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Restaurant bathroom layouts


Anatomy of the Ideal Restaurant Bathroom

Leaving the dinner table for a visit to the restaurant bathroom can end in one of two ways. One: horrible—a waiting-20-minutes fiasco where the loo is less-than-pristine and the person in there before you gives you attitude for knocking. Two: A revelation, where you realize that the restaurant bathroom is your candlelit happy place and you want to emulate its design in your own home immediately. From soap selection to vintage imported tiles, here are some details that take these restaurants' bathrooms from unpleasant detours to dining out highlights.

Funky Tiles

Tiles are the new light wood, and design firm Hecho Inc. knows there's no better place to have fun with them than in a restaurant's bathroom. It's also a chance to use any vintage tiles that are hard to find in large quantities or a one-of-a-kind vintage lamp. "It's an opportunity away from the rest of the restaurant to have a little bit of fun," explains Hecho Inc. partner/designer John Kole, whose New York-based team has worked on Baby's All Right, The Knitting Factory, The Box, Stanton Social, and Beauty & Essex.

At Fung Tu (pictured), it was teamwork between the architect, MyPhuong Chung, and Jonathan Wu's wife, artist Jane D'Arensbourg, that brought life to the space. She picked the bathroom tiles and the distinctive red wallpaper in the dining room, inspired by a toon tree that grows in Wu's grandfather's backyard in China.

Paul Wagtouicz

Fung Tu, New York. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Or Funkier Wallpaper

When the rest of the restaurant is conservative, the bathroom can be the place to break free and decorate the walls with outrageous flamingo fractal wallpaper. Owners Vicki Freeman and chef Marc Meyer collaborated with Asfour Guzy Architects on the Vic's bathrooms and wanted to surprise diners with something trippy and whimsical. In the men's bathroom, that meant plastering the walls in zebra print that would make diehard New Yorkers nostalgic for Gino's on Lexington and 60th; the women's room, the site of a thousand selfies, was inspired by his friend's hair salon, Gwynne Mims, in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Making Scents

Luxury handsoaps—like Aesop or Eau de Italie—and a few sprigs of eucalyptus can add life, beautiful silver-green tones, and pleasant scents to an otherwise stale room. At The Grey (pictured below and also at the very top of this page), owner John Morisano wanted to maintain the footprint of the original bathrooms from the bus terminal that the restaurant inhabits, while also sprucing it up for modern diners. The new touches include the art deco flooring—soft black-and-white patterned tiles inspired by the main dining room at Paris' Chez L'Ami Louis that will patina quickly—intriguing artwork, and vibrant (but not overwhelming) plants.

Courtesy of The Grey

Photo courtesy of The Grey.

The Japanese Way

Toto heated toilets have achieved cult status with their built-in bells and whistles like bidets and ocean sounds. All other johns pale by comparison. And Tempura Matsui designer Shigeki Yoshimoto of Yoshimoto Architectural Design wanted to nail every detail—Japanese paper, bamboo, ceramic sink, the washlet—to make it as modern Japanese as possible.

Courtesy of Tempura Matsui

Photo courtesy of Tempura Matsui.

No Detail Unaccounted For

When the team at Four Horsemen was designing the bathroom, they wanted it to look like a Japanese hot spring bathroom. They also intended for their logo—a Picasso's Don Quixote-esque drawing of the four owners dressed as ghosts—to appear on little stickers affixed to each and every roll of new roll of toilet paper. It's the little things that count.

Alex Lau

The tranquil bathroom at Four Horsemen in New York, featuring detailed toilet paper add-ons. Photo: Alex Lau

Basically a Spa

Retreat to the restroom at Canlis, a fine-dining restaurant in Seattle, because it's basically a spa that you want to spend all of your time in. Designed by northwest architect Roland Terry, the women's room in particular is about bringing the outside inside. When you're having a tiff with an extended family member over climate change, you'll need a breather. And this bathroom will be there for you.

Courtesy of Canlis

Photo courtesy of Canlis, Seattle.

Go Big or Don't Go at All

Pick a theme and really commit to it. Here, the lighthouse-themed bathroom at New York's Red Hook Lobster Pound has curved mirrors and a giant beach umbrella. "The bathroom is the one place you actually spend time, generally speaking, alone in a bar or restaurant, so you actually notice the details," says Rumph.

