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Cafe Blinds and Bistro Blinds
Cafe blinds close in the sheltered sides of your deck, so the table stays dry on a wet July evening.
Or call 09 441 9455. Mon to Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Not every side of a deck takes the full weather. A side-channel system on every side adds up fast, so we measure, supply and install cafe blinds in Auckland for the sheltered sides, with the same PVC and stainless fittings.
Call 09 441 9455 to book your free measure and quote, and an owner will tell you which side needs which. Or send us a message.
✓ Locally made in New Zealand
✓ Free measure and quote
✓ 2 year full warranty (no call-out fee)
✓ 260+ five-star Google reviews
✓ In business since 2010
Café blinds and bistro blinds for decks, patios and hospitality
Café blinds and bistro blinds are the same product. It's an outdoor blind that rolls by crank, with a round bottom rail and trim border in a range of colours.
For cafés and restaurants, outdoor cafe blinds keep the outside tables in use through the cooler, wetter months, with clear PVC blinds so diners keep the view.
See the full range on our outdoor blinds and outdoor screens page.
How café blinds work: crank, with or without side guides
Cafe style blinds roll up and down by crank, which turns a gear box. Each side is finished one of two ways:
✓ Without side guides: the blind straps or clips to the deck at the bottom, for a tidier look on a sheltered side
✓ With side guides: tracks guide the bottom rail, so it stays put when the wind picks up
Plenty of decks get a mix of both.
Outdoor cafe blinds for home decks
Some people take café blinds for a commercial product. They suit a home deck just as well, with the same PVC and stainless fittings as the top systems.
If you've sat behind clear PVC on a restaurant terrace and wanted it at home, these are the ones. You get that look on your own deck or pagoda, without paying for a side-channel system on a side the weather barely reaches. Where we can, we adapt them to an existing pergola, veranda or canopy.
PVC or mesh café blinds
The right fabric depends on what bothers you about the space:
✓ Clear PVC is waterproof, so the table stays dry and you keep the view
✓ Tinted PVC takes the edge off the afternoon glare
✓ Mesh filters the sun, gives you privacy from the neighbours and lets some air through, in 1% and 5% openness and many colours
Clear PVC cafe style outdoor blinds suit a side where rain is the problem. Mesh goes where the sun or the neighbours are.
PVC cafe blinds work by crank. The mesh ones can be motorised, but PVC and crank rollers don't motorise well.
Café blinds and Auckland wind
On a sheltered side, a café blind strapped to the deck gives a tidy finish. Where more breeze comes through, side guides hold the bottom rail in place so it isn't left flapping.
At the measure we show you which sides need guides and which need Ziptrak® or Zipscreen, so you're not guessing about the wind.
Like every outdoor blind, they aren't storm-proof. Roll them up when strong wind is coming, and never leave them down in a storm.
Mixing café blinds with Ziptrak or Zipscreen
Closing in several open sides adds up, and nobody wants to be upsold on the sides that don't need it.
On the exposed side we fit genuine Ziptrak blinds, with a spline down each side that runs in a channel and is very hard to pull out. Or Zipscreen outdoor blinds, which hold the fabric with a fine zip in a side channel. The sheltered sides get café blinds.
For shade overhead, our retractable awnings cover the deck from above, though they don't replace a roof or a solid awning.
Not sure which side is the exposed one? Call 09 441 9455 and an owner will tell you, standing on your deck.
Measured by an owner, installed by our own team
David or Roman measures every outdoor blind we fit, in person. That's why we don't give prices from sizes. We bring the showroom to you, and the free measure covers:
✓ Samples and mesh swatches on your deck, in your own light
✓ Which sides suit a café blind and which need guides, Ziptrak or Zipscreen
✓ A clear quote you can check line by line
Roman leads every install with our own team. We've been doing this since 2010, starting out as North Shore Blinds and Screens.
How long do café blinds take?
From deposit to install:
✓ Main season, spring and summer: 4 to 5 weeks
✓ Off season: a little less
✓ Before Christmas: longer
Got a date in mind? Tell us at the measure.
Caring for PVC café blinds, and our 2-year warranty
PVC lasts longest when it's looked after:
✓ Roll it up only when it's clean and dry
✓ Don't leave it rolled up in direct sun for long periods
✓ Wash it with mild soap, warm water and a soft brush, never solvents
✓ Wrinkles drop out after a few days hanging
Our care guide for PVC outdoor screens covers the rest.
Our 2-year full warranty covers parts and labour with no call-out fee. If something goes wrong, we come and fix it. Full terms are on our warranty page.
What our customers say about their café blinds
We have 260+ five-star Google reviews, and all of our outdoor screen reviews are five stars.
Sameer, on two café blinds and a Ziptrak at his home:
"Rollerflex recently installed two cafe blinds and one Ziptrak blind at my home. David promptly responded to my inquiry, providing a swift measurement and quote. The installation team, David and Roman, were professional and resourceful in addressing a specific challenge posed by my existing outdoor structure." (Sameer, November 2024)
Victoria, on the advice for her deck:
"Both Roman and David listen to what we wanted and advised the best option for our deck. Mesh outdoor screens kept our deck dry and cosy even during the recent heavy rains." (Victoria, March 2023)
Robert, on side screens for his pagoda:
"We have just had Rollerflex install our side screens to our pagoda and it has transformed the area immensely. Roman who was the installer did a very professional job." (Robert, June 2021)
Café blind questions
What are café blinds and how do they work?
Café blinds, also called bistro blinds, are outdoor blinds that roll up and down by crank, with or without side guides. They come in clear PVC, tinted PVC or mesh, with a trim border, and suit home decks as well as hospitality terraces.
Café blinds with or without side guides?
Without guides, the blind straps or clips to the deck for a tidy finish on a sheltered side. Side guides hold the bottom rail in wind, so we suggest them where more breeze comes through.
Are café blinds good for a home deck, or only for cafés?
They suit home decks as well as cafés, because it's the same product. At the measure we'll show you which sides of your deck they suit.
PVC or mesh café blinds?
Clear PVC keeps the rain off and keeps your view. Mesh filters the sun, gives you privacy and lets some air through.
How do café blinds cope with wind?
Side guides hold the bottom rail when the wind picks up, and the weather side can take a Ziptrak or Zipscreen instead. No outdoor blind is storm-proof, so roll them up in strong winds.
Can café blinds be motorised?
The mesh ones can be motorised. PVC and crank rollers don't motorise well, so those stay on the crank.
How long do café blinds take?
It's 4 to 5 weeks from deposit to install in the main season, a little less off season, and longer before Christmas.
Can you give me a price from my deck sizes?
Not one you could rely on. An owner measures in person, free across Auckland, and you get a quote you can check line by line.
What warranty do you give?
Two years full, parts and labour, with no call-out fee.
Book a free measure for café blinds
You don't need sizes or a plan. One of the owners stands on your deck with the samples, tells you which side needs which blind and leaves you a clear quote. There's no pressure to go ahead.
Call 09 441 9455 to book your free measure and quote. We're open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Prefer to write? Send us a message and we'll get back to you.
Related pages
✓ Outdoor blinds and outdoor screens
✓ Warranty