Rattan Bistro Sets
Rattan bistro sets give two people comfortable outdoor seating on a balcony, a small patio, a conservatory or a sunny corner of the garden. Every one here is a 2 seater bistro set in weatherproof outdoor PE rattan from Outsunny at Aosom: two armchairs with cushions, two footstools and a small glass-topped table, and most of the chairs recline from upright to 135°.
They suit couples, flat owners and anyone who wants morning coffee or an evening drink outside without filling the patio. Sizes, frames and recline angles are compared in the guide below. For a bigger table, see our rattan dining sets; for a sofa and armchairs, try our rattan sofa sets.
Outsunny 860-264V70CW Rattan Reclining Bistro Set (5 Piece, Cream)
Outsunny
- 5-piece rattan bistro set
- 90°-135° reclining chairs
- Waterproof PE rattan frame
- Removable washable cushions
- Two-tier tempered glass table
Outsunny 5-Piece Rattan Reclining Garden Chair Set With Footstools And Side Table (Dark Blue)
Outsunny
- Reclines 90° - 135° for comfort
- UV-resistant waterproof PE rattan
- Tempered glass two-tier table
- Removable washable cushion covers
- Fits garden, patio or balcony
Outsunny Rattan Chair Set 5-Piece With Cooler Table (Grey)
Outsunny
- Built-in cooler bar table
- Adjustable reclining backrests
- UV-resistant PE rattan
- Furniture cover included
- 160kg chair capacity
Outsunny 5-Piece PE Rattan Garden Sofa Set (Mixed Brown/Grey, 73cm x 73cm x 65cm)
Outsunny
- Arrives fully assembled
- 10cm thick washable cushions
- Aluminium rust-resistant frame
- Tempered glass coffee table
- Fits patios and balconies
Outsunny Rattan Bistro Set Reclining With Footstools (5-Piece, Orange)
Outsunny
- Reclining 90°-135° adjustable backrests
- 5-piece set with footstools included
- Removable washable cushion covers
- Tempered glass two-tier table
- Ready to use out of box
Outsunny Rattan Bistro Set 5-Piece Reclining With Footstools (Light Grey)
Outsunny
- Reclines 90° - 135° for comfort
- 5-piece set with footstools
- 5mm tempered glass table
- Washable removable cushion covers
- Ready to use out of box
Outsunny 5-Piece Rattan Bistro Set With Reclining Chairs And Footstools (Grey)
Outsunny
- Adjustable 90°-135° reclining backrest
- Half-round PE rattan on aluminium frame
- Removable washable seat cushion covers
- Two-tier tempered glass side table
- Anti-slip footpads protect surfaces
What are rattan bistro sets?
A bistro set is the outdoor version of a cafe table for two: a pair of chairs and a small table, sized for a balcony, terrace or patio rather than a whole lawn. Most outdoor bistro sets in the shops are 3 piece sets in metal, wood or rattan, and a 2 seat set like this makes the most of a small outdoor space. Rattan furniture for two swaps the classic folding metal chairs for woven armchairs with deep cushions, so it works as a place to relax as well as somewhere to put down a cup of coffee.
The sets in this collection go a step further than most garden bistro sets. Each one comes with two footstools, which double as extra seats when friends call round, and the table is a low side or coffee table rather than a dining height one. That makes them closer to a cosy companion set for two people than outdoor bistro furniture for eating full meals.
- Two cushioned outdoor armchairs
- Two matching footstools with cushions
- A small table with a tempered glass top
- Aluminium frames under the weave, so nothing rusts
Will a 2 seater rattan bistro set fit your space?
Measure before you buy. These sets are compact, but armchairs and footstools take up more floor than a compact folding metal cafe set. Here is roughly how much room each bistro set needs with the table between the chairs and the footstools in front, worked out from the sizes Aosom lists.
| Bistro set | Chair (W x D x H) | Footstool | Table | Floor space needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reclining bistro set (860-264) | 59 x 77-84 x 100cm | 53 x 50 x 42cm | 44 x 44 x 47cm, two tier | About 1.7m wide x 1.4m deep |
| Chair set with cooler table (860-168) | 75 x 82 x 97cm | 58 x 50 x 43cm | 51 x 51 x 58cm | About 2m wide x 1.35m deep |
| Garden sofa set (860-088) | 73 x 73 x 65cm | 63 x 63 x 31.5cm | 73 x 49 x 49cm | About 2m wide x 1.4m deep |
On a narrow balcony or a compact outdoor space, the footstools can sit to one side or go indoors, which takes about half a metre off the depth. If the chairs recline, leave another 40cm to 50cm behind each one so the backrest can travel without hitting a wall or railing.
