Patio Dining: Creating an al Fresco Bistro on the Patio
In this post: Want to set a pretty bistro table for patio dining? Check out these patio table decor ideas for outdoor summer dining.⇒
One of my absolute favorite things about summer is dining al fresco on the patio! There’s just something about eating outdoors on a lovely day that is just so delightful. But what makes it all the more charming and more than a little romantic is to dine at a table, beautifully set.
I’m joining with a wonderful group of talented bloggers to bring you a summer tablescape blog hop dedicated to dining al fresco. You can find the links to the other table settings at the bottom of this post.
But first let’s get a closer look at my table…
If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you well know my love for mismatched vintage china. I love to collect odds and ends and bits and pieces and mix them all up in varied ways. But what you may not know is that I actually do have, and sometimes use together, a full set of Royal Albert American Beauty and setting a table with the many different sized pieces really magnifies the beauty of the floral.
(You may have read the story of how I once fell down the stairs and broke a full set of dishes, told in this post, and how that incident unleashed a whole new creativity and love of collecting.)
Playing off the lovely floral china motif, my centerpiece is comprised of sun-drenched, curly-lipped lisianthus.
I used champagne flutes from Ralph Lauren in the glen plaid crystal pattern. I’ve had these glasses for a very long time and I use them over and over, as they work with just about any table style you can imagine. I also have the wine goblets and the highball glasses and they have a weightiness to them that makes them feel quite distinguished.
I have so many different pieces in this exquisite pattern that I even have two different types of teacups; one with the roses peeking out from inside the cup and the other with the blooms on the outside of the cup. I love how easy it is to find pieces to add to my collection and I’ve spent countless hours on ebay in this pursuit.
My floral is tucked into a vintage silver tea tin, bought an an antique market in London, but you can find them online, as well. When not brimming with flowers, I keep Earl Grey (my favorite tea) in this tin.
For napkins I used these stunning embroidered linens from Fragonard, Paris. They come in a set of four and each one is slightly different.
We have a decent sized patio but most of it is dedicated to a conversation area with lounge style seating, so we added a sweet little bistro set for just this purpose. The rose toned pillows are from West Elm.
The pale pink damask tablecloth is vintage, found at a local market.
It’s fun to see this pattern used in its entirety because I so often mix it with very different pieces. You can see how different it looked in this Christmas tablescape mixed with plaid and again in this breakfast setting mixed with red transferware. I’ve actually forgotten how long it’s been since I used it together in all its floral glory!
Patio Dining Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
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Lory, your china is beautiful. I love how your centerpiece vase picked up the gold in the China’s rim. Your flowers are gorgeous.
Thank you so much, Carol! It was fun that the sun mostly worked in my favor, too… 🙂
Lory, so very beautiful! I love a table for two and yours is so perfect. The RL stemware along with your china sets a fabulous table! Happy Tuesday, Pam @ Everyday Living
Thank you so much, Pam! Sometimes it’s fun to just pull out the classics… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Delightful Lory, and those flowers!! I’ve never seen those before, I am crazy about the curly edges, they look stunning with your beautiful china. An enchanting and cozy table for 2, I would love to curl up with that poofy pillow!
Thanks, Jenna! I”ve actually just become acquainted with lisianthus blooms, as well… 🙂 They come in varied colors and are quite lovely. Thanks for stopping by!!
Lory, I love your elegant style! Gorgeous lisianthus in the vintage tea tin. I always like something vintage and fresh flowers in a tablescape. Your napkins are the piéce de résistance!
Thanks so much, Bonnie! Funny thing abut those napkins. I’m a firm believer in using everything I own and not “saving” anything for special occasions, but I will admit those napkins are so crisp and clean that when they do wind up on my tables, they’re not the napkins actually used. I know I need to overcome that. I bought a full set of 12 so we would use them! Lol… 🙂
Lory, it’s all so femininely beautiful, but it’s the flatware that caught my attention! What’s that pattern? It looks so nice with the RL Glen Plaid. Very masculine and feminine – a yin yang I love!
Thanks, Rita! The irony is I use that flatware in every setting so I often forget to mention it. It’s called “Young Love” but I can’t remember the manufacturer. (It’s not the one by Oneida of the same name). I’ll have to find the name in the comments here somewhere, because quite a few of my readers are familiar with it and have identified it… 🙂
I’m glad you mentioned the masculine / feminine mix because I would call that a sort of signature style of mine. Thanks for visiting!!
I love your complete set Royal Albert American Beauty. It is so elegant and classic as one, but I also love how you used some of the pieces in your Christmas setting. It was just as lovely and sophisticated with the tartan plates. Your setting was lovely being displayed outdoors and your fresh flower centerpiece is such a beautiful touch. The tablescape would make the perfect setting for a cozy and intimate dinner.
Thanks, Marsha! I actually agree that I kind of prefer it mixed with other patterns because I’m all about the pattern mix, But every so often it fun to use it all together because that’s become so different for me… 😉 Thanks for stopping by!!
Oh Lory, such a beautiful table! I am so glad you joined us with your lovely tablescape. There is nothing like dining out of doors but using real china and crystal, it makes it seem so special, doesn’t it? The pretty pastel pinks are so cooling, perfect for a warm summer evening.
