Architectural Tips for Restaurant Layout and Floor plan

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Although the quality of the meals a restaurant offers is important, a restaurant is rated by more than that. The restaurant layout plays an important role in how the restaurant is seen by prospective patrons. This is the groundwork of the restaurant, everything starts from the layout. For example, the comfortability a restaurant offers is as a result of the restaurant layout and floor plan and considering the architectural tips.

The restaurant layout covers general areas like the kitchen, restroom, and even the entrance. However, more often than not, these “little” details are often not given the right attention, rather, restaurant owners tend to focus on the dining room (table and chairs). Neglecting the fact that the restaurant architectural design and layout are crucial in creating a positive customer experience.

Here are architectural tips for an awesome restaurant layout.

Consider the Primary Spaces in Your Restaurant Floor Plan

Like every other building, restaurants have primary spaces you must consider. Your operational workflow depends on how you handle these primary spaces. These primary spaces are:

• The Kitchen

The rule of thumb for the amount of space a kitchen should occupy in a restaurant layout is 40%. You might ask the, why so much space, seeing as patrons won’t use this space? Well, the kitchen is the engine room of a restaurant. Hence, starting at this point would ensure you give the kitchen its much-needed space.

• Restrooms

Most restaurant owners prefer to place the restroom far from the kitchen in the restaurant layout. However, placing the restrooms close to the kitchen would mean lower plumbing costs. If you have a large enough space, you can include a staff-only restroom.

• The Dining Area

This is, to many, the main part of a restaurant layout. It is where you receive patrons. The most important thing to consider in this space is the traffic flow and seating arrangements. Once this is accomplished, you can design to your taste.

• The Entrance

The entrance is also an important part of the restaurant layout, it should communicate what exactly you do indoors.

Place and Plan your Kitchen Space First in your Restaurant Floor Plan

Planning your kitchen space first is important in developing a great restaurant layout or restaurant floor plan. The importance of placing your kitchen first cannot be overemphasized, the placement of your kitchen says a lot about your operational workflow. 

For me, the kitchen is the most important piece of a restaurant floor plan. Because, if it doesn’t work, neither does your whole restaurant. According to the Total Food Service magazine, your kitchen should take thirty to 40 percent of your restaurant floor plan space. 

Additionally, after placing and allocating your kitchen the right amount of space, the next thing is to decide on which design to give it. There are varieties of designs to pick from, however, here are the primary commercial kitchen designs.;

• Assembly Line
• Island
• Zone

Place Restrooms Second in your Restaurant Floor Plan

Although the plumbing system of your restrooms can be tied to that of your kitchen, restrooms should be separate from the kitchen and Dining area. I can’t think of many, who would love to walk into a restaurant, having to spot a restroom so close to the dining area.

In the restaurant layout, place the restroom adjacent to the dining area, however, making sure it does not open directly into the dining area but, at the same time, keeping the restroom easily accessible from the dining area. 

Placing your restroom after your kitchen is an awesome plot. Because this way you can save plumbing cost. However, depending on your restaurant layout space, you might need to plumb your restroom differently. So, be careful when placing your restroom.

Additionally, don’t consider the restroom less important and allocate a very tight space to it. Rather, your restroom should have enough space, with easy-to-access fixtures.

Place and Design the Dining Area Third in your Restaurant Floor Plan

The next step to consider in planning your restaurant architectural design is placing your dining area. The dining area is the main area patrons see. therefore, should have the biggest allocation.  60% of your restaurant layout for your dining area or dining area plus bar, depending on your preference.

The design for this area is really up to you, your taste, how services are rendered and your overall mode of operation. Pay much attention to the design of this area, as it is the area where your patrons see what your brand is all about.

Place the Entrance Last in your Restaurant Floor Plan

Isn’t this ironic, placing the first place your patrons see last. Placing your entrance last in your restaurant floor plan says a lot about how important it is. It is the last step on this list because it is important to allocate spaces to the other elements first. Besides, most restaurant architects I know, design the entrance last when designing a restaurant floor plan.

Designing according to this my list will ensure you don’t over-allocate space to the entrance, rendering your kitchen and restroom space-short. Your entrance can be small or large depending on your restaurant concept. For example, a cafe concept will require minimal entrance.

Your entrance is the first point of contact your patrons make with your brand and restaurant. Therefore, make sure it communicates, well, your brand.

Conclusion

I hope these few steps will guide you when developing a restaurant layout or floor plan for your restaurant. The restaurant floor plan controls the traffic and workflow of the restaurant. Whether it be a full remodeling or a new restaurant, the quality of the restaurant architect you consult matters. MEEE Design Services is the home of the best restaurant architects you can find on earth.