The floor plan of a restaurant is make or break. You could serve the most exquisite food and create award-winning cocktails but if the design and layout are sub-par, guests aren’t going to have a good experience when they visit you. If you’re thinking of redesigning your restaurant or are starting fresh with a brand new floor plan, here are our top design tips to keep in mind.
1. The Entrance
First impressions do make all the difference so make sure to spend some time designing your entrance. It should be clear where customers need to go when they arrive. Do you want them to wait at a maitre’d stand, go to the bar, sit in a waiting area? Whatever it is, good design will help this important area be as functional as possible so guests feel comfortable as soon as they arrive.
2. The Bar
The size, layout and position of the bar will be determined by the type of restaurant you’re going for. If you want people to eat at the bar, it needs to be more central with a wide top. You’ll also need to allow at least 500mm per stool for adequate seating.
Whereas a more formal restaurant where waiters serve all drinks will require a bar that is out of the way and smaller.
When designing this area, consider the number of beer taps, fridges, POS stations, entrances/exits and shelving. These are important aspects that will either improve or hinder the speed of service.
3. The Kitchen
As the heart of the restaurant, this is the area that needs the most consideration. You’ll need a clear idea of your menu before you begin designing your kitchen, since the type of food you serve will dictate the space and appliances you’ll need.
In general, you’ll need a receiving area, storage area, prep space, production point, and dish-washing station. All of these need to be sized to reflect the number of seats in the restaurant.
The key consideration of the kitchen design is flow. You need efficient flow to allow food to be taken quickly, for dirty plates to be transported to the dish-washer easily, and for clean dishes to be stored effectively. All of these need to have clear walking paths that won’t cause traffic during busy service.
Don’t forget to plan where and when deliveries will be taken. This should be done in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of the rest of the kitchen.
Check out this post for more tips on planning a functional kitchen in your restaurant.
4. The Toilets
The number of toilets is determined by the maximum capacity of the restaurant. You need to leave space for large enough WCs that are easily accessible to everyone. To meet building code, you’ll need at least a 1200mm wide walkway into the toilets.
WCs should be located in the least prime position of the restaurant, usually towards the back as far away from seating as possible. Ensure each bathroom has enough toilets and sinks as well as adequate ventilation.
5. Creating Zones
The best restaurant floor plans divide the space up into clear zones. This can be done with physical partitions or cleverly broken up by positioning furniture, tables, or decor.
Zones make service much easier for staff and also make the restaurant feel less bare during quiet times. Guests can all be seated within the same zone to ensure there is still an atmosphere.
Your zones could include a bar zone, a zone with high seating for cocktails and less formal dining, a booth zone, a formal dining zone, etc.
The types of zones you include will depend on your restaurant. However, keep this in mind when creating a floor plan to maximise space and make it more inviting.
Need Help Maximising Your Floor Plan Design?
If you’re in the process of designing a floor plan for your restaurant and want the help of a professional designer, get in touch today. We specialise in designing functional yet beautiful restaurant floor plans and can help you design something truly special.
