too low for a proper meal but work great for putting down drinks and small appetizers. After a meal, sofa sets can be used to lounge outside and socialize. This will free up tables for waiting for customers as well.
7 Pc. Arden Eclipse Sectional Set
Fire Table
Just like an outdoor heater, a fire table will help keep clients happy when the temperature drops. On top of that, they can be a stylish focal point or social hub. People love hanging around a fire and chatting about everyday life. Fire pits with unique designs make a statement and show off personal tastes. Fire is also very effective for creating and enhancing the mood or atmosphere.
Mezzo Square Propane Fire Table
Furniture Covers & Cushion Storage
To protect your investment, patio furniture covers will keep outdoor furniture looking new for many years. During times of extreme heat and cold, it is better to keep the furniture covered and protect it from the elements. Nevertheless, items made from HDPE are highly durable and resistant to fading and cracking. Learn more about HDPE in our previous post. Cushions should also be protected so we recommend putting them away in designated storage bins. Learn more about how to protect outdoor furniture.
Caja Wicker Cushion Storage Box
Patio Bar
A patio bar is a great way to create additional revenue for a restaurant. They extend the dining experience by including either pre or post-dinner drinks. Customers can order appetizers at the bar or get that dessert they forgot to order after the meal. Maybe even both. Check out our previous post on How to Design a Patio Bar.
Bistro Sets
Just like sofa sets, a bistro set is a great way to let customers enjoy a drink and appetizer while waiting for a table. Bistro sets don’t take up much space and can be tucked away to create an intimate space for two. They are also great for customers who just want to order drinks but don’t want to sit at the bar.
Patio Umbrella & Base
Many people love the outdoors but hate being in the sun. For these people, it is necessary to have patio umbrellas to keep them happy and comfortable. On days of extreme heat, the patio could go completely unused despite being a perfectly clear day. For these types of occasions, it is necessary to have an effective way of keeping people cool under the shade. Some of our outdoor dining sets include holes for umbrellas, such as the Urbana Square Dining Set.
11 Ft. Octagon Cantilever Umbrella by Frankford
Outdoor Fountains
Much like a fire pit, an outdoor fountain does wonders for enhancing mood and creating a relaxing and inviting environment. They also serve as a focal point for social interaction, much like the office water cooler. A stylish outdoor fountain can also make a statement by using a creative and unique design.
Excellent Customer Service
These essentials of a restaurant patio won’t be put to use without the basics of great customer service. This is what every single patio needs in order to be successful, there is no getting around it.
To maintain a competitive edge, many restaurants are incorporating patios into the design of their space because patios are highly attractive to potential customers. They create an open and relaxing space for enjoying tasty food and good company. When the weather is nice, people love dining outside where they can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. To get the most out of your patio, make sure to have the fundamentals for a successful restaurant patio.
About the Author
Cheryl Khan is a regular contributor to the Patio Productions Blog. When she’s not obsessing over interior design she is hanging out on the patio with a good book.