The lighthouse-themed bathroom at Red Hook Lobster Pound. Photo: Black & Steil/Hecho, Inc.

Public Sinks

Sink placement is mostly a matter of personal preference. But when it comes to preventing crowded bathroom bottlenecks, the best move is to keep the sinks public. Otherwise (and this is especially true in single person bathroom situations), people take f-o-r-e-v-e-r making themselves at home in the individual stalls.

Grant Kessler

Publican, Chicago. Photo: Grant Kessler

Occupied or Vacant?

As we all probably agree, bathroom doors are crucial—and nowhere is that truer than when someone is determining whether the bathroom is vacant or occupied. Sometimes, the red occupied-green vacant toggle doesn't cut it, and Kole likes to remedy the eternal knocking vs. "Someone's in here!" back-and-forth before it becomes a problem: He installs obscured glass doors. "It's a little less claustrophobic and it's an automatic indication of whether someone's occupying it or not," he says.

Let There Be Light

You know what they say: Lighting, lighting, lighting. As designer Oliver Haslegrave of hOmE Studios, which designed Sisters, Tørst, Paulie Gee's, Rebelle, and more in New York, describes it, "Lighting is very important, as the bathroom is typically everyone's private mirror. We once put around four dozen lightbulbs in one bathroom; you don't need quite that many, but we always strive for a warm, even glow." Take New York restaurant Fung Tu's bathroom as a masterclass in the art.

Courtesy of Fung Tu

If we don't make it back to the table in a timely fashion, it's because we're staring at Fung Tu's bathroom's tiles and washing and re-washing our hands with luxury handsoap. Please send help. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Hold up! You might want to check out the design in this Wes Anderson-inspired bagel shop.

10 Must-Try Restaurant Bathroom Design Ideas

What Does Your Bathroom Décor Say About Your Restaurant?

Empty toilet paper dispensers, broken partition doors and jammed paper towel distributors are a restaurant patron’s worst nightmare. As an owner, your goal is to make your restroom feel like a temporary retreat. From touching up makeup to snapping a mirror selfie, women spend twice as long in a public restroom as men. With that in mind, it’s important that yours makes a good impression.

We spoke to The National Restaurant Consultants, VONN Lighting, Niagara Conservation and the U.S. Green Building Council to find out how to design a restaurant bathroom that will impress your guests.

10 Restaurant Bathroom Design and Maintenance Tips to Satisfy Guests

1. Clean Your Bathroom Regularly

First and foremost, your restaurant bathroom needs to be clean and presentable at all times. A dirty restroom can give guests an unsavory image of the kitchen and other areas of your establishment. Automatic air fresheners and nicely scented cleaning products make a big difference, too. 

Train your staff or cleaning crew on proper cleaning techniques and implement a cleaning checklist to:

Pro-Tip: Although it may seem like a no-brainer, displaying an “Employees must wash hands before returning to work” sign shows guests that you’ve trained your staff to make cleanliness a priority. 

2. Match Bathroom Design with Your Restaurant Décor 

If your dining space is painted in warm and inviting hues, entering a stark white bathroom can be off-putting for guests. Make sure your bathroom complements the rest of your décor to make your guests feel at-home throughout their experience.  

“The most important room of the restaurant is the women’s restroom, so we go to great lengths to make it very nice. Operationally, we take great efforts to instill in the staff how important it is to keep it clean because when women go to the restroom they imagine what it reflects on the kitchen, so that is extremely important.”

David Kincheloe | President, National Restaurant Consultants

3. Incorporate Automation in Your Restaurant Bathroom

Ever thought about how many germs are looming on the soap dispenser? Puts a bad taste in your mouth, doesn’t it? Minimize the number of surfaces patrons need to touch by installing hands-free faucets, soap dispensers and hand drying stations. 

And make sure you carry these efforts all the way to the bathroom door. “A lot of people don’t want to open the door with the handle,” said Kincheloe. “Place a trash receptacle right near it so people can toss their paper towel out as they’re leaving. ”


 

4. Make Privacy a Priority in Your Restroom Design

Privacy is key to making your guests feel comfortable in your restroom. Make sure all locks latch completely. Choose stall doors that minimize sightlines and install adequate partitions for urinals. Some restaurants even use wooden doors for each stall to create a truly individual space. 

