Are Communal Tables Right For You?

You either love’em or hate’em but whichever way you look at, communal tables in cafes and restaurants seem to be a trend that is here to stay.

Large tables that can seat more than one group of people have grown in popularity and can often found in chain and independent dining establishments. We’ve put together some of the pros and cons of communal dining to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Communal tables – the benefits

The most obvious benefit of communal seating in cafes and restaurants is a high turnaround and increased seats – which is particularly useful for smaller establishments. Not only are there more seats but it also saves on the space that would usually be between individual tables. Add to this the fact that you won’t have to push tables together to accommodate large parties and then return them to their normal places, communal dining sounds like a no-brainer.

Some diners also appreciate the social element of communal seating. They are particularly appealing for millennials who embrace the ethos of socialising, grazing, and lingering. It can also provide a more pleasant experience for a solo diner who can pull up a chair at a table that’s clearly not designed for two while chatting to other solo diners or parties around them.

Communal tables – the downsides

Communal seating isn’t suitable for every cafe or restaurant and sometimes it’s not the best choice on a practical or personal level.

If your cafe attracts plenty of families with young children then communal tables could work but you would need to consider the height of the table and the safety of the seating for smaller guests. Other diners may also prefer no to be seated amongst families, so it’s always important to provide your customers with other seating options if you do decide to go communal.

Communal seating won’t be greeted with enthusiasm by couples who are on a date, those holding a business meeting, or anyone else who just isn’t a fan of eating at close quarters with a person they don’t know.

If you decide communal dining is a trend for you to explore, then why not consider having just one communal table to start off with and provide separate table and chair dining for customers who feel more comfortable with a little more privacy.

Here at Cafe Chairs Sydney, we stock a wide range of cafe tables, including communal tables, and chairs and stools to compliment them. Why not browse our online store or visit our showroom to see the quality of our furniture for yourself.