20 Best Waitress Uniforms for Cafés, Diners, and Fine Dining
A waitress's uniform must reflect the restaurant’s ambiance and brand identity while being comfortable, safe, and practical for long shifts. It should be easy to clean, casual but with a touch of professionalism, and designed to allow freedom of movement.
This article explores some of the best waitress uniforms from restaurants around the globe and how each one fits the venue’s culture, concept, and aesthetic, plus ideas on how you can recreate the look for your own establishment.
1. Barrenjoey Boathouse (Sydney, Australia)
The Barrenjoey Boathouse is a well-beloved waterfront restaurant located in Palm Beach, Sydney. Originally built in 1947 as a boat storage and maintenance shed, it has since evolved into a celebrated restaurant and bar with sophisticated mid-century decor, seafood cuisine, and gorgeous outdoor views.
Waitresses wear casual blue button-ups and jeans, matching the venue’s relaxed coastal aesthetic. You can replicate the look by pairing a Blue Stretch Service Chambray with blue jeans. The shirt is available in both long and short-sleeve versions, made from comfortable, breathable fabric designed for ease of movement during busy shifts.
2. Caterina’s Cucina (Melbourne, Australia)
Caterina’s Cucina is a lunch-only Italian restaurant famous for its authentic Italian and Venetian cuisine. It has been around for over 20 years and features a selection of 400 wines, making it the go-to restaurant if you’re looking to spend a relaxed afternoon in a refined yet welcoming setting.
Staff are renowned for their hospitality, with reviews frequently praising their attentive service and warm, personable demeanor. Waitresses wear a comfortable all black attire consisting of a black shirt, black Herringbone Bib Apron, black Stretch Chore Coat, and black dress pants.
3. The Fat Duck (Berkshire, United Kingdom)
Located in Bray, Berkshire, The Fat Duck is a world-renowned three-Michelin-star restaurant owned by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. It has one of the biggest kitchen staffs in the world, often maintaining a one-to-one ratio of chefs to diners.
Guests who have dined in The Fat Duck often praise its “faultless service,” theatrical presentation, and inventive dishes. And while the venue itself is opulent, with dimmed lighting and expansive windows overlooking the city below, the restaurant’s waiters and waitresses are dressed in simple uniforms: a long-sleeved button-up under a black vest and a maroon tie.
You can easily recreate this look with a Breasted Black Vest, Slim Tech Trousers, and a White Coolmax Dress Shirt.
4. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Noma is a three-Michelin-star restaurant located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It held the title of the World’s Best Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2021, making it one of the most acclaimed restaurants globally.
Noma’s waitresses wear a smoky blue short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and a Charcoal Herringbone Bib Apron available from our store.
5. Hawksmoor Wood Wharf (London, UK)
Hawksmoor Wood Wharf is a British steakhouse and sustainable seafood restaurant located in Canary Wharf, London. It’s known for serving high-quality, grass-fed, dry-aged beef with popular cuts like T-bone and prime rib.
The restaurant is modern and stylish, featuring wooden decor and views of the waterways around Canary Wharf. It has a laid-back atmosphere, and it’s reflected by the staff. Waitresses are allowed to wear whatever they want to maintain their individuality, paired with either a brown or a black apron.
You can recreate this look with an apron similar to the Coyote Herringbone Waist Apron or Coyote Herringbone Bistro Apron, both of which feature dual pockets to store all their serving needs.
6. Sam’s Riverside (London, UK)
Sam’s Riverside is a modern British restaurant that offers impressive views of the Hammersmith Bridge and a sophisticated Anglo-French menu. Waitresses wear a long-sleeved button-up shirt with a high collar, topped with a long, brown apron similar to our Ranch Tan Bib Apron.
7. Brujas Mex (Mexico City, Mexico)
Brujas Mex is a cocktail bar located in Mexico City, known for its unique witchcraft theme and cocktails inspired by Mexican folklore and traditional herbalism. It’s led by an all-female staff and features esoteric decor like taxidermy bats and Ouija boards.
Waitresses wear a maroon button-up short-sleeved shirt, with some staff wearing it open with a black shirt underneath. The maroon perfectly matches the dark aesthetic of the bar, adding a pop of color that looks beautiful underneath yellow lights.
8. Tsuru to Kame (Tokyo, Japan)
Tsuru to Kame is a Japanese Kappo-style restaurant located in Ginza Namiki-dori. The restaurant is entirely operated by women, fulfilling second-generation head chef Atsumi Saito’s dream of running a restaurant staffed entirely by women within the traditionally male-dominated Japanese culinary industry.
Waitresses don a classic Japanese kimono, consisting of a crisp white shirt layered beneath a blue robe, tied with a cream sash at the waist. The look is simple yet elegant, reflecting the classic Japanese aesthetic that defines the restaurant while being practical enough for service.
9. Khai Khai (Newcastle, UK)
Khai Khai is an Indian restaurant located in Newcastle, England. The restaurant serves Indian comfort food cooked over hot stones, coal, wood fires, tandoor ovens, and Josper grills.
The restaurant features a warm interior with dark wood, decorative tiles, leather banquettes, and a good amount of greenery. Waitresses are dressed in a forest green shirt, black pants, and a black apron with the restaurant’s logo emblazoned at the front.
10. GWEN (Los Angeles, USA)
Gwen is a Michelin one-star steakhouse found in Los Angeles. It’s owned and managed by an Australian celebrity chef, Curtis Stone, who appeared in cooking-centric TV shows like Take Home Chef, Kitchen Crime Scene, Top Chef Masters, and MasterChef Australia.
