Eater Staff
Teetering on the arm of a sofa with your bouillabaisse? Let’s find you a real chair
If you have ever been to my apartment for a dinner party, I may owe you an apology. I have likely required you to shovel chicken Marbella in your mouth while squatting on an antique milking stool like a Bruegel painting peasant, or to squeeze onto a floor poof while sipping a glass of red wine. Not very elegant, and not very convenient for non-finger food gatherings (exempting the New York Renaissance Faire).
To be fair, hosting is hard in a big, expensive city like New York. Unless you live in what my friend group calls a “house-house” (city speak for any non-divided brownstone or multi-level building), you will have to figure out a clever way to comfortably seat your precious guests for a sit-down meal. Recently, Eater senior reporter Bettina Makalintal wrote about embracing more casual, potluck-style gatherings as a workaround to formal sit-down dinners. But for holidays, more formal gatherings, or any occasion when you want everyone to dine comfortably and at a proper table, you’ll need real seating — and for us small-space event hosts, the solution is foldable or stackable chairs that you can store in a closet or corner when they’re not in use and unfurl as needed. But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on design, and many of
So, what should you look for in impromptu seating and stashable chairs? Aesthetics factor in, of course, but so do durability, space-saving features, comfortable seats, and the ability to blend seamlessly with other attractive decor. Armless folding chairs might be the most versatile choice, but for other table configurations or apartments, stools might be a better choice.
Below, please find some vetted, verifiably appealing stashable seating including the best foldable and/or stackable dining chairs and even some of those honorable-mention stools. (Looking at you, Alvar Aalto dupes.)
The Best Foldable Dining Chairs
A touch of rattan caning
Rattan, but make it moodier
For a cozy Japandi feel
You’re a 70s design buff
The Best Stackable Dining Chairs
The perfect indoor-outdoor chair
Integrate corduroy fabrics for visual interest
You’ve been eyeing Cesca chairs
Don’t forget to check secondhand sites
Honorable Mention: Stashable, Stackable Dining Stools
If you’re an Alvaar Alto fan
This set turns into a side table
Now invite some friends over for raclette already.
