5 Keys to success when planning the design for an outdoor bar

Outdoor bars are gradually becoming a popular and interesting destination for enjoying social life. With the ability to enjoy natural spaces and cool air, these bars are not only a great place to relax but also a place to connect and enjoy time with friends and relatives. In this article, Saigon Horeca will explore how to design an outdoor bar creatively and attractively, helping you create a unique and appealing space to attract customers and create a memorable experience.

5 things to know when designing an outdoor bar

Choosing Quality Materials for Outdoor Bar Design

Choosing materials for bar design is an important step and should be done carefully. Especially when it is an outdoor bar, we must ensure that this material not only creates an interesting environment but is also highly durable, especially not affected by harsh weather.

Currently, in designing bars for cafes, three popular and popular materials are wood, stone and metal. Each of these materials brings a unique style to the bar and contributes to the appeal of the cafe.

Wooden bar design: Wood, regardless of natural wood or industrial wood, always has a natural and rustic beauty. The warmth and closeness to nature when using wood are the strong points of this choice. Wooden bar design also easily coordinates with other interior elements, creating a friendly and cozy space.
The type of wood you use is a typical example. Choose wood that is durable and not susceptible to mold, to ensure that the product will maintain its beauty and quality over time. This not only creates a natural beauty but also ensures the sustainability of the bar.

Stone bar design: Stone material with polished surface creates elegance and cleanliness for the bar. Good strength and waterproof properties make storage and cleaning convenient. Usually, covering the counter with stone is enough to create a highlight, but other parts can use tile or grout. In decorating, you can use paint, paint or tile tiles depending on the desired design style.

Metal bar design: Using stainless steel or monolithic cast aluminum provides a modern and strong appearance. The shaping of square blocks and metal materials creates a strong impression for the bar. This style is often suitable for cafes designed in an “industrial” format. Cool colors of metal, especially black, can create a powerful, luxurious and mysterious beauty. Another option is to use copper or gold-plated metal to create a radiant and attractive image for the cafe.

Create Design Style Harmonious Design for Outdoor Bar Space

The next important issue is choosing a design style suitable for the outdoor space. This process depends on the investor’s preferences and how the outdoor space has been arranged. The goal is to ensure that the bar’s design style blends perfectly with the overall space, creating a uniform and harmonious overall picture. Often, many investors are aiming for a modern and creative style for their designs.
When faced with the decision to choose a design style for an outdoor bar, it is important to consider a number of factors to ensure harmony and compatibility with your outdoor space. Here are some ways to arrange bar items and tips for choosing:

Paying attention to the movement of both customers and staff is an important part of designing an effective bar. The comfort and effectiveness of an outdoor bar depends heavily on how you arrange the space to suit both sides.

• Customer flow typically begins at the front door and passes through the ordering counter, payment counter, waiting area, drink counter, and then to table seating (if the customer chooses to stay) before returning to the entrance. For cafes with ordering and payment at the counter, this becomes even more important.
• The flow of employees is usually from the ordering counter to the payment counter, the dispensing counter, and then to the customer service counter. To optimize performance, you need to consider how to arrange equipment and supplies so that employees can move around easily and efficiently. Limit unnecessary travel distances to save time and effort.

In addition, the process of arranging items and equipment according to workflow is another important part. Classify and arrange equipment according to preparation stages to ensure staff are not confused and work goes smoothly. A specific example is arranging equipment such as ordering screens, coffee bean grinders, coffee makers, milk frothers, paper cups, lids, and straws in a reasonable order to avoid work congestion in the bar.

In addition to the above factors, hygiene is an aspect that cannot be ignored. Ensure that the bar is always clean and tidy to ensure customer satisfaction. Use closed trash cans to keep the environment clean and avoid litter stains. Place trash cans away from where fresh food is stored. Finally, turn shelves and utensils into works of art, creating beautiful and creative accents in your bar space. Avoid creating a cramped space by taking advantage of every small corner appropriately.

Most importantly, choose a design style that fits your business goals, the preferences of your target audience, and the characteristics of your outdoor space. Consulting with a professional interior designer can help you ensure harmony and success of your outdoor bar design project.

Interior design in outdoor bar

Interior design is an important aspect in creating an attractive and comfortable outdoor bar space for customers. Here are some important points to note:

Simple and Quality Design: For outdoor bars, simplicity is often an advantage. Choose necessary interior items and avoid creating unnecessary crowding. Furniture should be chosen with good materials to ensure durability and quality over time.

Material Arrangement: Choose interior materials suitable for the outdoor environment. Materials such as water-resistant wood, stainless metal, and outdoor mattresses that are resistant to sun and rain are popular choices. This helps ensure that the furniture will maintain its beauty and durability in all weather.

Scientific and Harmonious Arrangement: Furniture arrangement needs to follow a scientific and harmonious plan. Make sure that tables, chairs, and other items are arranged so that the space is comfortable and easy to move around. Consider creating different “zones,” such as sitting areas, waiting areas, and payment areas.

Tastefully Decorative: Use decoration to highlight and create a unique atmosphere for the bar. Plants, decorative lights, paintings or decorative statues can create a unique and beautiful space.

