bar countertop

The most resistant bar countertops

At Cosentino we have been advising the best bars and restaurants on their bar countertops for decades, providing consultancy services for surfaces like SilestoneDekton and Sensa.

There are, undoubtedly, some bar countertops that live long in our memories. It is a key feature that defines the style of any bar or restaurant and is commonly the most important area, as it is where there is most interaction with customers. That is why a lot of care must be taken over its design.

In this article we tell you everything you need to know if you want to create an iconic and memorable bar countertop.

 

Bar countertop materials

When selecting your bar countertop there is a huge choice of cladding options available, and you need to assess which is the best option for you based on the style of your project.

  • High-performance bar countertops made from Silestone and Dekton: the easy maintenance and the endless design possibilities are just some of the significant advantages that these surfaces have over other surfaces and architectural solutions. 
  • Natural stone bar countertops: these add a lot of character and class to any establishment. With Sensa from Cosentino, there is a variety of unique natural stone choices that are full of character, like Vancouver, Orinoco and White Macaubas, and they all come with a revolutionary non-stain protection.
  • Wooden bar countertops: wood is a material that provides natural warmth to any space, it also comes with a range of stylistic options including rustic, vintage, or more modern designs depending on the shape and cladding used on the bar.
  • Stainless steel bar countertops: this material has been used in bars and breweries for decades due to its main advantage over other surfaces: hygiene. It is still one of the most popular materials used in the catering sector and gives a more industrial look.

Tiled bar countertops: these come in a wide range of colors and formats, giving a classic vintage look to any establishment.

Bar countertop materials
Dekton Trilium Countertop

Silestone for bar countertops

At Cosentino we recommend using Silestone for bar countertops, due to the high technical and esthetic features this surface offers.

  • The compactness of Silestone surfaces, and their premium hybrid and recycled materials mean that they are highly resistant to any type of stain, preventing these from penetrating the surface and making their daily maintenance quick and simple.
  • High scratch resistance. Daily use and wear and tear will not result in Silestone being scratched.
  • High shock resistance.
  • Acid resistant, due to its low porosity.
  • Wide range of colors, meaning it can be adapted to any interior design style. We have around one hundred colors to choose from, so you can find your ideal look.

These are the reasons why Silestone is the most commonly used compact design surface chosen for kitchen countertops. 

Best countertops for bars
Dekton Domoos Countertop

Dekton for bar countertops

Our highly compact Dekton surface is another of the fantastic options available from Cosentino for bar designs.

The primary benefits of Dekton over other surfaces are:

  • It is available as a large format panel, reducing the number of joints and making maintenance and cleaning simpler. 
  • Dekton is resistant to temperature changes and can be exposed to temperatures of up to 572ºF.
  • Its high resistance to changing temperature and UV rays makes it the ideal surface for outdoor bars.

It also shares many of the same features of Silestone, like high shock, scratch, and stain resistance.

Durable bar tops
Dekton Entzo Countertop. Ateliê Arquitetura

How to keep a bar countertop in perfect condition

Depending on the surface selected for your bar countertop, different care and upkeep is required. For example, if you have gone for a classic stainless steel bar top, we recommend using baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to get the best shine on your surface.

If, on the other hand, you have selected a wooden bar, you need to use the right cleaning products so as not to damage this delicate material, these include vinegar or neutral soap. In terms of regular maintenance, the bar should be sanded once every couple of years and then painted and varnished to keep it looking fresh.

Silestone and Dekton surfaces do not require any maintenance other than regular cleaning, following these simple steps:

  • Apply neutral soap to the treated area and softly rub in a circular motion, using a damp microfiber sponge.
  • Leave for a few minutes and wipe with a cloth to remove any surplus soap. Then dry with a paper towel.

You can also use Q-Action, a specially designed cleaner for the hygiene and deep cleaning of your kitchen countertops. It contains self-drying components and natural soaps.

For stubborn stains like wine, coffee, or food coloring, with Silestone you can use 15% diluted bleach and water, apply, and leave for a maximum of 2 minutes. In the case of Dekton, you just need to use detergent and lightly scrub.

