Leather booths and leather sofas for restaurants

Leather booth, leather sofa, couch: the word differs, not the workmanship

Enquiries usually mention a "leather sofa for a restaurant", a "leather couch for a venue", sometimes a "leather banquette". With us this furniture is called a booth, and that is how it goes into the quote.

This page is about the choice of material. If you are looking for a particular shape for an unusual room, see custom booths, and if you want to know what is inside the furniture, we describe it under upholstered booths.

Natural leather versus faux leather: what really separates them

Leather is the only upholstery material that looks better, not worse, over time. Patina on the backrest and wear on the seat edges build the character of the interior instead of signalling wear. But this works only with natural leather, and only when the venue has an idea for such a look.

Faux leather does not have this quality and does not pretend to. On the other hand, it takes daily cleaning better than leather, needs no conditioning and cares less about keys, studded handbags and fingernails.

In a venue with high turnover, faux leather is often the more sensible choice, and the price difference lets you put the budget into a longer run of seating. We say plainly which option will work in a particular room, instead of proposing the more expensive one by default.

Three models with a raised backrest and what they cost

Model	Price from	Dimensions	When it makes sense
Booth Basic Max	PLN 460 per linear metre	depth 50 cm, height 100 cm, seat 43 cm	the simplest version, where dividing the room into zones is what counts
Booth Nicea Max	PLN 780 per linear metre	depth 70 cm, height 120 cm, seat 43 cm	a calmer line, copes better next to bold decor
Booth Monaco Max	PLN 860 per linear metre	depth 70 cm, height 120 cm, seat 43 cm	the most representative form in the catalogue, for tables for special guests

See the model page: Booth Basic Max, Booth Nicea Max, Booth Monaco Max.

Leather versions have no fixed short lead time

Leather does not fit a single standard of colour and size, because every batch of material is different and the cut has to be planned for it separately.

For a leather order we agree the lead time individually after accepting the order, and before production we ask for at least 50% of the value on a pro forma invoice.

Leather needs a different cut than fabric

It is stiffer, does not stretch evenly and does not forgive a mistake in laying it out on the form. On top of that, every hide has its own size and its own natural flaws, which have to be worked around when cutting.

So for leather orders we plan the cut for a specific batch of material, not for a template. That is the main reason why a leather booth takes longer than the same form in fabric.

Care decides whether after two years the furniture looks mature or neglected

The most common damage to leather in hospitality does not come from use, but from the cleaning agent. A product that dries out the surface leads within a few months to cracks at the folds, exactly where the furniture works hardest.

We advise which products to use for a particular type of leather and faux leather. It is one of the things we go through at the handover of the order, rather than leaving it in a manual nobody reads.

We match the stitching to the rest of the interior

If the reception desk or the bar has a particular shade of wood or brass, we match the thread colour and the way the stitching runs to it. The point is for the booth to read as part of the decor, not as furniture placed next to it.

With leather this detail shows more than with fabric, because the surface is smooth and does not break up the line of the seam.

Premium venues rarely order the booth alone

To complete the set we make chairs, bar stools and poufs in the same material, so that the whole seating area keeps one level of finish. Chairs and tables follow a different rhythm than booths: 7 to 14 working days compared with 3 to 6 weeks. That does not mean two deliveries, though. We keep the finished pieces with us and hand over the whole seating area at once, which matters in a hotel lobby, because installation in such a space is done once.

In a hotel lobby this matters in particular, because guests judge the standard of the property in the first few minutes, before they reach the reception desk.

Leather and faux leather booths in real venues

You can see Booth Box I covered in faux leather at Naleśnikarnia 2.0 in Bytom. Instead of the standard black, the client chose burgundy, and the run of seats goes along an exposed brick wall. Faux leather works there every day for a simple reason: stains come off with a damp cloth.

See also booths chosen by type of venue: restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs and nightclubs.

Before we quote a leather order

Tell us whether you want natural leather or whether faux leather is an option, and what the daily turnover of guests in the room is. These two answers narrow the choice faster than going through the whole range.

Send us also a photo of the interior if the stitching is to be matched to an existing finish. We take orders from 1 linear metre: +48 535 080 040.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a leather sofa and a leather booth?

None, they are two names for the same piece of furniture. In the quote we use the word booth and give the price per linear metre.

Natural leather or faux leather?

Leather looks better over time, but it needs conditioning and copes less well with keys or studs. Faux leather takes daily cleaning and is cheaper, so with high turnover it is often the more sensible choice.

How much does a leather booth cost?

From PLN 460 per linear metre for Basic Max, from PLN 780 for Nicea Max and from PLN 860 for Monaco Max.

Can a leather booth be made at short notice?

No. A leather booth does not follow a fixed standard, because we plan the cut for a specific batch of material. We agree the lead time individually.

What should I clean a leather booth with?

The product is chosen for the type of leather, and we tell you which one at the handover of the order. The most common cause of cracks at the folds is a product that dries out the surface, not use itself.