Integration with the Natural Environment: Outdoor spaces are often built to enjoy natural sunlight and air. Create a connection with the environment by using natural colors and materials associated with nature.

The interior design of an outdoor bar should ensure aesthetics, comfort and convenience for customers. This helps create an attractive and interesting outdoor bar space.

Standard sizes when installing and building outdoor bars

In bar design, the three main styles are L-shaped, U-shaped and C-shaped, each with its own advantages, suitable for each type of cafe or pub. However, the size of the bar is also important and it will depend on the design and business goals of the bar. Here are some guidelines for bar sizes and other important parts:

Customer-Facing Portion Size:

• Height of customer-facing part: Usually ranges from 1m to 1.2m. This height helps customers easily communicate with staff and order food conveniently.
• This size helps avoid making the customer feel “shorter” than the employee, making the ordering experience more comfortable.

Size of Work Area::

• The height of the staff operation area should be from 80cm – 90cm. This helps employees not have to bend or lean while working, creating favorable conditions for mixing and serving operations.
• Employees’ work areas need to be suitable for their height, helping to increase work efficiency and reduce fatigue during long-term work.

Interior Bar Area Floor Size::

• Bars usually have 2-4 employees working at the same time. Therefore, the space inside the bar needs to be large enough to move, clean and work conveniently.
• The minimum width of this area should be 120cm (minus the area for cabinets, shelves and counters). Spacious space will help employees work easily and comfortably.

Choosing the appropriate design and size will help create an effective, comfortable bar that suits the bar’s business goals.

Bar colors and lighting

Color and lighting are two important factors in creating an attractive and comfortable outdoor bar space. Here are some tips on using color and light in design:

Color::

• Prioritize the use of light and bright colors such as green, blue, orange, and light pink. These colors often create a feeling of joy, freshness and closeness for customers.
• Consider using colorful details to create accents, such as tables and chairs or decorative lights. This can create appeal and uniqueness in the space.

Light:

• Avoid using light that is too bright and bright, especially light that causes glare during the day. Instead, choose soft and gradual lighting to create a warm and comfortable space.
• Use decorative lights such as table lamps, hanging lamps, or candle lights to create a more cozy and romantic space in the evening.
• If the bar is located near an area with natural light, take advantage of sunlight during the day to create an open and comfortable space.

In short, the colors and lighting in an outdoor bar should create a fun, comfortable and attractive space for customers. Consideration in the use of color and lighting can create an enjoyable and unique experience for your customers.

>> To discover how famous bars have applied these strategies to create unique spaces, and receive creative suggestions to apply in your own bar design project. Read now to start your journey to creating a unique and impressive bar space: Bar design: Techniques to create impression and creativity.

Some impressive outdoor bar models

The design of an outdoor bar can be diverse and stylish depending on the owner’s preferences, business goals, and specific space.

Natural and Creative Style:

Outdoor bar design can be transformed into many styles, and one of the popular choices is the natural and creative style. In this style, the use of natural materials such as wood and stone can create a bar that feels close to nature. This can be a great option for bars located on premises that already have plants and trees. Arranging plants around the bar helps create a comfortable, cool, and interesting space for customers.

Lighting in this style is often soft, creating a cozy and attractive space at night. Decorative lights can also be used to create interesting accents, creating a friendly and creative atmosphere. Natural and creative style is a great choice for those who love the interaction between people and nature, and it can make the outdoor bar a unique and attractive destination.

Island Style:

Island style is another interesting choice for outdoor bar design. To create an island feel, using colors like sky blue and sand can help create a unique and relaxing space. Materials such as wood and water-resistant materials are smart choices to ensure durability in harsh outdoor environments.

Decorating in island style often uses accessories related to the sea, such as magnificent hanging lights and handcrafted details with images of seafood or sea symbols. This creates an interesting and attractive space, while helping customers feel close to the sea and islands right at the bar. The island style often makes the bar an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy the ocean atmosphere without going to the actual beach.

Modern and Sophisticated Style:

Modern and sophisticated style is a suitable choice for those who love simplicity and luxury. To create a bar in this style, using industrial materials such as metal, glass and stone can create a modern and sophisticated feel. The combination of these materials can create a unique and attractive space.

Lighting plays an important role in this style. Use LED lighting and decorative headlights to create accents and highlight the bar space. Delicately arranged lighting details can create a luxurious and stylish space.

Interior layout is also very important. Using bar stools and tables made from metal or wood can create variety and comfort for customers. Simple and modern designs will make the bar a sophisticated destination for those who want to enjoy drinks in a luxurious and classy space.

Traditional and Vintage Style:

Traditional and vintage style is a combination of history and warmth. To create a bar in this style, use wood and traditional details such as ceramic dishes, cork bottle caps or traditional lamps to create a vintage and cozy space. Details like lights and bottle caps can give a classic and elegant feel.

Arrange many plants and flowers to create a natural and comfortable space. Plants and flowers with bright colors can create a cool and interesting green space. Use wooden chairs and tables with traditional patterns to create accents. This design often has complex shapes and decorative details, creating a space that is both elegant and warm for customers.

Remember that the most important thing is to create a space that is comfortable, attractive and suitable for your business goals. Choose an outdoor bar design that suits your style and preferences as well as the surrounding environment.