Modern bar counter designs
Dekton Liquid Embers Cladding
Image number 32 of the current section of Laurent Maugoust of Cosentino USA

Laurent Maugoust

Case Study

Sculptural furniture with sensual shapes made from Cosentino natural stone

Laurent Maugoust and Cécile Chenais

Image number 33 of the current section of Laurent Maugoust of Cosentino USA

Location

France

Material

Sensa / Scalea

Color

Sensa Vancouver / Scalea Verde Guaco

Name of the design

Naïl coffee table / Mantis table

Architecture / Design

Laurent Maugoust and Cécile Chenais

Application

Tables

Type of project

Furniture design

Thickness

20 mm, 30 mm

Minimalist design tables

The first pieces of furniture designed by Laurent Maugoust’s eponymous editor, in collaboration with his artistic director Cécile Chenais, are two sculptural tables with a lot of character and a graphic and dramatic design. Both were presented at the Silvera Saint-Germain showroom in Paris, with an exhibition that allows us to fully appreciate their textures and colours, among which Sensa and Scalea by Cosentino stand out.

With their Mantis table and Naïl coffee table, the creative pair have established a dialogue between materials and shapes which revolves around the geometric character of the design and a spirit that is as demanding as it is refined.

Naïl Coffee Table: Sensa Vancouver quartzite tops (1.10 x 0.80 m (x 2 tables) / Thickness: 2 cm) Table base in Scalea Verde Guaco natural stone.

25©cecile-chenais-©laurentmaugoust-architecture-©guillaumegrassetphotography©cecile-chenais-©laurentmaugoust-architecture-©guillaumegrassetphotography-copie-scaled[1]

An ideal surface

Sensa Vancouver quartzite and Scalea Verde Guaco marble were the natural stones chosen for the design of these two tables. “Sensa was a great discovery in terms of product, originality and technology. Choosing Vancouver to create this table with such a special, organic and sensual touch is a real success”, explains Cécile Chenais.

Indeed, thanks to the Senguard NK protection, specially developed by Cosentino for the Sensa colour range, the material is exceptionally resistant to stains, aggressive and acidic substances and scratches, while at the same time being easy to maintain on a daily basis, making it an ideal surface. It is also NSF certified, which confirms it as a suitable surface for food contact, with no risk of staining or damage. In this way Sensa combines classic beauty with cutting edge technology, thus maintaining the natural colour of the stone.

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

“Choosing Vancouver quartzite to create this table with such a special, organic and sensual touch is a real success”.
Cécile Chenais

Cécile Chenais

Artistic Director at Laurent Maugoust

Mantis Table: Sensa Vancouver quartzite top and chrome inserts. (2.40 x 1 m / Thickness: 3 cm)

Versatile materials

“The interesting thing about Cosentino is that its materials are very versatile. These include natural stones like Sensa, ultracompact and ultra resistant surfaces like Dekton and high tech materials of great aesthetic value like Silestone. They can therefore be used in kitchens as well as for high-end design and the creation of unique objects, which is what we did with this table and coffee table”, explains Laurent Maugoust. “It is very interesting for us to use such high quality products with outstanding technical solutions that can be adapted to different types of projects”, says Cécile Chenais.

Cosentino’s materials used in this project

cosentino-sensa-vancouver-kitchen-countertops-archello.1614788311.2809-1

Vancouver

SENSA
EA-detail1-136x136[1]

Verde Guaco

SCALEA

Related case studies

Do you want to know the possibilities of Dekton in facades?

Image number 50 of the current section of {{The New Bauhaus}} of Cosentino USA

{{The New Bauhaus}}

Case Study

The New Bauhaus

Erico Navazo

Image number 51 of the current section of The New Bauhaus of Cosentino USA

Location

Madrid, Spain

Material

Sensa by Cosentino

Color

Vancouver

Photography

Nacho Uribesalazar

Architecture / Design

Erico Navazo

Application

Fireplace cladding

End date

2021

Thickness

20 mm

Danish design

The 2021 edition was the first time that the Danish Embassy in Madrid participated as an exhibitor at Casa Decor, one of the most important events for decoration lovers in Spain. It had a good reason for doing so: to highlight the universality and timelessness of Danish design, embodied by outstanding figures like Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner, Verner Panton or Poul Henningsen or by renowned contemporary firms like Bang & Olufsen, Carl Hansen & Son, Fritz Hansen, Kvadrat or Louis Poulsen that rework these geniuses and for which Spanish designers like Jaime Hayón or Yonoh studio work.

The diplomatic mission chose the interior designer Erico Navazo to turn the impressive tower of the Casa de Tomás Allende, located at 3 Plaza de Canalejas (Madrid), into a stunning flat inspired by the New Bauhaus, an artistic and cultural movement of which Denmark is the leading exponent. The exceptional building, unique in the capital for its profuse regionalist-style decoration, was designed by the Cantabrian architect Leonardo Rucabado in 1916, but after his sudden death in 1918 it was completed by the architects Ramiro Saiz Martínez and Pedro Cabello Maíz, who faithfully followed his project.

casa-decor-21-espacio-danish-design-plus-apartamento-erico-navazo-6
casa-decor-21-espacio-danish-design-plus-apartamento-erico-navazo-2
casa-decor-21-espacio-danish-design-plus-apartamento-erico-navazo-4
web-casa-decor-2021-espacio-danish-design-plus-apartamento-erico-navazo-alta-7
casa-decor-21-espacio-danish-design-plus-apartamento-erico-navazo-5

A humanistic and sustainable approach

‘In my project, I try to capture the personality of my clients by tailoring my work to their needs. My design is born out of their need, I never forget that,’ says Erico Navazo who, on this occasion, has made the New Bauhaus designers’ way of working more than ever his own, with a humanistic and sustainable approach, based on craftsmanship and noble materials. For this group, everyday objects should improve people’s lives and be made in a sustainable way so that they last over time and in a universal spirit, integrating traditional elements from different cultures. In this space, wood, natural stone, leather and wool are paired with other reclaimed materials, maintaining the tradition of environmental friendliness and true sustainability.

Image number 52 of the current section of The New Bauhaus of Cosentino USA
Image number 53 of the current section of The New Bauhaus of Cosentino USA

Sensa, a stain-resistant natural stone

As a great lover of natural stone, the interior designer from Burgos, Erico Navazo, opted for a spectacular vertical fireplace in Sensa Vancouver by Cosentino, a Brazilian quartzite on a white background with veins that can have a greater or lesser thickness, creating a cracked surface that invites us to touch it.

Sensa by Cosentino stones are protected with a revolutionary stain-resistant treatment called SenGuard, which includes a 15-year warranty against staining, a perfect ally to avoid soot or grease marks.

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

‘This design is impressive and blends in with the rest of the space. It is the perfect environment for everything to fit together and be aligned with comfort.’
Erico Navazo

Erico Navazo

Interior designer

Cosentino’s materials used in this project

cosentino-sensa-vancouver-kitchen-countertops-archello.1614788311.2809-1

Vancouver

SENSA

Related case studies

Image number 69 of the current section of The New Bauhaus of Cosentino USA

Do you want to know the possibilities of Dekton in facades?

Image number 70 of the current section of Van Noordenne Group of Cosentino USA

Van Noordenne Group

Case Study

A classy office headquarters

Nathalie van Noordenne interior & exterior design

Image number 71 of the current section of Van Noordenne Group of Cosentino USA

Location

Van Noordenne Groep, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, The Netherlands

Material

SENSA

Color

Orinoco

Quantity

100 m2

Architecture / Design

Nathalie van Noordenne interior & exterior design

Application

Reception desk, fireplace, walls

End date

2020

Thickness

2 cm

A lobby that looks like one from a luxury hotel

A first glance at the entrance and reception of the renovated headquarters of the glass distributor Van Noordenne in the Netherlands would not suggest that this is an office complex. It feels more like a luxury hotel, with its elegant design, sophisticated materials and precious interior design. For this new headquarters of Europe’s largest glass wholesaler, the firm has commissioned the interior designer Nathalie van Noordenne, who has put all of her passion and creativity at the service of this mega-project for this family company whose origins date back to 1938.

It was in the 1930s that Jan van Noordenne founded this family business. From a local company, it grew into an international wholesale business specialising in glass. Today, in its new headquarters, every effort has been made to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the company’s offices and restaurant.

Image number 72 of the current section of Van Noordenne Group of Cosentino USA

Exotic beauty at the reception desk

The reception desk is the crown jewel of the lobby. The designer chose Sensa Orinoco to add a warm and stylish touch to this area. The rich, earthy tones of this colour, inspired by wild granite, along with its white, golden and copper veining, bring glimpses of beauty to this space.

A restaurant to match

The company’s restaurant, where Sensa Orinoco has also been used in large 2 cm thick slabs, has been conceived following the same design concept. The centrepiece of this area is the large Sensa Orinoco fireplace – an explosion of beauty when lit and a piece of sculpture when unlit. Furthermore, part of the wall has been clad with the same material. Certainly a high standard for a restaurant where customers, guests and staff can relax and enjoy an exclusive atmosphere.

Image number 73 of the current section of Van Noordenne Group of Cosentino USA

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

Do you need help with a project?

Contact our specialists for advice

Cosentino’s materials used in this project

JPB-detail-1

Orinoco

SENSA

Related case studies

Image number 89 of the current section of Van Noordenne Group of Cosentino USA

Do you want to know the possibilities of Dekton in facades?