Think of Parisian cafés, garden restaurants, rooftop bars and even beachside eateries. They all have one thing in common: their indoor-outdoor dining experience sets them apart from the rest and meet guest needs. Sixty-nine percent of adults like having the option to sit outside, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Restaurant Industry Report. Customers are seeking a perfectly packaged experience alongside their meals. The layout, the lighting, the service and even the vibe all contribute to the experience.
What Is the Indoor-Outdoor Dining Experience?
Just being outside and in nature improves people’s physical and mental well-being. That’s why indoor-outdoor restaurants are popular — they provide the best of both worlds to their customers. Outdoor dining can take many forms, from patios to gardens and sidewalk dining to rooftops.
You don’t even need to rearrange your layout for the experience. Just having large windows or an open garage can bring the outside world to the comforts of your indoor restaurant space.indoor-outdoor dining experience.
What Are the Benefits of an Indoor-Outdoor Setup?
This setup is all about ensuring people leave your restaurant with a positive experience.
1. Strong Branding
One of the best things about indoor-outdoor setups is you instantly communicate your restaurant’s mood. A backyard alfresco dining area with abundant greenery and romantic lighting is the perfect spot for a date night. A bistro with plenty of tables and chairs outside will invite friends who want to have a relaxed place to hang out. People who love nightlife may opt for rooftop bars with stunning city views.
2. Free Marketing
Besides improving your branding, an indoor-outdoor setup basically acts as free advertising. Passersby can be enticed by the food your patrons are eating in the alfresco or garage restaurants.
Additionally, people are drawn to unique and aesthetically pleasing locations. Many enjoy posting their weekend plans at a hidden garden restaurant or sharing their discovery of a quaint corner cafe. User-generated content makes for a strong word-of-mouth case for their followers. Posts can significantly influence what others want to experience and the food they intend to purchase.
3. Being One with Nature
Restaurants overlooking the seashore and those with mountain-side views tend to attract a large number of people. Offering impressive viewpoints, fresh air and beautiful weather gives you an edge over others. Smaller, urban restaurants can achieve this by utilizing design. Create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor areas with potted plants, nature decor, and stone pathways.
Your restaurant can also bring nature indoors with a four-season sunroom. Customers can experience the beauty of the outside world without leaving the comfort and convenience of indoors.
How to Elevate Your Restaurant With An Indoor-Outdoor Layout
An indoor-outdoor setup is all about the little details that contribute to the experience. You want to create distinct moods for the indoor and outdoor dining areas while also ensuring a smooth bridge between them.
Choose the right tables and chairs for the setup, as they make or break everything. Diners should be as comfortable outside as they are inside. Consider placing similar elements in both areas, like lamps, knick-knacks, accent pieces and art. Build Instagram-ready spots customers can use and interact with.
Mastering the Indoor-Outdoor Experience
The indoor-outdoor experience prioritizes customer experience at its core. Restaurants can gain a loyal customer base when their needs are prioritized. Some of the expectations for this kind of setup are a fresh outdoor layout, a captivating mood, and a solid layout that easily guides customers back and forth through the areas.