5. Invest in Water-Efficient Toilets

When guests have trouble flushing, it leaves the next patron with a bad experience. Installing toilets with a strong flush, large water spot and elongated bowl will help keep a clean appearance. When replacing toilets, consider a water-efficient model to cut your water bill and help the environment.

“Use fixtures that not only look good but save you money. Technology is advancing for low flow toilets and the product quality is better and better each year. Pair a toilet with a strong flush and low water consumption with water saving faucets and cut your monthly usage exponentially. ”

Matt Voorhees | Director of Wholesale, Niagara Conservation

6. Install Energy-Efficient Lighting

Most restaurant restrooms don’t have windows, so lighting makes all the difference. To save money on electric bills, consider switching to LED lighting. Taking extra steps to minimize energy use will not only help boost your eco-friendly image, but keep money in your pocket.

“You need to have a light fixture that is constantly functional, so you can’t depend on the performance of a traditional lightbulb. Number one, you can’t change it in the middle of dining hours. And number two, it’s aesthetics – LEDs are slim, sleek, modern and serve all purposes from design, efficiency and maintenance.”

Serge Magarik | CEO & Founder, VONN Lighting


 

7. Hang Large Mirrors to Open Up the Space

Your guests spend more time looking into your bathroom mirrors than you think, whether they’re sprucing up for a first date or an anniversary dinner. Hang large mirrors to make the bathroom mirror-check enjoyable. This can also help a small restaurant bathroom appear larger. Bonus points if you hang a full-length mirror.

8. Maximize Space with Building Codes in Mind

When working with an architect or designer, you’ll want to design your restaurant to fit as many seats as possible. At times, this can limit the amount of bathroom space available. Make sure to work with a builder that is familiar with occupancy regulations and compliance issues related to the number of toilets per regular occupant in your area.  These factors are especially important for new construction.

“The goal of a restaurant is to get as many seats in as you can. When it comes to how big your bathroom is, we try to lay it out with the least amount of square footage possible to meet all the requirements.”

David Kincheloe | President, National Restaurant Consultants

9. Make Your Bathroom Accessible for Everyone

From cell phones and wallets to purses and jackets, your guests have their hands full – and nobody wants to set their stuff on the restroom floor. A few installations can make your restaurant bathroom more convenient. Hooks on the inside of stall doors make it easy for guests to hang belongings and flat toilet paper roll holders can act as stands for cell phones and wallets.

More importantly, make sure your commercial restroom complies with ADA requirements. Generally, a single wheelchair must be able to rotate within your bathroom and at least one stall should be handicap-accessible with a grab bar.

10. Consider Going Zero-Waste in Your Restaurant Bathroom

Guests notice when you’re running an eco-friendly restaurant. From composting paper towels to installing hand dryers, there are many steps you can take to make your restroom less wasteful. Consider using the TRUE Rating System from the U.S. Green Building Council, which aims to reduce your carbon footprint, support public health and encourage a zero-waste economy. You can even take it a step further and become LEED certified.

“A great way to reduce energy consumption is by doing an assessment of the products you’re currently using. More often than not, your vendors can provide you with options that are more energy efficient, such as LED light bulbs and appliances. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system is a great tool that guides restaurants through the process and provides third-party verification of design, construction and maintenance practices.”

Stephanie Barger | Director of Market Transformation, TRUE 

Ready to Design Your Restaurant Bathroom?

Finding creative ways to appeal to diners will keep your restaurant growing. Not only will you satisfy current guests, but many of these sustainable switches can help attract new customers and even cut costs down the line.

If you’re looking for more maintenance checklists and restaurant renovation tips, check out the Commercial section of our blog.

choose style and focus • Energy-Systems

Toilet in a restaurant: design and interior design

Whether you are a beginner restaurateur or an experienced businessman, you know the phrase “toilet is the face of the establishment” for sure. But sometimes the owners of the establishments neglect this important functional part of the restaurant, allowing for improper organization of space, the use of unnecessary partitions, non-functional cluttering walls, and inconsistency between the design of the restaurant and the toilet.

