Chic and practical — the best retro dining trolleys
No self-respecting host should be without a fancy trolley, insists Nick Vinson
A trolley is a uniquely multifunctional piece of furniture with retro connotations. Think entertaining, old-school fine dining table service and being the perfect host. I find one particularly useful rolled alongside the dining table, to prevent ice buckets, wine coolers, bottles of wine, water etc overcrowding the table. I also use one from which to serve the starters, cheese course or dessert, with space below for clean or used tableware.
The Serving Cart by Bodil Kjaer for Cassina
This was designed in 1963 and introduced by Cassina in 2021. Bodil Kjaer used her skills as a designer to perfect a cart that could keep everything in its proper place. There’s a section for cutlery, a bottle holder for wine and champagne and a hanging glass holder too.
£2,930, cassina.com
The USM Haller serving trolley
This was also designed 60 years ago — the Sixties were the trolley’s heyday. Made from powder-coated steel and chrome-plated steel tubes, the minimal design comes in 14 different colours, including this pleasing yellow.
£608, usm.com
The Duo by Roberto Lazzeroni for Poltrona Frau and Ceccotti Collezioni
It may not have the historical credentials, but this trolley is perfectly elegant and winningly compact. It comes in ash and bronze.
From £4,640, ceccotticollezioni.it
Fornasetti food trolley
Fornasetti is the go-to place for decorative trays silk-screened with its signature patterns. Last year the Milan-based company introduced a trolley for which you could choose the tray for the top. Of course that means you can collect more than one tray and change the look of your trolley. And, when the weather improves, this can also be used outside.
£990 (above right), fornasetti.com
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Drinks trolley by Leif Arling for CF Christensen
It’s always a good idea to look at vintage sellers for unique and interesting pieces, like this Danish Model 284 in rosewood. Its top opens to provide a surface for mixing and serving, and it also comes with locks and keys if you need to squirrel away the good stuff. From the vintage dealer Dries Vanlandschoote.
€2,500, vanlandschoote.com
