Short answer: yes, you can bolt an urban bench directly to concrete, but you should not just drive standard screws or plastic wall plugs into the slab. Concrete is brittle, and outdoor benches deal with weight shifts, temperature changes, and occasional rough use. For a safe and long-lasting install, use anchors designed for solid concrete—typically wedge anchors, sleeve anchors, or epoxy-set threaded rod.
Wedge anchors are the most common choice for metal bench bases on concrete. They expand inside the hole as you tighten the nut, creating strong holding power. Sleeve anchors are easier to remove and are more forgiving if the hole is slightly oversized, but they may not match wedge anchors in shear strength. Drop-in anchors work well if the bench needs to be removed and reinstalled in the same holes. Epoxy anchors are best for wet, cracked, or high-vibration locations because the adhesive bonds the threaded rod to the concrete and helps seal out moisture.
Before drilling, check the bench base plate hole pattern. Most urban benches have base plates with holes for 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch bolts. Use a hammer drill with a carbide-tipped masonry bit. Drill the hole about 1/2 inch deeper than the anchor embedment depth so dust does not bottom out the anchor. Blow or vacuum the hole thoroughly—this is the step most people skip, and it is a major cause of loose benches. Then tap the anchor through the bench base into the hole. Tighten gradually to the manufacturer’s recommended torque. If the concrete is cracked, spalling, or less than about 4 inches thick, do not rely on wedge anchors alone; consider epoxy anchors or a larger base plate with more bolts.
Also choose corrosion-resistant hardware. Outdoor benches are exposed to rain and sometimes road salt, so hot-dipped galvanized or 316 stainless steel anchors, bolts, and washers are worth the extra cost. Use flat washers and lock washers or nylon-insert lock nuts where the design allows.
So yes—bolt it directly to concrete, but use proper concrete anchors, drill clean holes, and match the hardware to the outdoor environment. That is the difference between a bench that stays put for ten years and one that wobbles after the first season.