“The kitchen really is the castle itself. This is where we spend our happiest moments and where we find the joy of being a family.” – Mario Batali

Having a bar area in your kitchen gives you a functional space that allows people to sit and have a quick meal or keep you company while you’re cooking. If you’re designing your kitchen layout, this is your chance to build a bar counter to your exact specifications. This could be a separate peninsula or an addition to your island.

For some kitchens, the bar looks best built into the counter. It can blend in if you use the same material as the countertop. In other kitchens, the bar makes a statement because the designer chose a different material with plans to make it stand out as an accent.

These kitchen bar ideas will get you inspired to create the perfect breakfast bar in your kitchen.

1. Counter Kitchen Bar Ideas

If you aren’t doing an entire kitchen remodel, you can still have a breakfast bar— just build one onto your existing countertop. The bar area could be level with the counter space to be a smooth and continuous surface. The counter would extend out further than the cabinet underneath so that you can sit at it.

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Another option is to build the bar area to be slightly higher than the counter. You’d build the bar upward and allow the counter to overhang an open space underneath. This design works well if you have a kitchen island, long counter, or peninsula-style counter. If you already have a flat top island, you could build your bar top by placing a thick slab of wood on one side.

2. Industrial Kitchen Bar Ideas

If you love the industrial look, you can incorporate these elements into your breakfast bar. You could have one made of concrete. Or you could have a metal addition that creates the bar on your current counters.