Good Questions: Real French Bistro Table Source?

Hello AT,

Do you know anywhere in the city to get these beautiful French bistro-style tables? (see picture) I've seen them at Keith McNally's Schiller's Bar on the Lower East Side, they feature a cast iron base with aged white-marble or worn dark-wood top.

Thanks, Roland

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Dear Roland,

The genius of places like Schiller's is that they complete the ambiance by stocking the real thing and don't shop where everyone else shops. We've seen these a hundred times in Paris, but never in NYC. We suspect that they imported them, though there may be a US resource we don't know about. Does anyone????

Comments (27)

This place is in Mass. Not cheap, but the tables probably last forever. A good idea for a tiny New York kitchen.

http://www.frenchgeneralstore.com/home/bistro.html

Try the Bowery District where there are many restaurant style pieces. You can definitely buy the base there (I am sure of that). The second thing is to call Schiller's and ask them where they purchased the tables. Sometimes smaller restaurant (not really Schiller's) may even have extras and will sell it to you, if you ask.

Forget everything that I said and just go with Rob's suggestion. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. Nice job, rob.

You might want to try Urban Archaeology. They'll be expensive but you might just find the right table there.

Ditto what Pierre said what Rob said. :) That's definitely your best bet.

I've been looking for a round table like that, something smaller than usual 33", for a very long time. Always wonder why can't the industry never come up with things for square-foot-challenged urban dwellers who only love beautiful yet moderately priced. I bet there are many of us in every cities. It doesn't have to be a decorative heavy cast-iron legged one but nice enough to look at in a shoe box. I checked Rob's but it was expensive.

the funny thing is that if do a google image search for french bistro table, the first hit is for that very image at the top of the page which is from the very store that rob linked to.

BTW, Keith McNally does source his stuff from France. He reportedly spent $1M importing the marble counters, aged mirrors etc. from old restaraunts in Paris for Balthazar. I'm sure he did similar things for Pastis, Schillers etc.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I guess my best bet is the place in Massachusetts.

Definitely go with the Mass. store. I found the same table being sold as an antique on a couple of other sites for 2x as much.

BTW it's worth a trip to Nantucket if you've never been, but go off-season. Also, be sure they are still in business. A lot of these "resort" location businesses come and go without a word. (I should know, I was one of them!)

The Butler and the Chef in San Francisco has real deal French antiques and sometimes stocks these tables. They are SUPER expensive, but if you're looking for the real thing, this is the place to go....

www.thebutlerandthechef.com

The Butler and the Chef was one of the sites that I looked at too. But Jean Marc Fray in Austin, TX had the exact table and the table is going to be listed on E-Bay live auctions on 06-04-06 at 4 pm with an opening bid of $50.00. It looks like they set a reserve price with an estimated price of $1,800.00 - $2,300.00 USD. At $625 the Nantucket store's table is a steal. :)

Oops! Sorry. It's $675.

It's certainly not a replica, but for those on a budget Ikea has a similar small top bistro-style table in their Summer line. Click on my name for a link to the site. Now all you need is a pair of beautiful wicker Parisian bistro armchairs.

I went to Schillers and the waiter told me that not only did the furnishings come from France, but every tile as well.

We import these authentic french cafe table bases and metal rims for whatever size table you want. They are fairly priced for the quality and design. You can't get anything that looks as good for cheap. Check out our website www.cafesocietystore.com and contact me if you have any questions.

Cheers!

Here's one for $675

http://www.frenchgeneralstore.com/home/bistro.html

I'm looking for one too however $700 is too much for an outdoor patio table. I ordered a cast iron base similar to the picture on this page for $120 and will have a table top of white marble made in my area. I'm trying to solve the metal edging detail and top to replicate the real French bistro table for $300.

looking for simular tables,for nice cafe in South Wales.G B. someone please reply. THANK YOU.

Amazing, aside for some $700-$1000 products from France on a few web sites and specialty stores, I cannot find tables as mentioned at retail. I started looking on Craigs list and I've managed to buy 4 used ones all from different sources. I now have 2 white marble top tables and 2 black marble top tables, average price $60 each!

I have many antique bistro table
some are very nice and extremely rare.
the table you show is the more common as it's a reproduction and you can find it in many shop in Europa.
I have one wonderfull old and and rare with Lion's feet marble top and copper ring
picture available

I really need a source for these tables where I can buy about 20 for a hotel we are designing. Any help would be appreciated.

Check out this web site:
http://www.cafe-tables.com/granites.asp

You can get authentic French bistro tables in the U.S. from TK Collections in New York. They are importers of cast iron cafe table bases and tops directly from France. In addition they also sell the authentic hand made French cafe bistro chairs that are so wonderful. They are "To the Trade" so wholesale only, but very good.

http://www.tkcollections.com/bistrochairs_tables/tables/

French Cafe and French Bistro chairs add a natural decor to an outside patio. The chairs still have a French feel to them, but the name "bistro" has been said to developed in Russia. Actually one of the best places online that has bistro furniture sets for sale is TK Collections. I always tell the story of my mom who thought a bistro was a health drink over a family vacation. It was my effort to create my blog site (http://frenchbistrochairs.org). It's still in development, but it helps most who don't know.

As noted, we sell authentic French cafe/bistro tables, table bases, and metal rims, on our online store to the public as well as to the trade:

http://www.cafesocietystore.com

These cast iron table bases come in the gueridon (pedestal) style--as in your photo--for round or square tops, as well as trestle style for rectangular or oval tops.

The bases range in size from very small to quite large. We offer complete tables, bases only, metal rimmed tops only. The tops can be made with laminate, marble, or wood.

We have the French cafe chairs as well as all the bits and pieces that make up the cafe lifestyle!

I just bought french bistro table from Cambria Cove.
http://www.cambriacove.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=bistro+table&search=Search&omniPageName=Checkout%3A+Shopping+Cart&search.x=33&search.y=6&search=Search

I also liked Pottery Barn's, which is reasonably priced.
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/manchester-metal-travertine-bistro-dining-table/?pkey=e%7Ctable%7C70%7Cbest%7C4294966685%7C1%7C24%7C%252Ftable%252Foutdoor%7C18&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||Category-_-Outdoor-_-Sku_Top_Marketing_Rule-_-

You can try to order from french website, too. (If you speak french and willing to contact them for shipping cost to the U.S.)
http://www.plaque-emaillee.fr/decoration/list/483__gueridons-commande