Finishing materials and decor items in the bathroom of the restaurant

The design of bathrooms in the restaurant can be different. If you have a classic European-style restaurant, continue this idea in the restroom. Create a comfortable room from which you do not want to quickly escape. Natural natural materials for decoration are always in trend. Wooden panels, wood-like tiles, textured plaster textures will be appropriate both in the decor of the hall and in the toilet room.

Decide on a color scheme. Use warm pleasant colors, muted shades. It can be both light neutral colors and saturated natural ones.

A bathroom in a restaurant, the design of which is decorated with pleasant details, evokes more pleasant emotions. Little things that are pleasing to the eye - wicker baskets with napkins, pouffes, antiseptic bottles and other things necessary for personal hygiene.

It is better to choose dimmed lighting. To do this, use overhead lighting with fabric lampshades that create diffused warm light. In the area with mirrors and sinks, directional lights are used that brightly illuminate the reflection.

An important area of ​​any bathroom is a sink with a mirror. Many restaurateurs don't like to install mirrors because they don't want the hassle of maintenance and fragility. Nevertheless, the mirror is an important detail in both men's and women's restrooms. Both business meetings and dates are held in restaurants. At both events, it is important for people to know how they look, if possible, correct their makeup or hairstyle.

Design of men's and women's bathrooms

The design of bathrooms in a restaurant for a different number of seats may differ. The fashion trend is to make combined women's and men's restrooms. The owners of the establishments believe that such a measure allows to reduce the queues to the women's toilet, promotes acquaintances and warm communication.

On the other hand, if you are a traditional toilet, consider designing the male and female parts of the bathroom. For the female part, choose gentle warm colors, natural textured materials. Arrange ottomans, organize a convenient stand for handbags and clutches near the sink. Make a bright highlight in the area with mirrors - women often fix their makeup and hair in the restroom. It is preferable to choose mirrors in full growth.

Rich dark shades, masculine colors are suitable for men's clothing: wet asphalt, blue, jeans, brown. To make the interior seem bright, choose bright overhead lighting. Mirrors are also important in the men's department. They may not be full-length, but large enough for a person to take a good look at himself.

Both departments can be creatively designed by combining one common idea. It can be a big interesting print on the whole wall. The plot of the prints may differ, but the style and graphics should be the same. This solution is actually quite cheap, but the style looks due to its creativity and originality.

The choice of specialists for restaurant bathroom design

Energy Systems designers know how important reputation is for every restaurant. One of the components of a good customer experience of your establishment is design. The design of the hall, as well as the design of the toilet. We offer services for the creation of design projects for restaurants and all its areas. For your convenience, we have developed a calculator that will help you calculate the cost of designing rooms of different sizes. In order to contact us, fill out the feedback form and our manager will contact you as soon as possible.

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How to Design a Restaurant Floor Plan [Examples and Tips]

Want to create a great floor plan for your restaurant?

Many decisive factors make a restaurant successful. A well thought out floor plan is definitely on this list.

This article briefly explains what a floor plan is and why you need one. We then teach you how to design a restaurant floor plan using many practical examples.

What is a restaurant floor plan?

A restaurant floor plan is a map of the rooms in your premises, accompanied by furniture and other items. This includes the waiting area, dining area, kitchen, pantry, restroom, bar, POS, staff area, etc. A restaurant floor plan will help you arrange all the elements in the right order and maximize the space.

It is very important to lay paths for the smooth movement of employees and guests. Arrange the table so that guests feel comfortable and feel private.

Why is it important to have a floor plan?

A restaurant floor plan gives you an idea of ​​your entire space. This can give you an idea of ​​how to make the best use of your space, as well as pave the way for customers and employees to move around comfortably. You can always change it when there is room for improvement.

Customers like privacy during lunch and fewer tables. And restaurateurs like more profit and more tables in the dining area. You can solve this problem by offering different types of seats.

Restaurant layouts and social distancing safety rules (after Covid)

Since Covid-19 has significantly impacted restaurants, in order to help this industry survive, restaurateurs need to take some action. Here are some important steps:

3 best restaurant floor plan software

With the technology now available to do everything on your phone or computer, you don't need expensive architects and planners to draw your restaurant's floor plan.

