Fresh Looks, Smart Function: Top Restaurant & Hospitality Uniform Recommendations for 2025

Ever been in a situation where a lot of things change quickly and simultaneously? Who am I kidding? We’ve all been there. But what if in the middle of it all, you also have to take people’s feelings into account?

That’s how it feels to run a restaurant or manage a hotel these days. For many of us, at least. 

The staff runs the show in both cases. From the kitchen to the front of the house, the staff must look sharp, feel comfortable, and withstand the daily hustle all while keeping their feelings in check. Even their appearance speaks before they do. It’s a lot of pressure. Uniforms that can’t keep up with their hustle only add to the pressure.

Not in 2025. This is ShirtsBargain’s breakdown of our standout uniform options to keep restaurant and hotel staff looking sharp, feeling comfortable, and oozing with confidence all day at work.    

Before we begin, there’s something we want to emphasize. 

First impressions, particularly in the hospitality industry. The uniforms shape customer perceptions and their first impression. They enhance the brand’s identity. Would you disagree if we say that great uniforms can improve operational efficiency too? 

We will be covering two leading brands and their core uniform offerings for restaurants & hotels.

A lot of our customers go to buy restaurant uniforms in bulk because it makes financial sense. This is true if they pick the right styles that stand up to constant use. Otherwise, they’d be placing uniform bulk orders too frequently. Port Authority wholesale collections are made for them, with offerings that blend professional appearance, practical function, and surprising durability. Port Authority uniform pieces are infamous for holding shape and colors even after countless washes.

A brand so iconic and etched into the hearts of American workers, that they need no introduction. Red Kap spent over a century perfecting workwear that’s durable and functional. Our Red Kap wholesale offerings can effortlessly deliver a professional edge. We will be covering a few styles that you may want to check out for the blue-collar staff.

Port Authority Easy Care shirts: These budget-friendly wash-and-wear shirts come in short-sleeve ( Port Authority S508) and long-sleeve ( Port Authority S608) options. Made of a 55/45 cotton-poly blend, the shirts are very wrinkle-resistant. Your front desk staff, the ones that interact most with customers, will stay crisp and comfortable. The Port Authority L640 shirt is something ladies will love.

Red Kap SY50 Long Sleeve Ripstop Shirt: If you seek stain/soil resistant uniforms for the front-of-house staff, Red Kap’s Ripstop shirts won’t disappoint. The long-sleeve variant looks very professional and premium and offers stain resistance, moisture-wicking, and superior color retention. The poly-cotton shirt takes prints well and doesn’t require much ironing. The Red Kap SY60 is its short-sleeved variant if that’s what you prefer.

Red Kap PT60 Elastic Insert Pant: A poly-cotton pant featuring the brand’s patented Touchtex technology giving it excellent stain-release, superb comfort, and superior color retention. The PT60 complements the brand’s Ripstop shirts perfectly.

Port Authority Twill Shirts: The SuperPro lineup features performance heavy hitters like the Port Authority S663 Twill Shirt for men, the Port Authority L663 Twill shirt for women, the Port Authority S658 Oxford Shirt for men, and the Port Authority L658 Ladies Oxford Shirt. All styles in this lineup share amazing stain and wrinkle resistance. Every one of them is built for superb comfort. The catch is that there aren’t many color options. They all have short-sleeve variants and a specific 3/4-sleeve variant for ladies.

Port Authority LW401 and Port Authority LW400 Performance Staff Shirts: The name says it all. These shirts are engineered for performance and staff uniforming specifically. The 100% polyester shirts are for ladies only and are designed with stain-release, wrinkle-resistant, odor-fighting, and moisture-wicking technologies. The side vents enhance airflow, delivering more comfort than regular shirts.

Port Authority A500 Full-Length Apron: 100% cotton twill apron with stain-release properties and two waist-level patch pockets for utility. It’s lightweight and printable.

Port Authority A703 Easy Care Full-Length Apron: Apron made of a 65/30 poly-cotton twill blend offering great feel, excellent durability, stain release, and wrinkle resistance. 

Port Authority A815 Canvas Full-Length Two-Pocket Apron: 100% cotton canvas and contrasting 100% cotton webbing neck and waist ties. This apron comes with grommets, neck adjusters, and two patch pockets; everything your kitchen staff needs in their outfit. 

