Choose the right furniture for your café
August 27, 2025
Restaurant Furniture — Durable Options for Australian Dining Venues
Everything restaurant owners need to know about choosing commercial-grade furniture that stands up to heavy daily use — indoors and out.
Browse Restaurant FurnitureWhy Your Furniture Choice Defines the Dining Experience — and Your Bottom Line
Walk into any successful Australian restaurant and you’ll notice the furniture before you read the menu. The chairs, tables, and seating arrangement communicate everything — the price point, the vibe, the brand. But beyond aesthetics, restaurant furniture is a commercial investment that directly affects your profitability.
Cheap residential-grade furniture buckles under the strain of 200+ covers a day. Wobbly tables frustrate diners. Faded outdoor chairs make a venue look tired. Well-specified commercial-grade restaurant furniture holds up for years, reduces maintenance costs, and creates the consistent, branded environment that earns repeat business.
This guide answers the five most common questions from Australian restaurant owners and hospitality fit-out buyers:
- What types of furniture work best in busy Australian dining venues?
- Where can restaurant owners source commercial dining chairs and tables?
- What should you consider during a full restaurant fit-out?
- How do you choose durable furniture for both indoor and outdoor dining?
- Which Australian suppliers are worth dealing with?
Related reads: Hotel & Hospitality Furniture Guide | Café Furniture — Chairs & Tables Guide.
Best Furniture Types for Busy Australian Dining Venues
The ideal restaurant furniture balances durability, style, and practical considerations specific to the Australian hospitality context — climate, footfall, and the modern diner’s expectations.
Dining Chairs: Material Guide
The most important buying criterion for restaurant chairs is frame strength and stackability. High-traffic venues typically turn tables 3–4 times per service.
- Steel & aluminium frames — Highest durability; powder-coated finishes resist rust and scratching.
- Solid timber / hardwood — Classic look; requires periodic re-finishing; avoid in wet outdoor environments.
- Polypropylene / plastic — Lightweight, UV-stable, weatherproof. Perfect for outdoor and quick-service venues.
- Upholstered chairs — Premium feel; best with commercial-grade vinyl or wipe-clean fabric.
Restaurant Tables: Size & Style
Tables must be appropriately sized for your cover targets. Standard is 600mm × 600mm for 2-person and 900mm × 900mm for 4-person covers.
- Café tables (600–750mm) — Ideal for bistros, cafés, and bar areas.
- Square/rectangular dining tables — Standard for full-service restaurants; push together for groups.
- Bar-height tables & stools — Great for cocktail bars and casual dining sections.
- Outdoor tables — Marine-grade aluminium or HPL tops resist UV, moisture, and heat.
🪑 Dining Chairs
Commercial-grade chairs with steel or aluminium frames, stacking configurations. Browse Dining Chairs →
🍽️ Café Tables
Round, square, rectangular tables with HPL and timber-look tops and cast iron bases. Browse Café Tables →
🌿 Outdoor Tables
UV-stable, weather-resistant outdoor dining tables for Australian conditions. Browse Outdoor Tables →
🍺 Stools & High Seating
Bar stools and counter-height seating for casual dining, bar sections and alfresco zones. Browse Stools →
Where Restaurant Owners Can Buy Commercial Dining Chairs and Tables in Australia
Knowing where to source furniture — and what channel suits your project scale — is half the battle. Australian restaurant owners typically have three main purchasing routes.
1. Specialist Commercial Furniture Suppliers
Dedicated hospitality furniture suppliers carry purpose-built commercial-grade stock with genuine load ratings, warranty coverage, and the ability to supply large quantities. Best for:
- Full venue fit-outs (50+ chairs, 20+ tables)
- Projects needing matched sets across dining zones
- Repeat replacement purchasing as stock wears
- Venues with specific outdoor durability requirements
2. Retail & Online Marketplaces
General retailers stock residential-grade furniture often marketed as “commercial suitable.” Risks include:
- No commercial load-testing certification
- Limited quantities — hard to source replacements later
- No account management or bulk pricing
- Longer lead times on restocking
Best for: Very small or low-traffic venues, or one-off accent pieces.
3. Trade & Fit-Out Specific Channels
For large-scale hospitality refurbishments, procurement through a specialist with project management ensures furniture arrives on schedule, is installed correctly, and carries commercial warranty. Explore our Cafés & Restaurants range →
Tips When Sourcing Restaurant Furniture
- Always request commercial certification or load test data
- Ask about minimum order quantities for bulk pricing
- Check lead times before signing a lease or booking an opening date
- Request physical samples or visit a showroom
- Confirm warranty covers commercial use (not just residential)
What to Consider When Choosing Furniture for a Restaurant Fit-Out
A restaurant fit-out is one of the largest capital investments a venue operator makes. Here are the key dimensions to evaluate before purchasing.
🎨 Brand & Theme
Your furniture is your brand made physical. Define your concept — rustic, contemporary, industrial, coastal — before selecting materials and finishes.