You can just use the software, get creative and make as many changes to your restaurant floor plan as you want. Here are some of the best programs you can use:

1. CAD PRO

It is used worldwide by more than 2.5 million users, but requires certain skills and basic knowledge. It offers sample plans and many valuable free features, but a subscription to the entire package costs $99.95.

2. RoomSketcher

It is more user friendly and you don't need any prior knowledge to start using this program. It has a base with many layouts, examples, 2D, 3D and 360 degree views, etc. It offers a free plan with some essential tools and a subscription for 49or $99.

3. Smartdraw

It has a variety of templates that you can use to draw your restaurant's floor plan. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac. SmartDraw offers a free trial for $9.99 per month.

Restaurant floor plans with examples

Depending on the size of your restaurant, the number of rooms and elements inside may vary. Here are some of our suggestions and examples of how to make the most of your space.

1. Dining area

The dining room is the most important part of the restaurant plan and should take up the majority of the space in your restaurant (60% - 40% of the total restaurant area). The dining area makes money, so it should offer your restaurant guests a great experience. The remaining 40% is the BOH area; staff room, pantry and kitchen.

As already mentioned, the distance between tables is important because people like privacy during lunch. Lighting and music, colors of walls and furniture, comfortable seating - these are the elements that affect the overall impression and atmosphere.

Depending on your concept, you will arrange all these elements so that they fit together well and save them that way; it will be your trademark. You can put up a picture or a sign, or decorate one wall to make it unique and impressive. This way, people will be able to take pictures of your restaurant and share them on social networks. This will make your restaurant popular.

How big should the dining area be?

The shape and size of your chair and tables can affect the use of space in your restaurant. However, you can mix different seating styles in your restaurant to make the most of the space you have.

Arrange your tables so that waiters can easily walk through and go to each table without disturbing guests at tables around. Install side tables in each area where waiters can temporarily store additional cutlery and plates. This is done in order not to run around the dining room, which can cause discomfort to guests during meals.

For business people who love privacy, it is good to have an isolated area. A couple of bar seats are a must; some people like to just sit in a bar.

But the bar can also be used as a waiting area. In this case, use tables for two, four or six people. You can also host community tables which are becoming very popular. Suppose there is a wide range of seating options; it will provide guests with various options in which they will feel comfortable. In addition, when arranging tables, take into account people with disabilities.

Image Credits: CAD PRO

2. Restaurant kitchen

Look at the flow of food and the different stations in the kitchen. In the kitchen you have a cooking area, inventory and pantry. The workplace or cooking area should be centrally located so that chefs and staff can look at each other.

This arrangement will prevent employees from colliding with each other during work. Thus, the flow of food becomes smoother and more efficient. This minimizes the chance of accidents in the kitchen.

Image Credits: smartdraw

3. Waiting area

When planning your restaurant floor plan, keep the waiting area in mind. The waiting room is where your guests wait before they can be seated at the restaurant. This is quite inconvenient and frustrating for customers.

So the least you can do is provide them with comfortable chairs and bar tables, instead of forcing them to stand and block the way to the restaurant entrance. Another option besides the waiting area is to offer bar seats to customers if there is enough space.

4. Outdoor dining area

A huge advantage of the restaurant is the presence of an outdoor dining area. It is great for days with good weather. It is also suitable for solving the problems and restrictions of COVID19.

The outdoor dining area should be an extension of your indoor dining area to improve the efficiency of waiter movement. It also helps waiters have a good view of the outdoor area. The ideal scenario is a garden-oriented area; it is aesthetically pleasing and gives your visitors privacy and comfort. Apart from tending the garden, there is not much to do here.

If your outdoor dining area faces a street with lots of traffic and people, some kind of barrier is needed to isolate the dining area from outside hustle and bustle.

This can be done by covering the area with glass or by building some kind of platform with a fence around. You can also surround the dining area with some plants and vegetation so that it is high enough to block off the street and isolate visitors from the busy street.

Image Credits: Cad Pro

5. Floor plan of the bar.

When making a restaurant floor plan for the bar section, try to maximize the capacity of the bar. As mentioned, some guests like to sit at the bar, but your bar can also interpret the waiting area if you don't have one.

Massive bar counters and comfortable bar stools create an excellent image and contribute to a relaxing atmosphere. The bar counter and seating areas should be positioned so that guests do not look at the rest of the dining area.

