The problem we solve
Most café fit-outs begin with equipment purchases and end with a counter that blocks the window, insufficient power at the grinder station, and a queue that spills onto the pavement. These are layout failures, not equipment failures — and they are expensive to fix after construction begins.
Our café layout package resolves spatial decisions before your contractor breaks ground. We model customer flow from entry to order to pickup to seating, ensuring every square metre contributes to throughput and comfort.
What's included
- Scaled floor plan (1:50) — Furniture layout with dimensions, circulation paths, and minimum clearances per DL 163/2006 accessibility requirements.
- Counter elevation — Equipment zones for espresso machine, grinders, batch brew, refrigeration, and POS with vertical clearance annotations.
- Queue flow diagram — Entry-to-order-to-pickup path with peak-hour capacity modelling (customers per hour at 1.2 m² per person).
- Seating analysis — Cover count, dwell time assumptions, turnover projections, and banquette vs. loose seating ratio recommendation.
- Power & data schedule — Outlet positions, circuit load estimates, and data point locations for POS, Wi-Fi access points, and security.
- Lighting scheme — Three-layer plan: ambient (general illumination), task (counter and menu board), accent (feature wall or display).
- Material palette — Work surface, floor, wall, and upholstery specifications with performance notes (durability, cleanability, slip resistance).
Pricing tiers
| Tier | Floor area | Timeline | Price (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 25–45 m² | 3 weeks | €1,850 |
| Standard | 46–75 m² | 3–4 weeks | €2,350 |
| Extended | 76–120 m² | 4 weeks | €2,950 |
| Multi-zone | Two distinct areas (e.g. café + retail) | 4–5 weeks | €3,480 |
All tiers include two revision rounds. Additional revisions: €540 per major round. See full pricing for add-on modules.
Ideal for
- First-time specialty coffee shop owners preparing a shell-and-core unit
- Existing cafés planning a counter relocation or seating expansion
- Franchise operators adapting a brand standard to a specific Lisbon plot
- Property developers including a café concept in a mixed-use ground floor
- Bakeries adding or redesigning customer seating areas
Case example
Our Príncipe Real project transformed a 42 m² corner unit into a 34-seat specialty coffee bar with a linear counter facing the street window. By repositioning the espresso station 1.2 metres from the entry, we reduced queue spillover by 60% during peak hours and freed a 6 m² zone for four additional two-tops. Total concept package: €2,350. Read the full case study.
Request a café layout quote