Why Thonet chairs still inspire in cafés, galleries and homes

You'll find them in Viennese coffee houses, Berlin studios, Parisian galleries, and modernly furnished city apartments around the world: Thonet chairs. What unites them? Their ability to blend into a wide variety of environments—while exuding character.

1. The café as a stage – why restaurateurs rely on Thonet

Anyone who sees a Thonet No. 14 in a café often immediately feels "right." These chairs create atmosphere without being intrusive.

The lightness of the bentwood, the graceful lines – they create space for encounters. Restaurateurs especially appreciate this effect: They want to not just offer guests space, but create a setting in which they linger.

There's also a very practical aspect: Many Thonet chairs are stackable, stable, and durable. Anyone looking to build a restaurant with a rich history will find them the perfect companion.

2. Gallery character – why creatives love Thonet

In galleries or studios, Thonet chairs appear almost like works of art in the room—understated yet with a strong formal language. Architects , scenographers , and designers in particular like to use them when furniture should not be loud but convey an idea.

A cantilever chair from the Bauhaus era, for example, appears in a loft space not as a reminiscence, but as a design statement. The clarity of these chairs allows other objects—paintings, sculptures, books—to breathe.

3. Arrived at home – how Thonet shapes living

Thonet chairs also work surprisingly well in private spaces. Whether at the dining table, in the home office, or as a solitary piece in the reading nook, these pieces of furniture bring a certain tranquility that can be combined with many styles – from minimalist to eclectic.

And they tell a story. Of craftsmanship. Of time. Of an aesthetic that endures.

Particularly popular today are:

• Thonet No. 14 – the classic with bentwood and Viennese wickerwork

• Cantilever chairs by Breuer or Mies van der Rohe – often with canework or leather

• Modern re-editions – classic in look, but with new materials

4. Furniture with cultural depth – not just beautiful, but significant

A Thonet chair never stands alone. It is a symbol of a furniture history that was not driven by trends – but rethought design.

The reason these pieces are still so popular today is that they don't appear old , but rather timeless . They bring history into rooms without overloading them.

Conclusion: Between everyday life and exhibit

Thonet chairs do exactly what many pieces of furniture today have forgotten: They enter into dialogue with the space. Sometimes quietly, sometimes clearly. And they leave room – for conversation, thoughts, and company.

Whether you're furnishing a café or redesigning your dining table, a Thonet is never out of place.