Bistro table overview

Translated version of the original German content.

Everyone knows it, many people use it regularly, yet hardly anyone gives it much thought — the bistro table. It is much more than a useful accessory for many occasions. It is as practical as it is versatile and can genuinely enrich many rooms and arrangements. The choice of available bistro tables is enormous and continues to grow. Today, true classics can be bought online just as easily and affordably as tables following the latest trends. Individual tables differ not only in their visual appearance but also in many other respects.

From its name alone, one might assume that the bistro table is mainly found in precisely that setting — a bistro. But that is far from the case. Today, bistro tables are found in many areas of our lives, whether on a private balcony, in a hotel lobby, in the garden or indeed in a bistro. It was in the latter that it acquired its name. In these small French establishments, the bistro table originally won people over with its most compelling feature. Thanks to their small size, bistro tables proved their worth in the often cramped premises beside streets or in the corner of a square, earning the right to carry the bistro’s name. Regardless of the exact version, a bistro table is a table whose size is ideally suited to accommodating usually up to four people along with a drink and a small snack. Yet it does not waste unnecessary space when occupied by only one or two people, making it a space-saving wonder wherever every centimetre counts. Its shape and size also clearly distinguish the bistro table from all other tables. While a worktable is usually used by one person from the long side, with a writing mat, keyboard, screen and so on, dining tables are designed to accommodate a particular number of people, each with a full place setting of cutlery, plates and glasses. When these tables are used for other purposes, they quickly reach their limits or seem unsuitable for the occasion. A bistro table, by contrast, usually has no linear orientation, meaning it can be used equally from any side. Although its fairly small size rules it out for some uses, in many other areas it becomes a versatile, sometimes inconspicuous helper working in the background, which can be positioned quickly, changed quickly and, when needed, put aside quickly too. Further products: aluminium bistro tables, angular bistro tables, round bistro tables and wooden bistro tables.

A bistro table is a true multifunctional wonder. Originally conceived as a table for one or more guests in a small establishment to enjoy drinks and perhaps small snacks, its undeniable advantages allowed it to conquer countless other uses over the years and decades. A hotel lobby without a bistro table is now almost unimaginable. Small and compact, it recedes visually into the background while making waiting, working or simply reading the newspaper a pleasant experience. Even without cramped premises, many restaurateurs now use these practical little tables because they can be incorporated into countless seating arrangements. Used individually, they can usually accommodate full place settings for one or two people. Combined in groups, they open up many possibilities, from a normal dining table to a long banquet table. Bistro tables have also become indispensable in private homes. Just imagine furnishing a cramped balcony without a bistro table. A garden party at home also gains a much more refined atmosphere with one. Compared with the rather rustic beer table, the bistro table offers design possibilities ranging from classic elegance to the modern bar table. Finally, a bistro table is wonderfully useful wherever a surface is quickly needed without wasting too much space. This makes it the ideal side table for many occasions, from birthdays to barbecues.

The choice between the two common shapes, round and angular, is largely a matter of personal taste, but it also determines future usability. A round bistro table looks appealing, discreet and restrained, and its playful appearance particularly suits use as a standalone piece. Even when several tables are combined but used individually, the round shape creates a relaxed, harmonious design. With a quadrilateral shape, which for a bistro table is usually square, the ability to combine tables plays a much greater role. While a round table can only stand on its own, the practical square shape also allows several tables to be lined up into a larger continuous surface. General usability is likely to be slightly better with a square table as well, because the square area can be used more efficiently and the straight-edged form can easily be moved against a wall, for example. Furthermore, square bistro tables, even in groups, usually look clearer and tidier and can support a corresponding design concept. Further products: marble bistro tables, balcony bistro tables and folding bistro tables.

Bistro tables are available without restriction in all the common materials used for other tables. These practical tables can be made from metal, plastic or wood, or combinations of these materials. The classic combination of a polished stone tabletop with a cast-metal table base featuring floral design elements is also familiar. This widespread form really does recall the bistros that gave the table its name and evokes the charm of bygone times. But the material used does not only affect the appearance. Depending on its material, a bistro table gains a character all its own, reflected in its looks, feel and usability. A solid metal table, for example, can withstand wind and weather more readily than a bistro table made from untreated woods with little resistance to moisture and temperature changes.

Beyond the general variations in shape and colour, individual bistro tables offer special features that qualify them for particular uses. A familiar and widespread example is the folding function. Although this brings no advantage during the bistro table’s actual use, reducing its dimensions makes transport much easier and saves storage space. Equally familiar, though often not recognised as a bistro table, is the version with a high base. By raising the table’s leg or legs, various bistro tables can either be combined with bar stools or even used entirely while standing. In particular, use as a standing table opens up entirely new applications at standing receptions, in waiting areas or simply as a change from constantly seated activity.

Although ordering online usually gives you no opportunity to touch the tables and see their qualities in person, several factors favour buying from an online shop. Well-stocked online shops usually offer a much larger range and therefore a significantly wider choice than most other retailers. There is also the chance to buy a bistro table inexpensively, since the prices available online are unbeatable. Finally, an online shop also lets you take other customers’ opinions into account when buying, so possible problems as well as pleasant surprises can be identified in advance and considered in your purchasing decision.

Bistro tables are versatile. In appearance, technical features and usability, a bistro table can fulfil a wide range of functions with a single piece of furniture. The multitude of designs and styling possibilities also allows you to match your chosen bistro table to existing furnishings and your own ideas. This makes the bistro table hard to beat for versatility and usefulness, and a sensible, worthwhile alternative to many other tables.