Benefits of Outdoor Dining

Al fresco is an Italian phrase that means “in the cool air,” but in the restaurant industry, we use it to mean outdoor dining. When guests are offered the chance to sit outside versus indoors, they’re often likely to take it.

Eating outdoors is a popular trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. With that in mind, let’s look at the various benefits outdoor dining can bring to your restaurant.

Benefits of Outdoor Dining

Increase Revenue

Once you start adding physical space to your restaurant, you add more seats. More seats mean serving more customers, and more customers means higher profitability for your restaurant. Studies have shown that having a deck or a patio can increase your restaurant’s revenue by up to 30%.

Added Event Space

Live music. Outdoor movie nights. Birthdays and celebrations. No matter what type of event you’re thinking of having, outdoor spaces give you more room and flexibility to host special occasions that can bring guests in.

Freedom of Design

When designing an interior space, booths, tables, and other furniture pieces need to fit within the proper dimensions and typically can’t be reconfigured. However, in outdoor areas, pushing together tables or moving chairs around can make room for varying party sizes.

Improve Guest Experience

Providing your guests with an outdoor space can give them a place to feel more relaxed since it’s a more laidback, casual atmosphere. Dining in an environment like this encourages more alcohol consumption, which means more money for your restaurant. As an added perk, it makes them more likely to recommend your establishment to their friends and family.

Types of Al Fresco Dining

There isn’t just one style of outdoor dining space. Now that we’ve covered a few of the benefits they can bring, let’s dive into a few of the various types of al fresco dining and how they can add to your space:

Patios and Decks
Rooftop
Garden
Bier Garden
Sidewalks

Not sure how or if you can make outdoor dining work for your restaurant? Consultants like myself are here to guide you through the process. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, I’ve seen my fair share of restaurants go through this very same struggle. We want to help you build the foundation of a strong, profitable restaurant.

Let’s find your restaurant’s bread and butter. Fill out a contact form to set up an initial consult with Salt & Cayenne today. Cheers!