Waitresses wear crisp white shirts paired with khaki green aprons and ties, a look that perfectly matches that restaurant’s earthy tones and butcher-to-table concept. Recreate the look with the Army Green Herringbone Bib Apron, made from premium cotton and featuring an adjustable neck strap and reinforced pockets.
11. Duck & Waffle Local (London, UK)
Duck & Waffle Local is a pared-down version of the original Duck & Waffle located on the 40th floor of the Salesforce Tower, but it still delivers a solid dining experience.
Unlike the original, which focuses more on luxury dining, Duck & Waffle Local features industrial-style decor that you might expect in a more casual dining setting. The overall vibe is more relaxed and accessible, making it a convenient option for those just looking to spend time with friends and family over delicious meals.
The tables and parts of the walls are red, and each table is accompanied by a red rubber duckie. To complement the theme, waitresses wear a black shirt over a red apron similar to the Dark Red Poly/Cotton Waist Apron.
12. Dante (New York, USA)
Dante is a historic bar and café originally established in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1915. It has since evolved into a globally recognized brand, celebrated for its classic Italian cocktails, aperitifs, and all-day café culture.
Dante combines old-world charm with new-age modernity, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Waitresses wear a uniform that reflects the café’s timeless elegance: a crisp white button-up shirt, a neat black bow tie, and a dark blue apron emblazoned with the DANTE logo across the front—polished and practical.
13. Blacksmith Provedore (New South Wales, Australia)
Blacksmith Provedore is a lakeside wine bar and provedore located in Lake Mulwaka, New South Wales. It’s known for its relaxed yet refined atmosphere, with a menu featuring wood-fired pizzas, charcuterie boards, and a curated selection of local and international wines.
Waitresses wear a simple white shirt paired with alternating aprons—olive green one day, charcoal black the next, and brown on another.
The color matches the restaurant’s vibe and aesthetic; olive green ties in with the trees and vineyard landscapes around Lake Mulwala. Charcoal pairs well with the restaurant’s rustic-meets-modern interiors, while brown reflects the restaurant’s provenance, wood-fired cooking, and artisanal produce.
14. Great Northern Food Hall (New York, USA)
If you regularly take the train in NYC’s Grand Central Terminal, you’ve likely seen or even eaten at the Great Northern Food Hall.
Featuring a mix of Nordic and American ingredients, the Food Hall offers artisanal breads, pastries, sandwiches, and seasonal dishes with a Scandinavian touch.
Waitresses wear powder blue shirts paired with black aprons: simple yet effective. Recreating the look is easy with the Black Herringbone Crossback Bib Apron.
15. Higher Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
High Ground is an all-day café and dining area located at 650 Little Bourke Street in the CBD. It used to be a power station before it was transformed into a café, featuring ceilings of over 50 feet, exposed brick, large arched windows, mezzanine lounges, and green marble accents.
Staff uniforms echo the venue’s industrial-chic atmosphere. Waitresses wear white shirts, black aprons with custom patches on the back, and classic black trousers—a look you can recreate with a White Service Oxford shirt, Black Herringbone Bib Apron, and Black Stretch Service Chino pants.
16. Sam & Jack (Cirencester, UK)
Sam & Jak is a modern British restaurant and wine bar located in the heart of Cirencester, founded by local chefs Sam Edwards and Jak Doggett.
The restaurant doesn’t have a fixed menu, regularly changing according to the season and the chef’s specials. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers hand-selected desserts like Dombolini, Guinness cake, Rhubarb and custard tard, and bread and butter pudding with cream.
Waitresses wear plain white T-shirts with cream-colored aprons some days, or a navy blue apron on other days. You can match their uniform with the Coyote Herringbone Bib Apron or the Heather Blue Bib Apron.
17. Aniar Restaurant (Galway, Ireland)
Aniar Restaurant is a Michelin-starred dining destination located in Galway, Ireland. The name “Aniar” means “from the west” in Irish, and the majority of the restaurant’s offerings showcase ingredients sourced from the west of Ireland.
Waitresses wear a simple uniform of a crisp white shirt paired with an olive green apron, similar to the Army Green Canvas Bib Apron with Leather Strap.
18. Damgeuda (Massachusetts, USA)
Located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, this Korean-run restaurant serves contemporary Korean cuisine like kimchi jjigae, seolleongtang (beef bone broth soup), and tteok-galbi (skewers), paired with side dishes like Napa cabbage kimchi and cucumber miso pickles.
Waitresses wear button-up white shirts and light teal aprons, tied at the waist with a beige strap.
19. The Plaii Eatery Café & Bar (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Located at the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel in Chiang Mai, The Plaii Eatery Café & Bar is a modern eatery that serves both Thai favorites and global comfort dishes. Guests can enjoy everything from Eggs Benedict and various panini sandwiches to local curries and noodle dishes.
Waitresses are friendly and approachable, dressed in crisp white button-up shirts and gray-black aprons to reflect the casual-upscale aesthetic of the place. The restaurant’s logo is emblazoned on the side pocket, subtle but visible. You can get the same look with our Gray Waxed Canvas Bib Apron, which takes on a unique patina with distinctive “cracks” over time.
20. Niri (Abu Dhabi, Emirates)
Niri is a Japanese restaurant and bar in Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, led by the esteemed sushi master Yasuyuki Takemoto. The restaurant is minimalist and modern—clean interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden counters, and a terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
Waitresses wear a Japanese-style uniform, with a chambray wrap-style top where one side folds neatly over the other in a manner of a kimono, paired with dark dress pants.