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5 Important Design Considerations for Waterfront Restaurants

Sitting near the water can be a tranquil and uplifting experience. To make the most of it, your waterfront restaurant should employ certain design aspects to make your space inviting and pleasurable for guests. 

Here are some design considerations to keep in mind as you design your waterfront restaurant.

1. Ambient Lighting

You want your lighting to match the vibe of your venue. Consider hanging lights outdoors to provide ambient lighting for your guests. Ensure you consider all aspects of your lighting design, from accent lighting to lighting for specific tasks. Strategic lighting can create a lavish feel for any space or view.

Employ task lighting to illuminate walkways with hanging lights on railings or solar lanterns to keep guests safe and guide them on a path. Solar-powered lights can also emphasize your lush landscaping and draw attention to the natural assets of your property. Accent lighting, like lighting on the banisters of an outdoor deck or outdoor bar, can increase the comfort level of your guests as they visit after the sun has set.

2. Preventive Maintenance and Design

While you may not see preventive maintenance as a design concept, there are crucial elements that will save you time and money later.

Cleaning the condenser coils inside your refrigerator can prevent debris buildup, and boiling your fryers can save you energy and money. Using aluminum cabinets in your waterfront restaurant during the design process can save you hassle later.

Waterfront properties have myriad benefits, but preventive measures often get lost during the design phase. Design your concept around resilient cabinets, countertops, and other features. Such surfaces should be able to withstand weathering from the coastal sea air. The salty air can corrode metal surfaces and cause issues due to the ever-present moisture on your deck or patio. Aluminum fixtures can help remove unnecessary worry from the harsh coastal environment and provide safe storage solutions.

You’ll also want to consider preventive lawn care maintenance for the optimal environment for your guests. Ensure you design proper yard drainage with PVC piping to avoid flooding and soggy patches of grass. Strategically placing gravel in places where water drains can help prevent patches of dead grass and accumulating puddles that guests will have to try to avoid.

3. Comfortable, Welcoming Furniture

You want to ensure your waterfront restaurant provides comfortable seating for your guests. Customers who feel comfortable while enjoying their meals will likely stay longer and refer your place to their friends. If you have uncomfortable seating, it can distract guests from the rest of the atmosphere. They may not feel comfortable enough to enjoy their surroundings fully and want to leave.

Providing your guests with comfortable seating has many benefits that can help you make more money and be the best spot in town. Your seating should match the vibe of your restaurant and add to its overall appeal. Your chairs should be durable, comfortable, and fit your brand. Ensure your seating provides comfort for average and non-average customers so everyone can sit comfortably and it doesn’t take away from their overall experience in your restaurant.

4. Thoughtful Landscape Design

Clever landscaping tips can transform your waterfront restaurant into an outdoor oasis. Match your design elements with the decor inside your restaurant to maintain the same theme. You want to use continuity to provide a natural flow to your decor inside and outside your restaurant.

Get perennial plants that get stronger throughout the years and can provide foliage and ground cover. Ensure you offer flowers and plants that thrive in your climate and environment. You can use trees to create natural shade for your guests, who might want to relax when the sun goes down. You can utilize hardscape and softscape elements to emphasize areas of your property.

Water features, fire pits, and stone walls are hardscape ideas that can provide texture and utility for your outdoor space. Flower beds, shrubs, or wildflowers by the water are softscape ideas that can add interest and fun to the shoreline and elevate your space. Use curvy lines to direct the eyes of your guests to the elements and indicate the way for them to walk using secure pavers or another durable, comfortable surface.

5. Accessible Open Floor Plan

You’ll want to ensure you have an open floor plan for your waterfront restaurant. Every table will likely want to view the water as they dine. Angle the tables so there is plenty of room for open seating and for customers to move their chairs for a better view of the water.

You want to avoid having tables by the kitchen doors and having tables too close together. A packed house may be suitable for your earnings, but it creates an uncomfortable environment for your guests.

Open floor plans can also make your space easier to navigate for patrons. If you have tables outdoors, ensure you provide shade so the customers aren’t baking in the sun. You can get umbrellas for the outdoor tables or provide a shaded patio. Gazebos and natural shade can also offer areas for guests to retreat when they want a place to relax out of the sun.

Designing a Waterfront Restaurant

Your waterfront restaurant can provide a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for your guests to connect with their loved ones as they dine. With these design concepts, you can elevate your space and help customers feel more closely associated with their surroundings as they enjoy their time at your restaurant.

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