Bistro Style Stacking Chairs

The traditional bistro (from the French bistrot) is a type of not very large Parisian tavern that appeared in the 19th century and served, above all, wine at popular prices. Over time, bistros also began to serve typical local dishes made from fresh food.

Gradually, this type of establishment began to spread throughout France, and later also throughout Europe. Such was their ubiquity that when, in 1854, Michael Thonet revolutionized the world of design with his Chair No. 14, which was affordable, light and very easy to stack and therefore store, it quickly became known as the “Bistro Chair“

Thonet and Bistro style stacking chairs

The German-born craftsman sold some 50 million units of Chair No. 14 between 1860 and 1930 thanks to his novel technique of steam-bending the wood, which meant that these pieces of furniture did not require skilled labor to assemble (which considerably lowered production costs).

So, each seat consisted of six independent pieces that allowed mass production and facilitated the transport of the furniture, more than 50 years ahead of industrial production and marketing.

Chair No. 14 quickly became very popular in bars and cafés (hence the name ‘Bistró Chair’) not only thanks to its popular price, but also to, like we said, its lightweight, stackable design and its raffia seat, very easy to clean if any liquid was spilt on it.

The model soon became a design classic, winning the gold medal at the 1867 Paris World Exposition and the recognition of numerous architects and designers such as Le Corbusier and Adolf Loos. It also opened the door to the creation of other similar stacking chairs, which are still highly valued today in cafés and restaurants thanks to sharing the functional characteristics of the famous Chair No. 14.

Bistro Style Today 

Throughout the 20th century, tourism linked bistros to the Parisian way of life, making them almost a place of pilgrimage due to their typically French authenticity. Today in fact, bistros are still small French establishments, where alcoholic beverages, coffee, cheese and spirits are served. They can also be small restaurants serving inexpensive meals.

Some of these places have, like in the past, a wine shop, but their menu as well as their decoration, has been renewed – without losing sight of their origins of course. This way they have often become elegant establishments, due in part to the worldwide boom in traditional and regional food.

So much so that some Anglo-Saxon chefs, such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, have made reference to their culinary style, still largely based on fresh and healthy produce, but also capable of welcoming international cuisine in recent years.

Many bistros today continue to use stackable wooden chairs and materials that imitate natural fibers, such as synthetic rattan, in order to increase their durability both indoors and outdoors. However, they continue to have that coquettish character, that established bistro style, intimate, refined yet casual, that we all associate with Parisian chic.

Updated stackable bistro-style chairs

As we were saying, the materials of the Bistró style stacking chairs have improved over time. For Example, the Guru outdoor stacking chair, Bistró style, with a tubular aluminum frame finished in bamboo imitation and seat and back in synthetic rattan pith. Its vintage look is super authentic!

For those who prefer a more sober terrace, it is a good idea to have the stackable bistro-style Ford chair, in aluminum with a bamboo-effect finish, but this time with a seat and backrest in Textilene, available in different colors.

This material is composed of vinyl threads coated with PVC, which are interwoven and form a strong fabric, offering a fabric-like appearance. It is highly resistant to atmospheric changes and very easy to clean, making it a must in hospitality, terrace and garden furniture.

Another stackable chair very similar in shape but with a sophisticated and absolutely Art Deco print is Pacific, Bistró style, with tubular aluminum structure, bamboo imitation finish and seat and back in synthetic rattan pith. It is perfect for both indoors and outdoors.

The Ámbito synthetic rattan stacking chair, on the other hand, gives a twist to the bistro style with its soft colors, which will fit beautifully even in a vintage Nordic style space. It has a tubular aluminum structure finished in bamboo imitation and seat and back in braided synthetic rattan pith, making it suitable for outdoor use.

If we prefer stackable bistro-style chairs with armrests, we can opt for Minaret, also with a tubular aluminum structure with bamboo imitation finish and seat and back in braided rattan synthetic pith.

Or for the delicate Angeles, a stackable bistro-style chair in cream colors with dark accents that will shine both indoors and out. We imagine it attracting all eyes in an environment of neutral and warm tones.

Another stackable bistro style chair that we love? Dubái, with seat and back upholstered in Textilene, very sophisticated and comfortable at the same time!

Laudry on the other hand, is one of those Bistro style chairs that would not look out of place in an Exotic, Colonial or Tropical interior thanks to its particular and beautiful braiding in synthetic rattan. Surround it with plants and ethnic details and you’re sure to get it right!

A perfect pair of tables to go with the stackable bistro style chairs.​

As a restaurant does not live by seating alone, we present two fantastic tables to accompany the stackable chairs we have seen, with which you will reinforce the Bistró style. The first is Clavel, a wood and metal table with a vintage look, made of steel with a distinguished bronze finish and a Delhi model mango wood top in the size of your choice.

The second is Kronos, another traditional bistro style table that is impossible to go wrong with. It has a four-nail cast iron frame and a white marble top, Parson circular or Parson square, customizable in size, and you can also choose the height!

Bistro style stacking chairs, an ideal choice for the hospitality industry

Since the 19th century, with the revolution patented by Michael Thonet’s Chair No. 14, stacking chairs have been the stars of the Bistro style, so chic, intimate and elegant in their own Parisian way. Today, they are still the ideal choice when decorating interiors and exteriors of restaurants with a vintage spirit that do not want to give up the comfort of both diners, who will enjoy the comfort of their seats, and restaurateurs, who will appreciate their light weight and resistant materials.