Elevate your dining experience with a cafe table and chairs
What's the difference between a cafe table and a dining table?
A cafe table is a type of dining table designed for more intimate, casual dining. This typically looks like a table that’s about 30 inches tall and smaller in diameter than a formal dining room table. Cafe tables are also usually either square or circular in shape, meaning everyone at the table is about the same distance from one another, facilitating easy conversation.
What is a bistro table?
A bistro table is one of the smallest versions of a cafe table, with a tabletop diameter typically between 24 to 36 inches. Bistro tables are designed to resemble the tables just outside a small restaurant, such as those traditionally found in Paris. They’re an ideal option for small outdoor spaces—if you’re looking for a durable yet attractive place to have breakfast on your patio or a cozy dinner on a warm night, a bistro table might be just the answer.
Eames Table
The Eames Table is a modern version of the cafe table, offered with a rectangular, round, or square tabletop ranging from 30 to 48 inches in size. Simple, sleek, and incredibly versatile, this table was designed by the iconic husband-and-wife team, Charles and Ray Eames, to be durable and useful throughout the home. The Eames Table includes thoughtful details like a minimalist base that provides ample legroom and glides on each foot to correct for uneven floors.
The round Eames Table and the square Eames Table are Herman Miller’s most classic versions of a cafe table. With surfaces offered in walnut veneer, white ash veneer, painted veneer, or laminate, these tables are built to remain in impeccable condition for years to come. The Eames Outdoor Table has the same legroom and leveling glides as the other Eames Tables but has a laminate top and a powder-coated steel base to account for the elements. And the Herman Miller x HAY Eames Dining Table, Mette and Rolf Hay’s take on the round Eames Table, comes in iron red or toffee, providing a monochromatic pop of color in your home.
Nelson Swag Leg Table
On the larger end of the spectrum, the Nelson Swag Leg Table is an excellent choice if you need a little more tabletop space. Originally designed in 1958 by George Nelson, the Nelson Swag Leg Table has a 48-inch walnut veneer or laminate surface in a classic circular shape. The round top is paired with four chrome-finished 16-gauge steel legs connected by solid walnut stretchers. This combination gives the table has a sleek silhouette while maintaining a modern aesthetic with visual appeal. This cafe table is the perfect choice for a cozy family meal.
What chairs should I pair with a cafe table?
The chair most commonly paired with one of the cafe tables from Herman Miller is the Eames Wire Chair. This versatile dining chair matches the cafe table aesthetic with an architectural twist. Made of polished steel wire, the Eames Wire Chair is elegant while also being comfortable and durable. This chair set is also offered with a one- or two-piece leather seat pad, in powder-coated steel to make it suitable as outdoor furniture, and in a special Herman Miller x HAY red.
For a slightly different silhouette, any of the iconic Eames Shell Chair variations are an excellent choice. Offered in molded plywood, plastic, and fiberglass—in a wide variety of colors—these cafe chairs are extremely comfortable and can add a beautiful accent to any modern dining room or patio design.