A Comprehensive Guide to Breakfast Bar Worktops

Last Updated on September 4, 2024

Unlock the Secret to a Perfect Morning and delve into our latest read before committing to your breakfast bar journey!

What is a breakfast bar?

A breakfast bar is an extension of your typical kitchen countertops. They can either be free-standing, similar to kitchen islands, or they can have a peninsula shape and be located at the beginning, middle or end of the kitchen worktop.

Depending on the layout, worktop type and the size of the kitchen, standard-sized breakfast bar worktops can have any width between 720 – 900mm, and a large breakfast bar can be up to 1,200mm wide.

Similar to kitchen islands, breakfast bars provide additional storage. However, the main goal of the breakfast bar worktop is to provide additional seating for the household. Typically, they are installed above kitchen cabinets with a large overhang on one side that provides legroom for a seating area.

Check out our Oak worktops

Shop now

Check out our Oak worktops

Shop now

Why are breakfast bar worktops a great addition?

A breakfast bar is the perfect addition to any home as it has the remarkable ability to bring the whole family together. With one person cooking and others using the space for dining, working or studying.

The benefit of having such an addition will have an amplified effect especially for extremely busy households.

Breakfast bar worktops offer numerous benefits that extend far beyond their monetary value.

Kitchens are not only the place where people spend most of their free time; they are the true centerpiece of our homes. In this regard, breakfast bars can rightfully claim the position of being the heart of every kitchen.

Ideal option for young families

Breakfast bars would be ideal additions for families with kids, offering not only a dedicated space for meals, but also serve as an additional study area. Parents can ensure that their kids are fully utilising their time studying while they are prepare the dinner, creating a seamless and productive environment for the whole family.

Breakfast bars can actually save time

Breakfast bars offer a valuable time-saving advantage. Particularly for small families, these versatile areas can become the primary space for enjoying the majority of their meals. With the breakfast bar conveniently located near the main cooking area, serving and cleaning up before and after meals becomes a breeze. In contrast, preparing and tidying up meals in the dining room or living room can be a laborious process. Embracing the efficiency of a breakfast bar ensures a streamlined and hassle-free dining experience. Plus, breakfast bars can be considered as the ideal place to host guests, while we are still doing the food preparations.

What is the most popular choice for a breakfast bar worktop?

When it comes to breakfast bar worktops, wood, especially oak, are one of the favourite picks. There are several compelling reasons why oak breakfast bar worktops are a households’ top choice.

First of all, wooden worktops are exceptionally versatile as they can complement any kitchen style – be it modern or traditional. Considering the stunning range of high-quality wood stains available in the market, matching your wooden worktops to your cabinet colour and style has never been so easier. This is perhaps one of the other reasons why wooden worktops are becoming a very popular choice among contemporary kitchens. 

Over time, you can upcycle the look of your kitchen simply by updating the colour finish of your worktop. In this case, you can completely transform the look of your kitchen, breathing new life into the space.

Secondly, when a kitchen features a free-standing kitchen island worktop, wooden worktops can be mixed and matched with other types of countertops. The combination of wood with high-end materials like granite, marble or quartz has gained popularity in many high-spec kitchens, creating a visually appealing and luxurious aesthetic.

Thirdly, wooden worktops may accommodate a range of kitchen makeover projects from budget-friendly to high-end renovations. Their availability in various price ranges guarantees the presence of an optimal choice for any kitchen modification.

The versatility, upcycling potential, and compatibility with different kitchen styles and materials, make them the preferred choice for breakfast bar worktops, regardless of the budget or design aspirations 

How much should the breakfast bar worktop overhang be?

Determining the ideal overhang for your breakfast bar worktop is crucial for creating a comfortable and practical seating area . It is recommended that the overhang should not exceed 250mm to maintain sustainability and functionality.

For larger overhangs, it is advisable to incorporate a steel reinforcement beneath the breakfast bar worktop. This reinforcement enhances stability and ensures that the larger overhangs can withstand everyday use. Depending on the layout and support structure, additional breakfast bar leg support may be required, for better stability.

Pricing aspect of breakfast bar worktops

Exploring the pricing aspect of breakfast bar worktops reveals several options suitable for different budget ranges. For homeowners with tight budgets, Beech worktops and 27mm or 28mm Oak worktops offer excellent value.

Whilst, full stave oak worktops are favoured among those looking for a more sophisticated look for their kitchens. Despite wide selection of the wooden worktops being more expensive than the lower-priced laminate alternatives , the price difference is not significantly higher, making it feasible to get a wooden worktop without straining your budget – as.

Laminate breakfast bars, mentioned above, present an even more affordable option for homeowners on a tight budget. Given its inexpensive raw material and mass production abilities, laminate worktops are one of the cheapest kitchen worktops available.

Additionally, laminate breakfast bars are particularly suitable for busy families as they require no maintenance and are easy to clean. However, the width of laminate breakfast bars cannot go wider than 900mm and if you are planning on having a large breakfast bar in your kitchen, it may not be the best solution.

Among other worktop options, such as granite, quartz, solid surface and compact laminate, the pricing tends to be higher compared to laminate and wood. Granite and quartz stand out as the priciest options, followed by solid surface and compact laminate. Compact laminate breakfast bar worktops are increasing in popularity as they are durable, water resistant and easy to maintain. They play a significant role in the rising trend of slim worktops.

Considering these various options and their associated costs, homeowners can make informed decisions when selecting a breakfast bar worktop that suits both their budget and desired aesthetic for their kitchen.