If you have ever been to my apartment for a dinner party, I may owe you an apology. I have likely required you to shovel chicken Marbella in your mouth while squatting on an antique milking stool like a Bruegel painting peasant, or to squeeze onto a floor poof while sipping a glass of red wine. Not very elegant, and not very convenient for non-finger food gatherings (exempting the New York Renaissance Faire).

To be fair, hosting is hard in a big, expensive city like New York. Unless you live in what my friend group calls a “house-house” (city speak for any non-divided brownstone or multi-level building), you will have to figure out a clever way to comfortably seat your precious guests for a sit-down meal. Recently, Eater senior reporter Bettina Makalintal wrote about embracing more casual, potluck-style gatherings as a workaround to formal sit-down dinners. But for holidays, more formal gatherings, or any occasion when you want everyone to dine comfortably and at a proper table, you’ll need real seating — and for us small-space event hosts, the solution is foldable or stackable chairs that you can store in a closet or corner when they’re not in use and unfurl as needed. But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on design, and many of

So, what should you look for in impromptu seating and stashable chairs? Aesthetics factor in, of course, but so do durability, space-saving features, comfortable seats, and the ability to blend seamlessly with other attractive decor. Armless folding chairs might be the most versatile choice, but for other table configurations or apartments, stools might be a better choice.

Below, please find some vetted, verifiably appealing stashable seating including the best foldable and/or stackable dining chairs and even some of those honorable-mention stools. (Looking at you, Alvar Aalto dupes.)

The Best Foldable Dining Chairs

A touch of rattan caning

Awonde Foldable Dining Chairs (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

A little caning or rattan detailing can really warm up the joint. This set of armless, foldable dining chairs does just that, but also has cushy non-rattan seating for those long and winding dinner conversations.   

Rattan, but make it moodier

AllModern Rattan Folding Chairs (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

AllModern did not skimp when it came to the caned detailing on this set’s back and seat portions, which are also framed by a starker, and slightly more sophisticated black-colored wood. 

For a cozy Japandi feel

Homefun Stackable Chairs (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

In addition to their ample and very inviting cushioning, these chairs also have removable seat covers that you can toss in the wash after a particularly spirited pasta dinner. 

You’re a 70s design buff

The Twillery Company Alcorn Stackable Acrylic Folding Chair Set (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

I would love to splurge on an original Giancarlo Piretti Plia Chair, and there are plenty of vintage sets on sites such as Etsy for under $500. But I have also watched design-obsessed friends learn, the hard way, just how much of a risk it can be to invest in vintage plastic furniture that is prone to cracking. Bring home these much more affordable dupes instead, which come in a delightfully 1970s amber colorway as well as light pink, baby blue, and clear options. 

The Best Stackable Dining Chairs

The perfect indoor-outdoor chair

Industry West Aero Stackable Dining Chair

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Industry West delivers when it comes to deep-set dining chairs, and this matcha-colored, indoor-outdoor option provides your guest with 18.5 inches of reclining space. These chairs are at a higher price point because they’re built to last for years to come even if exposed to the elements, but the current sale shaves a sweet $40 off. 

Integrate corduroy fabrics for visual interest

17 Stories Abdalhai Corduroy and Metal Chairs (Set of 4)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This set of four stackable dining chairs may just be the best deal on our shortlist. There’s a very grown-up quality to these chairs, which cut a minimalist profile thanks to those sleek steel legs (I’m feeling a little Googie leg-saturated at the moment). The seats are also made out of corduroy (the Proustien madeleine of fabrics, am I right?) in an inviting amber colorway. 

You’ve been eyeing Cesca chairs

Don’t forget to check secondhand sites

Honorable Mention: Stashable, Stackable Dining Stools

If you’re an Alvaar Alto fan

George Oliver Isolinda Stools (Set of 4)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Don’t discount the handiness of a dining stool, especially if you live in a particularly storage-starved apartment. Arguably the most iconic stacking stool of our time is this design by Alvar Aalto, which is also famously duped by IKEA (given the cute $400 price of the original). This set of four similar stools costs under $100 and comes as a mix-n-match color set with light green, pink, white, and natural wood grain seat colorways. 

This set turns into a side table

Anyways Wood Stackable Stools (Set of 4)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Genius. Not one, not two, but a set of four stools make up this very Scandi-coded set of stools that can be converted into a sidetable. 

Now invite some friends over for raclette already.