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The must-have outdoor furniture of the summer? A bistro set
The ultimate edit of all the latest variations on the iconic Parisian staple to shop now
Whether you’ve got an urban balcony with a small footprint, a sunny terrace or a spare patch in the garden, a bistro set is one of the easiest ways to create a chic outdoor dining zone. Originally inspired by street-side cafés in Paris, where pedestrians and diners compete for space, these slender dining chairs and tables are both practical and stylish. Here, we’ve rounded up the best bistro sets to suit every outdoor aesthetic.
'Thorvald' bistro set, &Tradition
If anyone knows how to design a good bistro set, it’s Space Copenhagen. The design duo, which specialises in restaurant interiors, is best known for a Nordic aesthetic and supremely comfortable designs, and ‘Thorvald’ is no exception. Featuring a gridded lattice seat and skinny, rounded cafe table, the set is both durable and weather-resistant. £1,075 for the set, hollwaysofludlow.com
‘Deville’ bistro set, Hay
Longstanding Hay collaborator Julien Renault came up with the design for the ‘Deville’ following a visit to a restaurant in his hometown of Brussels that was furnished with Thonet’s iconic wooden 1920s bistro chairs. ‘I have always loved the atmosphere of this place, and the simplicity of the set tables and their wooden chairs,’ he says. ‘Reinterpreting the bistro chair through the use of aluminium seemed like an interesting starting point.’ From £319 for a chair, hay.dk
‘Kei’ bistro set, Nooma
Crafted from damage-resistant steel, this dining chair by Anna Pietkun, Zuza Muszalska, Alicja Molin´ska and Damian Golin´ski is designed to withstand all seasons. Available in a soft beige, olive green and black, the muted palette is a gentle nod to the outdoors. £277 for a chair, uk.noo.ma
‘A.I Lite’ bistro set, Kartell
The sinuous lines and organic forms that have come to define Philippe Starck’s practice are celebrated in ‘A.I. Lite’, a chair crafted from recycled thermoplastic. Durable, accessible and effortlessly modern, the set adapts seamlessly to dining spaces, work areas or outdoor settings – a smart expression of evolved contemporary design. From £386 for, heals.com
‘Carmel’ bistro set, Gubi
Small outdoor areas can still be functional, and this chic bistro dining table is ideal for more compact terraces and balconies. Designed by OEO Studio for Gubi, the glazed Italian stoneware top is both stylish and durable. £1,299, gubi.com
‘Aligned’ bistro set, Valerie Objects
Maarten Baas, the designer of this collection, is known for his playful style, and these pieces do not disappoint. The intention was for them to look like a sketch – with Baas meticulously recreating the imperfect lines he first created with paper and pen in durable aluminium steel. Table, approx £700; chair, approx £310, valerie-objects com
‘Allaperto Bistrò’ dining set, Ethimo
Do your outdoor dinners tend to extend into sundowner drinks and beyond? This outdoor dining armchair by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez may be the garden seating for you. It’s built for comfort, with its woven seat and embracing wooden arms perfect for lengthy parties. Price on application, ethimo.com
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