The bar usually only serves drinks. Therefore, guests are often served only by bartenders. There are times when bars also serve food, but in most cases the waiters are concentrated only in the dining area.

Straight and square rods may seem like they take up more space, but you can make full use of them. In this case, you can place more seating around the bar and increase the workspace for bartenders inside the bar. While round trellises may look more efficient, they take up space and leave many empty and unusable rooms.

Image Credit: Senaterace

6. Toilet plan

Make sure your restaurant plan has a clear location and signage so guests don't wander around. This way, they won't enter the service areas and constantly ask the waiters. Toilets should be easily accessible from the dining area, but still far enough away from the dining area because no one wants to sit next to a lavatory. Do not place tables near the entrance to the toilet.

Toilets must be clean, in good condition and segregated between women and men; this has a significant impact on the guest's overall bathroom experience. Good service and a decent space in your closet is a significant advantage.

Offer additional items such as shoe polish, pads, deodorants, sweets, or anything guests can make themselves; details are respected and affect the overall guest experience. There is one cabin for disabled guests.

Image Credits - smartdraw

7. Input

The entrance is important because it makes the first impression. Your entrance should attract people, not just those who specifically come to your restaurant. Therefore, the façade must be authentic and attractive in order to attract people walking down the street.

As with the dining area, the entrance should feel clean, calm and warm. Accommodate a host who warmly greets each guest and escorts them to available tables.

The layout depends on the overall concept of your restaurant, but people like an attractive and simple layout.

Post your menu in front of the entrance so potential visitors can show you what you have to offer. This way you make them stop for a while in front of your restaurant before you decide to enter. If possible, find a host to help them review the menu and submit a restaurant proposal, but only if they see an interest in potential customers for your restaurant.

Standing in front and "yelling" at guests to come to your restaurant can be quite annoying and off-putting. You can usually find it in tourist areas where all the restaurants offer about the same.

Create a small reception area where you can greet a guest and remove their coat. The entrance should be at street level or one or two steps before the main door. The entrances, where stairs lead down below street level to the cellars, are not entirely visible or accessible.

8. Emergency exits.

When planning emergency exits on your restaurant floor plan, map all the exits you have. Then you must make them visible to everyone. Exit signs during the evacuation process are very helpful in emptying a restaurant quickly and efficiently.

Normally, these emergency exits are not used at all, so employees use them for other purposes, and thus they can block these exits. Be sure to make them understandable and passable. There must be an emergency exit in every room of the restaurant so that no one is trapped during an accident. There should also be a fire extinguisher in every room.

Whether it's an exit from a window or a door, every room needs it. Train your employees in emergency situations and organize fire drills so they can prepare for such situations.

Image Credits: smartdraw

9. Staff room / Separate rooms

When creating a restaurant floor plan, be sure to group all private areas. Usually the staff room is located next to the kitchen area or office. Make sure you have enough space for your staff to rest during breaks.

Floor plans for small restaurants

You need to be creative in the face of limited space and shift the focus from your weaknesses to your strengths - creativity and what you offer. Restaurants require many different spaces and elements. However, you can merge some rooms and organize some rooms to save space.

If the space is small, make sure the ceilings are high because it makes the room look bigger and cozier.

Here are some examples of creative small restaurant design:

Here is an example floor plan for a small restaurant:

Image credit: CAD PRO

6 tips for designing your restaurant floor plan

Drawing up a restaurant floor plan is not easy, especially if you are starting from the very beginning. There is so much to do and you will feel like you don't know where to start. This is a complex process that requires a lot of time and time; however, here are some tips that can help you through the process.

  1. The 60:40 rule for space : Ideally, front-of-house (FOH) staff should make up 60% of your restaurant space, and the back of the house should make up 40%.
  2. Be aware of government regulations : Before creating a restaurant plan, be sure to check with your local government for all requirements because in some cases you need to get permission and submit a plan.
  3. Make Long Term Plans : When designing a restaurant, you must consider your short and long term plans. The materials you want to use, the repairs you may have in the future. Would you invest in the best materials and avoid future repairs, or would you build your restaurant step by step, working and making a profit?
  4. Experience your restaurant from the customer's point of view : Create an unforgettable experience for your guests while focusing on efficiency and cost reduction.

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