Bistro Sets

What makes a bistro set

A bistro set is the smallest kind of garden dining set: a compact table, often round, with a pair of chairs pulled up to it. It takes its name from the pavement cafe, and it suits the same moments at home, from a coffee in the morning sun to a glass of something as the evening draws in. Because the table is small, a bistro set is also a good first piece of garden furniture: it gives you somewhere to sit outside straight away, and it can move to a balcony, a porch or a new garden later. Two chairs also leave room for a potted plant beside the table.

Most of our bistro sets seat two, and the Seating Capacity filter on this page confirms it for each one.

Folding and stackable sets

Space is usually the reason to choose a bistro set, so it helps when the pieces put themselves away. A number of our sets fold flat, table and chairs alike, to lean against a wall or slide into a shed. Others have chairs that stack on top of one another, which keeps a small patio clear between uses. A folding set is also easy to carry to the far end of the garden, or to bring out only on a fine day.

The Features filter on this page shows the folding and the stackable sets separately. A set that packs away neatly also stays cleaner through the winter, because it can live indoors rather than out on the patio.

Metal, rattan and wood

Steel is the frame you will find most often here: slim, strong and easy to wipe clean. Aluminium frames are lighter to carry out to the lawn. Some sets are woven in synthetic rattan for a softer, basket-weave look, and a few add acacia wood slats to the seats or the table. Some tables have a glass top. Metal frames are the easiest to keep clean, while a woven seat is softer to sit on without a cushion.

Check the materials on each product page, and use the Material filter to see one kind at a time.

Sets for balconies and courtyards

On a balcony, measure the depth as well as the width, and leave room to open the door and to walk past the table once the chairs are pulled out. In a courtyard, a bistro set against a sunny wall makes a sheltered spot for two without taking over the space. On a larger patio, a bistro set can mark out a quiet corner away from the main dining table. Choose a set that is easy to carry up the stairs or in a lift, and in a courtyard with little direct sun a pale colour reflects light and makes the space feel larger.

Colours for a small space

Grey is the most common finish in the range, and it sits quietly against brick, render and planting. Green blends into a garden full of foliage, while black gives a crisp outline against pale paving. A bright colour can lift a plain courtyard, and the Colour filter shows the shades on offer. Painted metal takes stronger colours than wood or rattan, so a bistro set is an easy way to bring a single bright accent into a green space.

Cushions for longer sittings

Some bistro sets come with seat cushions, and the product page says which. A cushion turns a quick coffee into a longer stay, and it softens the look of a metal chair. Take cushions indoors when you are finished, so they are dry and fresh the next time. Our outdoor cushions are linked below if you want to add some. A seat cushion also makes a metal chair warmer to sit on early in the morning or late in the evening.

Looking after a bistro set

Wipe the table and chairs with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then dry them before folding or stacking, so no water is trapped between the pieces. Store a folding set upright in a dry place over the winter, or keep it under a fitted cover, and follow any care advice on the product page. Check the hinges on a folding set now and then, and wipe away any grit that collects in them, so they keep opening smoothly.