Dimensions for eating, not for sinking in
Dining banquettes sit higher and firmer than lounge seating. A seat height of about 45 to 47 cm once compressed, matched to tables at 75 cm, keeps elbows at the right level. Seat depth of 45 to 50 cm lets guests sit upright; deeper seats push them back and away from the plate. The backrest is usually 40 to 50 cm above the seat, higher for a cosy booth effect.
Allow around 60 cm of length per guest, a little more for a generous room. The gap between the banquette and the table edge must let guests slide in without pulling the table: we draw tables and banquette together on the plan.
| Dimension | Usual range for dining | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height (compressed) | 45 to 47 cm | elbow height at a 75 cm table |
| Seat depth | 45 to 50 cm | upright posture |
| Back height above seat | 40 to 50 cm | privacy and acoustics |
| Length per guest | about 60 cm | number of covers |
Built for service: frames, foams and fabrics
Restaurant seating takes more wear than any domestic sofa. Partner upholsterers build on hardwood or metal frames, with high-resilience foams that keep their shape, and fabrics chosen on their contract data: abrasion resistance, cleanability and colour fastness. Leather and coated fabrics wipe clean; velvets and wool weaves soften the acoustics but need regular cleaning. A removable seat cushion or back panel makes future reupholstery quicker.
Banquettes are freestanding furniture, made in sections and joined on site. Fixed wall cladding or built-in joinery is a different trade and is carried out by the contractors you appoint; Soul Design does not sell works.
- sections sized to pass the door and the stairs
- plinth or legs chosen for floor cleaning
- seams placed where wear is lowest
- spare fabric kept for repairs
Fire rules for French restaurants
Restaurants open to the public are type N buildings under French fire safety rules. Upholstered seating is assessed as an assembly of fabric and filling, and EN 1021-1 and -2 are commonly requested in specifications. The proof is a test report for the delivered assembly, so we choose fabrics with documentation and keep the reports for your file. The inspection body or safety commission confirms the requirement for your premises.
Straight, curved, back-to-back
Straight runs along a wall are the simplest and most efficient. Curved banquettes and booths give privacy but take more space and more skill; back-to-back banquettes divide a large room without a partition. We sketch options on your plan with the number of covers each produces, so the choice weighs atmosphere against capacity.
Typical cases
Typical case
A Paris bistro gaining covers along one wall
- Situation
- Loose chairs along a 9 m wall waste space and block the service aisle.
- Our approach
- A straight banquette in three sections, with tables at 60 cm spacing, adds covers and clears the aisle; fabric chosen in a wipeable contract grade.
Typical case
A restaurant in a cellar with a narrow staircase
- Situation
- Curved booths are wanted, but nothing longer than 1.80 m can go down the stairs.
- Our approach
- Booths made in short modules assembled in place, with hidden joints and an upholstered back panel on each module.
Typical case: a representative situation, not a completed project.
What decides the price of a banquette
Banquettes are quoted per linear metre and per section once the drawing is set. Main variables:
| Item | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Length and shape | straight, curved or booth, number of sections |
| Fabric or leather | contract grade, fire testing, quantity of pattern matching |
| Frame and base | wood or metal, plinth or legs, storage underneath |
| Delivery and assembly | access, stairs, night delivery |
Quotes are line by line, with the workshop’s announced lead time confirmed in writing when the order is placed.
How we work
- 01
Survey of the room
Wall lengths, floor level, heating, sockets, access route.
- 02
Drawing with tables
Banquettes and tables on the plan, with the number of covers.
- 03
Fabric and comfort samples
Swatches with fire documents, foam density tested by sitting.
- 04
Production by partner upholsterers
Launched only after your written approval.
- 05
Night or morning installation
Sections assembled and aligned, room ready for service.