Thank you Chloe, and thank you so much for the opportunity to join your wonderful blog hop! I so enjoyed participating with such a talented group… 🙂
Just beautiful, Lory! I just love the use of the tea tin as a vase. Romantic indeed! Your collection is fabulous and your pride of it shines through. So lovely.
Thanks so much, Kim!!
Your tablescape is perfection! I have a thing for teacups with a “peekaboo” design inside (you find a surprise design inside after you drink your tea). Those napkins look so special. It’s nice that you used elegant china and crystal for your al fresco meal. I like to do that, too. NO paper plates for me!
Best & Bisous,
Michelle from Simply Santa Barbara
Thanks Michelle, and I’m so glad to know what that kind of teacup design is called!! So nice to have a name for it… 😉
So beautiful Lory. The table looks fabulous with your pretty china. Loving the soft color, so feminine and pretty. Pure elegance for outdoor dining is always a pleasure. You have captured the essence of Alfresco with an elegant touch.
Thank you , Linda! Even though outdoor dining is inherently casual, I always think it’s fun to dress it up a bit with china… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!!
I love this soft, feminine romantic table setting- so beautiful! I have collected antique teacups since I was a girl and this inspires me to get them out!
Ah, a girl after my own heart, Kristy! Oh how I love vintage teacups… 😉
I love how feminine and intimate this table setting is. The china is beautiful and I love those Ralph Lauren glasses. But, my favourite is those gorgeous flowers in the vintage tin!
Isn’t it true that no matter how pretty the tabletop elements are, nothing can beat fresh flowers? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!!
I love the charming table setting, that beautiful gold can looks like a olive oil can, I could nt make out what it said, I am swooning over it! You got me thinking! The tea set reminds me of my vintage one my mom gave me. Lovely job!
Maria
Thank you so much for the kind words! The tea tin says “English Breakfast Tea” and it’s actually silver, even though it clearly looks gold in the photos and several people have commented on that. It was a very sunny day and I think the reflection of all the pink made it look gold… lol.
Oh my goodness! What do I not love about this tablescape?! Nothing! It is breathtaking! So feminine and dainty. I love the Royal Albert, Old English Rose, as well. Beautiful table!
Thank you so much for your very sweet comment!!
Your table is absolutely gorgeous! I just love the pinks…tablecloth, in the flowers and china. Very feminine and romantic.
Thanks so much, Sheila!! I loved participating in this wonderful event and enjoyed all the tables… 🙂 But btw, you get the award for sending me the most traffic!! I think our readers must have similar tastes… 😉
I am swooning over that beautiful china! And the flowers are lovely in the gold tin! Very pretty tablescape! ~Rhonda
Thank you so much, Rhonda!!
Stunning! Love the pink and pretty china. Your tablescapes always seem to have one beautiful element in common…gorgeous floral arrangements in the best possible colour-coordinating displays that tie in perfectly to your dishes and accessories. How I would love to dine at this table! The blog hop is turning out to be so fun with such lovely tablescapes such as this!
Thanks, Lori! And I’m enjoying it too with so many great tables. Re the florals, I actually generally set my table first, then take a quick phone pic and take that with me to the flower market, so I’m picking flowers to genuinely match the table. Ironically, in this case, i actually has them left over from a photo shoot from a few days before… lol.
From the first image to the last, I was swept away by the beauty and magic of your tablescape. The roses and soft pink, with hints of green and gold, are stunning and elegant. I just love your style!
Wow is all I can say to your comment. Well, and thank you so much!
I absolutely love everything about your table setting! Mixing china patterns can be nice, but nothing beats the extravagance of a fully matched set of china. The gorgeous flowers added just the right finishing touch!
Thanks, Judith! Isn’t it finny when the traditional full set feels like something new because we’ve been mixing for so long?
Your tablescape is gorgeous! Your china is absolutely beautiful and goes so lovely with the pretty table linens. Your flower arrangement with the vintage tea tin is the perfect touch!
Thank you so much for such a lovely comment, Shannon!!!
Lory, perfect as always! Like Judith mentioned, I’ve been mixing dinnerware for so long, I forgot how gorgeous a whole set looks together. Possibly my new favorite pattern;)
Ginger
I enjoy it both ways too… mixed and not. So glad you enjoyed it as well… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!!
Amazing how versatile that rose pattern is. I’m going to start looking at my floral porcelain pieces with a new eye…and you could almost make me like pink with that Mongolian lamb pillow!
Ha ha…. not a pink girl, huh? Well, it comes in lots of colors. But I’m determined to make pink edgy in the next few months, so stay tuned… 😉
Love your Royal Albert china…stunning table setting! It’s so nice that you set such a gorgeous table for just you and the hubby. I’m sure he must appreciate all the love.
Thanks! I think he just shakes his head and never knows what to expect on the table… lol!
Lory: Your posts with the Royal Albert roses are among my favorites. I just love this China, and you display it so beautifully in your tablescapes. What a pleasure this visit has been!
Wow, and what a pleasure to read your comment! Thank you so much for taking the time… 🙂
That gold tin vase is EVERYTHING!! Oh my gosh I love the lisianthus too! Such a lovely floral tablescape!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I’m a sucker for a good centrepiece, and shades of pink make me swoon, so this tablescape just stole my heart! 🙂
Aww, thanks, Sarah!