📐 Space Planning
Table and chair dimensions must work within your floor plan. Minimum 900mm for main aisles; 600mm between tables. Measure before ordering.
🚶 Foot Traffic & Covers
High-volume venues need stackable chairs, robust frames, and easy-clean surfaces. Match specifications to anticipated daily throughput.
💰 Budget & ROI
Commercial furniture costs more upfront but dramatically less over 5–10 years. Budget for durability, not just initial price.
🧹 Cleanability
Every surface will be cleaned multiple times a day. Prioritise wipe-clean tops (HPL, laminate), easy-clean upholstery (vinyl), and powder-coated frames.
♿ Accessibility
BCA compliance requires accessible seating. Plan for tables at 720–760mm height and clear floor space of 900mm × 1200mm around some tables.
Fit-Out Planning Checklist
- Define your venue concept and target customer — formal, casual, coastal, CBD etc.
- Complete a scaled floor plan and calculate cover count before ordering
- Select materials suited to your service volume (high-traffic vs boutique)
- Confirm indoor vs outdoor zones and select appropriate specifications for each
- Budget for 10–15% contingency on top of your furniture spend
- Confirm delivery timelines align with your fit-out schedule and opening date
- Obtain written commercial warranty documentation before committing
- Order 5–10% extra chairs as a buffer for breakage and future replacements
Indoor vs Outdoor — How to Choose Durable Restaurant Furniture for Both Settings
Australian dining venues frequently operate across indoor dining rooms, covered alfresco areas, open beer gardens, and rooftop terraces. Each environment demands different specifications.
| Specification | Indoor Dining | Covered Alfresco | Open Outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Material | Steel, timber, aluminium | Steel or aluminium | Marine-grade aluminium only |
| Seat Material | Fabric, vinyl, timber | Vinyl, polypropylene | Polypropylene, resin-wicker |
| Table Top | HPL, laminate, timber | HPL, aluminium | HPL (weatherproof), aluminium |
| UV Resistance Needed | Not required | Partial | Essential |
| Moisture / Rust Resistance | Low priority | Important | Critical |
| Stackable Preferred | Optional | Yes | Yes |
| Weight Consideration | Medium–heavy fine | Medium preferred | Lighter (wind resistance) |
| Recommended Range | Dining Chairs | Plastic / PP Chairs | Outdoor Tables |
Indoor Dining Furniture Tips
- Choose upholstered chairs with commercial-grade vinyl for easy wipe-down after each service
- Four-leg bases are more stable than pedestal bases for indoor heavy use
- Consider booth seating along walls to maximise covers per square metre
- Matching table heights (720–750mm) across the venue creates visual consistency
- Dark-framed chairs show wear less than bare timber in high-traffic zones
Outdoor & Alfresco Furniture Tips
- Always specify powder-coated frames — bare metal oxidises rapidly in coastal climates
- Use umbrella-compatible table bases for summer service
- HPL table tops outperform timber outdoors — they don’t warp, crack or fade
- Stack chairs when not in use to prolong life and free space during quiet periods
- In coastal locations, marine-grade aluminium is non-negotiable — standard steel rusts within months
Best Restaurant Furniture Suppliers for Australian Hospitality Businesses
Not all furniture suppliers are equipped to service commercial hospitality projects. Here’s what to look for — and how to evaluate suppliers across the key criteria.
Innova Group
Australia’s specialist in large-scale commercial furniture procurement for hospitality and FF&E fit-out projects. Innova Group supplies directly to restaurants, clubs, hotels, and function centres across all states.
- 80+ café & restaurant products in stock
- Commercial-grade dining chairs, café tables & outdoor furniture
- Bulk pricing and volume ordering capability
- Fit-out project support and account management
- Ships nationally — all Australian states & territories
What to Look for in Any Supplier
When evaluating any commercial furniture supplier, use this checklist:
- ✔ Commercial warranty (not just residential)
- ✔ Stock availability — can they supply your full quantity?
- ✔ Lead time transparency — confirmed shipping dates
- ✔ Sample / showroom access before bulk order
- ✔ Account management for ongoing replacement stock
- ✔ Australian compliance — certifications where applicable
- ✔ Track record in hospitality (references / case studies)
Channels to Avoid for Commercial Projects
The following sources are generally unsuitable for commercial restaurant fit-outs:
- ❌ General hardware / home stores — residential grade only
- ❌ Online marketplaces (unknown sellers) — no commercial certification
- ❌ Secondhand / liquidation stock — no warranty
- ❌ Imports without Australian compliance — safety concerns
Always request written confirmation that furniture is rated for commercial use before purchasing.
Restaurant Furniture — Common Questions Answered
Ready to Fit Out Your Restaurant?
Browse Innova Group’s full range of commercial restaurant furniture — dining chairs, café tables, outdoor seating and more — or get in touch for a tailored fit-out quote.
Also read: Hotel & Hospitality Furniture Guide | Café Furniture Guide | Choosing Café Furniture