Port Authority A707 Easy Care Reversible Waist Apron: A versatile waist apron with stain release and three pockets on both sides, the A707 is wrinkle-resistant, durable, and reversible. A great pick for the price point.

Port Authority A701 Easy Care Full Bistro Apron: Port Authority’s Easy Care blend shines in this durable bistro apron. It also comes with stain release with the distinctive feature being the large front pocket. It also comes in a half-bistro apron variant. 

Port Authority LM2000 Ladies Knit Blazer: A comfortable blazer with a deconstructed style for versatile layering. We recommend pairing it with uniform polo shirts or solid shirts underneath. The blazer is a 52/48 cotton-poly Ponte knit, with welt pockets and a back vent for better airflow. It can resist wrinkles all day long and stays fresh every day with relatively little care.

Port Authority L500LS Ladies Silk Touch Long Sleeve Polo: A poly/cotton pique blend masterpiece from Port Authority, the L500LS is amazingly cozy and soft, and very easy to care for. It comes with side vents and promises all-day wrinkle resistance. Managers can also pair it with vests at work.

Port Authority K540 Polo - Men's Silk Touch Performance Polo: A budget-friendly offering from Port Authority’s Silk Touch lineup, the K540 goes well anywhere in any setting. The 100% polyester double-knit polo also comes in dozens of colors. The polo shirt also comes in a long sleeve variant. 

Port Authority K321 Interlock Knit Mock Turtleneck: Managers wearing turtlenecks layered with other pieces have a kind of suave appeal. The K321, crafted from super-soft ringspun cotton with a touch of spandex in the blend, is perfect for layering, retains its shape, and offers just the right amount of flexibility. 

Port Authority L525 Ladies Dry Zone Ottoman Polo: A great piece designed to suit corporate event settings, the L525 and its classic style is manager material. It’s colorfast, and snag-resistant, and features the brand’s lauded Dry Zone® moisture-wicking technology. It’s made of 100% high-quality polyester and features a standout 4-button placket that isn’t common in women’s polo shirts. 

Port Authority L298 Ladies Fleece Blazer: A versatile fleece blazer with a polished look and comfy feel. It’s designed to be paired with blank t-shirts but also works with polo shirts. The cotton-poly blazer comes with front and back princess seams giving it an elevated, regal appeal.

Port Authority L222 Ladies Pique Fleece Jacket: We love its pique texture and how it complements the cozy fleece interior perfectly. It comes with 100% polyester tricot pockets, a reverse coil zipper, and poly-spandex binding on the collar and cuffs. Great value for the price, and an amazing piece for layering.

Mercer Mettle MM7102 Soft Shell Jacket: A refined, easy-moving jacket made for corporate environments. The MM7102 is built with a supple double-weave poly-spandex fabric blend. 

 

Color Psychology: Your uniform colors should match your establishment's vibe. For example, a fine dining restaurant will need the staff to wear colors like deep wines, blacks, and maybe even subtle earth colors. Casual dining restaurants give more wiggle room for the staff when it comes to colors and patterns. However, hotels may still want to stick with neutrals that complement the interior design. 

Cohesive Look: Creating a distinction between roles while maintaining a cohesive look demands a lot of thought. Here are a few pointers.

Implementation: We advise our customers in the F&B and Hospitality industries to start testing uniforms with a trial period and make adjustments based on real-world use. To help them with this, we also offer samples. 

Cost-Effective Ordering: Something that’s overlooked. ShirtsBargain’s bulk discounts are meant to give more value to our customers when they order custom restaurant uniforms in bulk. This adds up along with our already low per-unit prices for the most popular styles. Additionally, bulk blank orders above $129 are also shipped free. To maximize the overall value of your uniform purchase, place orders during our special sales periods.

Sustainability: Modern customers care about environmental impact. So you may want to consider sustainable uniform apparel. Our collection includes a lot of sustainable options for you to choose from leading brands in the market. 

The hospitality industry keeps moving forward, and your uniforms should too. The right uniform choices boost your brand, protect your investment, and keep your team comfortable and confident.

Upgrade your team's look with these recommendations, but remember - the best uniform is one that works for your specific needs. Want to explore more options? Our team's ready to help you pick the perfect uniform package for your establishment. Let's get your staff looking and feeling their best for 2025 and beyond.