Café furniture: chairs, tables and stools that work
In a café, furniture does far more than provide seats. It shapes how long guests stay, how many people you can fit at peak times and how the space looks on social media. A narrow stool at the window suits a quick espresso; a comfortable armchair keeps someone in for a second cappuccino.
This guide covers how to mix different types of seating, which table sizes work, which materials hold up inside and out, and how to pick bar stools at the right height for your counter.
Mix your seating types
Most successful cafés offer more than one kind of seat. Two-person tables with chairs cover the majority of guests, a window counter with stools serves people on their own or in a hurry, a corner with armchairs or a sofa invites longer stays, and a communal table works well for groups and laptop users.
Think about who comes in and when. A café on a busy street with a morning takeaway rush needs more quick seats, while a neighbourhood all-day café needs more comfort. Two-person tables that can be pushed together give you flexibility for groups without wasting seats in quiet hours.
Table sizes and spacing
Café tables are usually smaller than dining tables because they mostly hold drinks and small plates. As a general guide, a 60x60 or 70x70 cm square or a 60 to 70 cm round table seats two comfortably, while four people need about 80x80 cm or an 80 to 90 cm round. If you serve brunch or full meals, go larger.
Standard table height is around 72 to 76 cm, paired with chairs that have a seat height of about 45 to 47 cm. Low tables for armchairs generally sit close to seat height. Leave enough room behind each chair for guests to stand up without bumping the next table and for staff to pass with a tray.
- Two people: 60x60 or 70x70 cm, or 60 to 70 cm round
- Four people: about 80x80 cm, or 80 to 90 cm round
- Table height: about 72 to 76 cm
- Chair seat height: about 45 to 47 cm
Café chairs: comfort, weight and stacking
A café chair gets moved, dragged and wiped many times a day. Lighter chairs are easier on staff, but on a windy terrace a heavier model stays where it belongs. If chairs are cleared every night or the layout changes often, stacking saves both time and storage space.
Polypropylene shells and metal chairs clean quickly, while wooden chairs feel warmer. A removable seat pad adds comfort without making cleaning harder. Check the glides too: they protect the floor and cut the noise when guests drag their chairs.
Tables: bases and tops
Café tables are usually a base plus a top, so you can combine shapes and materials. Pedestal bases leave more legroom than four-legged tables, but they must be heavy and wide enough for the size of the top. Adjustable feet are essential on pavements and old floors to stop tables rocking.
Outdoors, compact HPL tops cope well with sun, moisture and hot cups. Marble and engineered stone give a classic café look, while veneer and solid wood are better suited to indoor use. Ask your supplier whether a top is rated for outdoor use and how it should be cleaned.
Bar stools at the right height
The basic rule for stools is to leave about 25 to 30 cm between the seat and the counter top. A counter of about 90 to 92 cm pairs with a stool seat of around 65 cm, while a bar of about 105 to 110 cm needs a seat of around 75 to 80 cm.
Allow roughly 55 to 60 cm of counter length per stool. A footrest is essential for comfort, and a backrest helps when guests stay longer. At a window counter, backless stools keep the view open and fit more easily into a narrow space.
Outdoor seating and choosing a supplier
Tables and chairs on a pavement or square need outdoor materials such as powder-coated aluminium, synthetic rope or UV-stabilised polypropylene. If you are using public space, check your municipality's rules for outdoor seating, as they may set the area, the layout or even the look of the furniture.
Ask for a written quote with prices, lead times and available finishes, and check whether the same design comes as a chair, armchair and stool so the whole space feels consistent. Almeco manufactures hospitality furniture at its own factory in Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki, and delivers across Greece and the islands. You can see chairs, tables and stools in our showrooms in Thessaloniki, Athens and Crete.