Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterTop pickThis streamlined outdoor dining table adapts easily to various decor styles, comes in three sizes, and can be mixed and matched with your favorite dining chairs.With its powder-coated steel frame, this woven-rope chair feels built to last and comes in four earthy colors.Why it’s greatThe table is well-made. Our tester table has sat under a covered porch in a high-altitude desert climate since late 2021 and has retained its polished warm hue with only occasional cleaning. Beyond a few light surface scratches it still looks almost new, with no cracks or loose hardware.Assembly was easy. The Article Latta Outdoor Dining Table has a slatted acacia wood top that sits on a powder-coated aluminum frame, which comes in either light gray or dark gray. Putting it together took about 15 minutes for one person (though you may need another person to unpack it and flip it over).The Manna chair, shown here in Grove Green, has arms that scoot easily under the Latta table and are lightweight to move around. Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterThe Latta table has a lid to keep its umbrella hole hidden when not in use. Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterThe Manna chair, shown here in Grove Green, has arms that scoot easily under the Latta table and are lightweight to move around. Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterYou can style the table with our favorite chair. In our testing, we paired the table with Article’s Manna Outdoor Dining Chair, which, at the time, was one of Article’s most highly reviewed outdoor chairs that wasn’t plastic. We like the sturdy powder-coated steel frame, softened by a matching woven polypropylene rope, which makes the seat subtly pliable compared with hard metal or plastic. While the rope on the chairs we’ve had since 2021 has faded slightly, it hasn’t stretched or frayed since 2021.Flaws but not dealbreakersOur Latta tester table from 2021 hasn’t greyed and still has a warm, polished gleam to it, despite the lack of major upkeep or any resealing. Daniela Gorny/NYT WirecutterThe table’s wood top requires some maintenance in most climates. If you live in a place with a lot of rain or harsh winters, you’ll need to condition the wood periodically and maybe even reseal it annually, depending on how exposed your table is. If possible, use a vented furniture cover on it when the forecast calls for rain, and move the table indoors seasonally.The table’s underside has exposed hardware. This can create a weak spot for rust, especially in humid climates. We think it’s a design flaw that could have been easily redesigned by attaching the legs to the inside of the metal frame, instead of on the outside.The Manna chairs have a hard elevated seat edge. Since the woven seat dips slightly below the metal tubing, the protruding edge of the seat may dig into your thighs. One tester, who’s 5-foot-4, said the seat was bothering her after about an hour, but none of our taller testers seemed to mind.Key specs
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