Dan S. Morris is the Chief Content Editor and founder of Chosen Furniture. He covers high-quality furniture products designed to last, so he is the best contact for house goods advice.
What is a Banquette?
A banquette is a raised seat or bench that runs along the inside wall of a trench or parapet. Banquettes, typically upholstered and built into the wall to save space, often provide seating in restaurants and cafes. They create a cozy, intimate feel and allow more seating capacity than regular chairs.
Different Types of Banquettes
- Upholstered: These products feature padded cushions and upholstered fabric for a plush and comfortable feel. Standard fabrics include leather, vinyl, or fabric.
- Built-in: As the name suggests, these items are built directly into a restaurant or cafe’s wall or floor plan. This saves space and creates a clean, seamless look.
- Corner: Utilize wasted space by fitting into the corner of a restaurant. These allow guests to slide in from both sides
- Curved – It has a curved or rounded shape that wraps around part of a room. These create intimate spaces for larger parties.
- Backless – Structurally similar to traditional upholstered banquettes but without a backrest. It allows more flexibility for getting in and out.
- Modular – Constructed from interchangeable units, allowing for reconfiguration. It makes rearranging seating simpler.
- Double-sided – Banquette seats back-to-back facing each other. Creates a space divider between zones while maximizing seating.
- Booths – Fully enclosed modular booth spaces with banquette seating on multiple sides. Feel more private and separate.
The shape, inclusion of backs, and overall layout possibilities allow them to serve distinct functional and aesthetic roles. Their configuration can be customized to a venue’s needs and environment.
Pros of Banquettes
- They make efficient use of space by allowing more seating along walls rather than having space between separate tables and chairs. This can allow you to seat more people in a smaller area.
- Promote conversation since people seated together usually face one another. This can create a more social environment.
- They provide a cozier, more intimate feel to a space versus separate tables and chairs, which can feel more sterile.
- Products with backs are more comfortable than standard chairs for lengthy meals.
- They define and anchor different zones within an open layout.
Cons of Banquettes
- They allow less flexibility in rearrangement or reconfiguring seating as needs change compared to separate movable tables and chairs.
- Getting in and out can be more complex than with separate chairs, especially in tighter spaces or for those with mobility issues.
- Spills and messes on cushioned banquettes may be more challenging to clean. Vinyl or leather materials are more accessible to wipe down.
- It can feel cramped if banquette seats are too narrow and don’t allow adequate space per guest.
- Benches without intermittent back supports are less comfortable for more extended periods of sitting.
- They represent a more significant upfront investment than separate tables and chairs.
What’s the Difference Between a Booth and a Banquette?
Banquettes and booths are very similar – both are bench seating built into the wall of a restaurant. The main difference is that booths are fully enclosed on three sides with back and side walls, creating separation from the rest of the restaurant. Banquettes are only backed to the wall, allowing you to slide in from the open side.
What’s the Best Banquette Seating Material?
Vinyl is generally considered one of the best seating materials for restaurants. The surface is easy to clean, resisting stains and spills while providing a comfortable cushion. Leather also works well but requires more maintenance. The upholstered fabric looks excellent but is more challenging to clean when dealing with messy restaurant guests.
How Much Seating Space Does a Banquette Provide?
The seating space depends on the length and depth. As a rule of thumb, you can allow 24 inches per person for bench seating. A 6-foot banquette can then comfortably seat three adults. Corner banquettes provide even more space with seating on two sides—you can multiply the length of each side by 24 inches to estimate total capacity.
How Do You Clean Restaurant Banquettes?
For thorough cleaning, vacuum up any loose debris using an upholstery attachment. Then, spot clean stains with a vinyl/leather cleaner and a small scrub brush. For a deeper clean, use an antimicrobial upholstery shampoo and commercial steam cleaner every few months. This blasts away grime from the cushions. Be sure to soak up moisture with clean towels immediately.
More Reads
- Wikipedia: Booth
- Merriam-Webster: Etymology – Banquette
- Banquette Seating in the Kitchen
- Ideas on Pinterest
Dan S. Morris is a longtime furniture and design enthusiast with a passion for beautiful and functional arrangements and a human-centered approach to home decor that integrates the needs of people. He is the founder of Chosen Furniture. Dan and his team are faithful to serving you with savvy client-focused information and furniture reviews, with uncompromising integrity as the hallmarks of their service.
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