- Measure the width and depth of the floor you have, wall to railing
- Take off 60cm for a walkway to the door
- Check the space left against the table above
- For a reclining set, check the room behind the chairs too
Rattan bistro sets compared
Here are the bistro sets in this collection side by side, with figures from the Aosom product details. Prices change daily, so the last column is a band rather than an exact price.
| Bistro set | Colours | Recline | Seat height | Max load per seat | Set weight | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reclining bistro set (860-264) | Grey, light grey, cream, dark blue, orange | 90° to 135° | 38cm | 120kg | 38kg | £530-£620 |
| Chair set with cooler table (860-168) | Grey | Adjustable push-back | 36cm | 160kg | 47kg | £550-£580 |
| Garden sofa set (860-088) | Mixed brown rattan, grey cushions | Fixed | 31cm | 160kg | 42kg | £420-£450 |
Seat heights are measured without cushions. The higher 38cm seat on the reclining set is easier to get in and out of, while the low 31cm sofa chairs feel more like lounge seats. The cooler set and the sofa pair take more weight per seat. All three are listed in a modern style.
Our pick of the bistro sets
Reclining or fixed chairs?
Five of the seven garden bistro sets here use the same reclining chair. The back pushes from upright 90° to 135°, so you can sit up straight for breakfast and, for comfort, lean back with your feet on the footstool in the afternoon. The cooler set also has adjustable backs. The garden sofa set has fixed, low seats with deeper cushions instead.
- Choose reclining if you read, doze or sunbathe outside and don't have room for loungers as well
- Choose a fixed bistro set if you want the lowest price, no moving parts and the thickest cushions
- For more chairs that lean back, see our rattan recliner chairs
- To lie fully flat, a pair of rattan sun loungers is the better buy
Frames, weave and glass
All of these seats are woven in PE rattan, a synthetic polyethylene weave made to look like natural cane. Unlike natural cane or wicker, it won't rot, crack or soak up rain, and it is weather resistant in strong sun too, which is why it is the usual choice for outdoor garden furniture in the UK. The reclining sets use a half-round weave, which is smoother and fuller than a flat strand.
Underneath, every frame is aluminium, which, unlike steel, can't rust and keeps the sets light enough to move: 38kg to 47kg in total, not each seat. Which? suggests checking the frame material and build in its guide to buying garden furniture, and an aluminium frame under a synthetic weave is one of the most durable combinations for outdoor use in British weather.
- Bistro tables have tempered glass tops, 5mm thick on the reclining sets
- The two-tier tables have a shelf underneath for books or a speaker
- Anti-slip footpads on the reclining bistro sets protect decking and patio tiles
Cushions and covers
Every bistro set here comes with outdoor seat and back cushions for comfort, so there is nothing extra to buy before you sit down. The reclining sets have polyester cushions with zipped covers that come off for washing. The sofa set has 10cm thick cushions, also with washable covers, and the cooler set uses olefin, a fabric that resists fading in the sun.
Only the cooler set includes a furniture cover. For the others, a waterproof cover is worth buying for the autumn and winter, and the cushions are best kept indoors or in a storage box when you aren't using them.
How to look after rattan bistro sets
A synthetic weave is low maintenance, but a few minutes a season keeps an outdoor bistro set looking new.
- Brush loose dirt and leaves out of the weave with a soft brush
- Wipe it down with warm water and a little washing up liquid, then rinse
- Let it dry fully before putting cushions or a cover back on
- Clean the glass with ordinary glass cleaner
- Check the recline joints and feet each spring
Ideal Home has a step-by-step guide to how to clean rattan furniture, and STIHL explains how to use a pressure washer on rattan safely on a low setting.
Other small garden furniture sets
If a rattan bistro set for 2 isn't quite right, these collections cover the next size up or a different style:
- 4 seater rattan garden furniture for a family patio
- round rattan garden furniture for eating outside
- rattan cube garden furniture that tucks away under the table
- grey rattan garden furniture and cream sets to match a colour scheme
- black rattan garden furniture or brown for a darker weave
Other shops also sell upright cafe-style sets, such as the Wentworth and Paris ranges, and folding outdoor bistro sets that pack flat. Those suit a tiny balcony where you need to clear the floor, but you lose the footstools and the recline.
Rattan bistro sets: your questions
Will a bistro set fit on a small balcony?
The reclining sets will if you have about 1.7m by 1.4m of clear floor. Put the footstools to one side or indoors to save another half metre, and leave space behind reclining chairs.
Can I leave a rattan bistro set outside all year?
Yes. The woven seats and aluminium frames are made for outdoor use and won't rust. Use a waterproof cover over winter to keep off dirt and leaves, and store the cushions somewhere dry.
Do these bistro sets come with cushions?
Yes, every set includes seat and back cushions, and the footstools have cushions too. Most covers zip off for washing.
Do the bistro sets need assembling?
The reclining bistro sets are ready to use out of the box and the sofa set arrives fully assembled. The cooler set needs some simple assembly.
Can I add a parasol to bistro furniture?
None of the tables are listed with a parasol hole, so plan on a cantilever or free-standing parasol with its own base beside the set.