For a narrow city sidewalk, I’d skip deep café chairs and broad benches. The best urban outdoor furniture is a shallow, backless bench—usually 14 to 18 inches deep—placed along the wall or curb-side edge so the clear walking zone stays open. Powder-coated steel frames with FSC-certified wood or recycled HDPE slats hold up well, and backless designs are easier to clean and less likely to catch trash.
If wall space allows, a wall-mounted bench or fold-down seat is even better because it takes up almost no sidewalk depth when not in use. Planter benches are a strong second choice: they combine greenery, a barrier, and a perch in one footprint. For very tight spots, use lean rails or compact perch seats rather than full benches.
Keep it simple: rounded edges, anti-graffiti finishes, drainage, and removable or stackable pieces for maintenance. Leave at least the local required clear path—often 4 to 6 feet—and place furniture in a consistent line so people can move past without weaving. In most narrow sidewalk settings, the winner is a slim backless bench plus a planter or wall-mounted seat, not a full outdoor lounge set.