Restobars (combination of a restaurant and a bar) are on the rise. Every major metro and many Tier2 cities in India boast of a significant number of these cosy, casual cocoons, where people from all walks of life and all age groups home in to relax and unwind and emerge happy and refreshed.

A major contributor to the restobar’s ambience of warmth and positivity is its décor and furniture. Many restobar proprietors especially if they are core foodpreuneurs tend to focus primarily on the food and drinks and their concomitant accessories, believing these factors alone will carry the day(and night), as they are the raison d’etre for the place. Certainly, guests first and foremost come for the food and drinks which must be distinct, yet delicious and enduring. Diners and tipplers, however also, and almost equally make a beeline for their preferred ambience in which to enjoy their dinner and drinks.

Enjoyment is a holistic, sensory experience. It involves all the five senses. The look and feel and touch of the décor and furniture in a restobar, if appropriately styled, will enhance the overall appeal of a ‘great food, fabulous spirits’ restobar into a complete and awesome experience, transforming your clients into ardent loyalists for a lifetime!

Whatever your theme may be, a warm, welcoming, comfortable environment is de rigueur.
According to a study, furniture comfort was the most important Restaurant Interior Designer characteristic that ensured customer retention!

A restobar will attract a mixed crowd – millennials, Gen X, baby-boomers, and families with grown-up children. Furniture must be thoughtfully chosen.

  • Create a goal aesthetic and stick to it.
  • While comfort and style are the bedrock of a good experience, a distinct style will attract customers and bring them back. Develop a signature style, maybe quirky and fresh which is your differentiator.
  • Consider quality wood and metal for chairs and tables to ensure durability, stability and strength.
  • Go with thick and strong fabric or vinyl which will be resilient to wear and tear and will be easy to clean.
  • Opt for large, round tables for an intimate feel complemented with high, round cocktail tables for guest mingling.
  • Mix up wide upholstered/vinyl on three sides chairs around round tables, with high bar stools for greater choice and comfort for a diverse clientele.
  • Colours play an integral role in mood setting. In a restobar, you want clients to feel comfortable and lounge around: play with darker tones of red, maroon, warm orange, yellow and brown contrasted with neutrals of beige and grey on your chairs and walls.
  • Lighting enhances atmosphere. Golden or yellow lighting adds warmth ideal for a restobar, Choose between recessed, hanging, overhead and smart (technology-enabled) options.
  • Use wall space creatively: promote local artists, create quirky theme-based tableaux, frame prints on a corner wall which can be periodically changed, if required. Give your clients a visual canopy to engage with. Wall space can also be used to support a book and magazine shelf, especially if you are open during the day.

At Artisans Rose, we have partnered with popular restobars across cities. This is a view from our most recent assignment – Off The Record (OTR), Chennai, which has received very positive feedback with clients commenting on the comfort and style of the furniture as one of the reasons they like patronising OTR. The architect for OTR is Sidharth Ninan of Sidharth Ninan Architecture (SNA), Chennai.

If you would like us to design furniture, interior design or architecture for your place, please do get in touch at: [email protected] and visit our website, https://artisansrose.com/. You can also call +91 90727 87773, Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm.