How to Create a Restaurant Tent for Outdoor Dining and Pickup Areas
- Custom Tents
- Apr 27, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 16
Restaurant tents, also known as outdoor dining tents or canopy tents for restaurants, are an effective way to expand your space, attract customers, and improve the dining experience. Whether you want a covered patio for outdoor meals, a custom restaurant canopy for branding, or a pickup tent to manage takeout orders, the right tent solution can add both function and style to your business.
Think of a restaurant tent as an extension of your dining room rather than a temporary add-on. A well-designed outdoor dining tent can transform unused areas like sidewalks, patios, or parking lots into inviting spaces that expand your capacity and enhance the customer experience. By treating the tent as part of your restaurant’s identity, you can brand it with your logo, colors, and signage, making it feel like a natural continuation of your indoor atmosphere. Whether you use it for dining, takeout pickup, or special events, a custom tent not only provides shelter but also increases visibility, giving your restaurant a more polished and professional presence.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Restaurant Tent
The right tent size depends on how you plan to use it. Pop up canopies are excellent as service stations rather than full dining areas. Many restaurants use compact 10×10 or 10×20 canopies to create pickup and to-go order stations, host beverage counters, or shelter staff assisting with curbside service. They are quick to set up, easy to move, and customizable for branding.
Beyond the restaurant itself, pop up canopies are also perfect for mobile food operations. Whether at concerts, farmers markets, community festivals, or catered private events, a pop up canopy gives restaurants a professional, branded presence wherever customers gather. This flexibility makes them one of the most versatile tools for restaurants looking to expand beyond their permanent location.
For outdoor dining, however, a larger frame tent is the better solution. With options such as 20×20, 20×40, or even 40×60 structures, these tents comfortably accommodate guest seating, décor, and heating or cooling systems while creating an enclosed, weather-resistant dining extension. Higher ceilings provide airflow and space for lighting, making them both functional and visually appealing. Because they can be extended in length, frame tents scale with your business, transforming patios or parking lots into welcoming dining areas.
How Restaurants Use Custom Tents
Restaurant tents aren’t just temporary shelters, they can transform into patio extensions, outdoor dining rooms, or quick-service pickup stations. Many restaurants create full dining experiences under larger frame tents, while others set up smaller canopy tents for quick-service, to-go orders, or branded mobile stations at community events. Depending on your available space, you might choose a tent for:
Outdoor Dining Areas: Create a comfortable, weather-protected dining space that feels like a natural extension of your restaurant.
Curbside Pickup or To-Go Stations: Provide a dedicated tent for fast order handoffs that keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Mobile Event Presence: Use smaller canopy tents to represent your restaurant at farmers markets, concerts, or festivals.
Every setup can be custom printed with your branding, giving guests the same recognizable feel outside as they get inside your restaurant.
Enhancing the Restaurant Tent Experience
A restaurant tent is more than just a shelter. It sets the tone for your guests’ experience and, with the right setup, can feel like a natural extension of your restaurant. A well-designed tent creates a welcoming environment that keeps customers comfortable in every season.
Many restaurants enhance their tents with clear or solid sidewalls to provide protection from wind or rain while still maintaining an open air feel. Lighting is another popular add on that we offer, giving your space warmth and atmosphere for evening service or special events. For daytime use, tents with windowed walls or open sides allow natural light and airflow, helping diners feel connected to the outdoors.
Custom printing is also a powerful option. A tent with your restaurant’s name, logo, and brand colors ensures that customers recognize your space instantly, whether they are walking by on the street or visiting a special event. This branding not only reinforces your identity but also makes your restaurant tent stand out among competitors.
When designed thoughtfully, restaurant tents can transform simple outdoor areas into attractive dining destinations that encourage guests to return and share their experience with others.
Delivery and Installation Options
At Custom Tents, we make sure every restaurant gets the right tent solution with professional support from start to finish. If your business is located in the Los Angeles area, our in house installation crew can handle the full setup for you, ensuring your restaurant tent is safe, secure, and ready to use immediately. For restaurants across the United States, we offer fast nationwide shipping. Your tent will arrive with everything needed for assembly, backed by our team’s guidance to help you get it set up correctly.
Whether you need a compact canopy for pickup orders or a large frame tent to expand your dining capacity, every tent is proudly manufactured in the USA. With custom printing, accessories, and flexible sizing, your restaurant tent will not only serve its purpose but also enhance your brand presence and customer experience.
