Design Ideas for Concrete Countertops in Restaurants

Get inspiration for using concrete to create custom restaurant countertops


Concrete serving counters and bartops in restaurants are not only highly functional, they often become the major focal point of the room. To make them more festive, contractors embellish them with decorative effects not normally used for utilitarian kitchen countertops, such as LED lighting, glow-in-the dark aggregate, recycled wine bottles, and logos or other graphics. They can also be custom sized to accommodate any crowd, from an intimate wet bar for two to an expansive gathering space for the patrons of a busy brew pub or nightclub. Check out these design ideas and projects.

Find local concrete countertop contractors who can create the perfect counter for your restaurant.

Common Characteristics of Restaurant Counters:

  • Smooth, polished surfaces that are easy to clean and won't trap dirt.
  • High-gloss finishes that reflect overhead lighting.
  • Color schemes ranging from neutral (natural gray is especially popular) to vibrant hues, such as bright orange.
  • The use of food-grade sealers to protect the surface from spills and stains.
  • Bartops are generally taller and have deeper cantilevers than standard countertops to allow ample legroom for seated guests. For guidance, review these industry standard dimensions.

How to Customize a Restaurant Countertop:

  • Embed or stencil items in the countertop surface that convey the theme of the establishment, such as melted and flattened wine bottles, the restaurant logo, and beer bottle caps, to name of few.
  • Use a custom color that matches the restaurant logo or interior decor.
  • Because concrete can be molded into any shape, you can tailor the countertop to suit the space and use curvilinear silhouettes, such as horseshoe or S shapes.
  • To create a cohesive look, consider using concrete for all the surfaces in the restaurant, including the bartop, dining tables and reception desk.
  • Incorporate fiber-optic lighting or glow-in-the-dark aggregates into the countertop for subtle nighttime illumination.

See these restaurant concrete countertop projects:

Mixed-Media Bar Top Combines Concrete, Wood, and Steel

The concrete for the 45-foot by 36-inch bar top was cast in the shop in four sections and pigmented a dark charcoal gray. In order to produce a seamless effect, stainless steel bars were used to connect the four pieces.


Concrete Bartop Enhances Upscale Tavern

Enhanced by decorative white marble aggregate and a 3-inch drop edge, this concrete bartop at The Ram Restaurant & Brewery brings a touch of class to the beer drinking experience.


Concrete Bartop Enhances Upscale Tavern

Enhanced by decorative white marble aggregate and a 3-inch drop edge, this concrete bartop at The Ram Restaurant & Brewery brings a touch of class to the beer drinking experience.


Bartop Adds ‘Artisinal’ Flair to Microbrew Pub

This 25-foot-long concrete bartop at The Surly Goat in West Hollywood is the perfect complement to the brewpub’s low-key design scheme of gray, charcoal, and burgundy red walls and wood paneling. Multiple layers of sealers and protective finishes protect the bar from food and beer stains.


Orange Concrete Countertop Makes a Bold Design Statement

The 11-foot dining countertop at the Crave Restaurant in Castle Rock, Colo., is colored a vibrant orange to match the color of the restaurant's logo. A custom mold was used to build the countertop in one piece, without seams.


Seamless Restaurant Countertop Looks Like Slate

This large L-shaped concrete countertop/bar was cast-in-place without any seams to look like a solid piece of slate. A broken-slate edge treatment completes the effect.


Historic Distillery Puts Its Name in Concrete

The concrete bartop for the historic Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Mich., displays an exact representation of their logo, created using a custom sandblast stencil and airbrush-applied dye. An aged dark-gray finish fits right in with the distillery’s old walls and wood flooring.


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