Airbnb Chef: A Private Chef at Your Vacation Rental
Stay in and eat well. A private chef shops, cooks dinner or brunch in your Airbnb or VRBO kitchen, serves the group and cleans up, so nobody spends the trip planning meals or waiting for a table.
- Vetted local chefs
- Custom menus for any diet
- No tipping required
- 24 cities
$90–$175+per person
All-inclusivegroceries, cooking, serving, cleanup
At your rentalAirbnb, VRBO, lake or beach house
1 meal or the whole staydinner, brunch or every night
A private chef for an Airbnb or vacation rental costs $90–$175+ per person on Platesfull (minimum spend $500–$800), with groceries, cooking, serving and cleanup included. The chef cooks in your rental kitchen; book 3–6 weeks ahead for holiday weekends and peak season.
Meet some of our vacation rental chefs
The top-ranked chef in each popular rental destination, based on reviews, response and profile quality. Request a quote and chefs in your city send menus.
Horacio R.
Austin
American, French…
Kayisha T.
Miami
American, Italian…
Farid O.
Fort Lauderdale
American, French…
Moira H.
San Diego
American, Chinese…
Zach H.
Los Angeles
American, Italian…
Derrick H.
Nashville
American, Chinese…
Gabrielle G.
Austin
Tony C.
Austin
American, Italian…
Nash Z.
San Antonio
American, French…
Luke K.
Dallas
How booking an Airbnb chef works
Three steps from request to dinner on the table.
Tell us about the trip
Rental city, dates, group size, the meals you want and any allergies. It takes about two minutes.
Compare chefs and menus
Local chefs send proposals with menus and prices. Ask about the kitchen and tweak the menu in your inquiry.
Enjoy the stay
The chef shops, cooks at your rental, serves and leaves the kitchen clean.
What a private chef can cook during your stay
Book one meal or plan the whole trip. Need ideas? See 12 easy beach and lake house dinner menus.
Welcome-night dinner
A family-style or plated dinner the night you arrive, so the trip starts at the table instead of in a grocery store.
Brunch at the house
Eggs, pancakes, fruit and coffee served the morning after, while everyone is still in vacation mode.
Grill night on the deck
Steaks, seafood or a backyard BBQ on the rental's grill, with sides and dessert, and no one stuck at the grill.
Meals for the whole stay
Two meals or every dinner of a longer trip, planned by one chef so nothing repeats. Popular for family reunions and group trips.
Transparent pricing
Airbnb chef packages
One price per person, groceries, cooking, serving and cleanup included
Casual Dining
$90–$125 per person
Minimum order $500
A relaxed chef experience for easy, approachable hosting.
- Groceries included
- Chef cooks on-site
- Buffet or family-style service
- Kitchen cleanup
Most popular Fine Dining
$125–$175 per person
Minimum order $600
Refined dinner parties with polished plating and elevated menus.
- Groceries included
- Chef cooks on-site
- Family style & fully plated
- Kitchen cleanup
Luxury Dining
$175+ per person
Minimum order $800
Premium occasions with chef-led pacing and a luxurious table.
- Groceries included
- Chef cooks on-site
- Plated, with table service & luxury table setting
- Kitchen cleanup
No tipping required. Final pricing varies by chef, menu, guest count and service style. See full pricing →
Private chef at the rental vs eating out
For a group on vacation, the difference is less about the food and more about the evening.
| Private chef at your rental | Restaurant for a group | |
|---|---|---|
| Reservations | None; dinner is at the house | Hard to get for 8+ on a weekend |
| Getting there | No driving or rides | Two cars or several rideshares |
| Menu | Custom, around every diet in the group | Fixed menu, limited swaps |
| Price | One per-person quote, no tipping required | Menu price plus drinks, tax and an automatic group tip |
| The evening | Ends when you want, kids and pets welcome | Ends when the table is needed |
For groups of 6 or more, a chef often costs about the same per person as a restaurant once drinks, tax, tip and rides are added. See private chef pricing for what each package covers.
Find an Airbnb chef by destination
Pick where you are staying to see local chefs, sample menus and prices for that area.
AustinTX
FredericksburgTX
Horseshoe BayTX
MiamiFL
Fort LauderdaleFL
San DiegoCA
Los AngelesCA
The HamptonsNY
NashvilleTN
New BraunfelsTX
More cities (14)
New to booking a chef for a rental? Read what to expect from an Airbnb private chef and the complete guide to hiring a chef for your Airbnb. Celebrating? See the bachelorette party chef page. Own or manage rentals? Offer chef experiences to your guests through our vacation rental partner program.
Planning tips from our chefs
- Book the chef with the rental. Holiday weekends and peak season fill first. Request 3–6 weeks out.
- Send kitchen details. Burners, oven, grill, dishwasher and seating help the chef plan. A photo of the kitchen is perfect.
- Check the house rules. Guest limits, quiet hours and grill use vary by rental; plan meal timing around them.
- Collect diets up front. One message to the group about allergies saves last-minute changes.
- Give the chef access details. Door code or check-in steps, parking and the time the kitchen is free.
Planning guides for your rental stay
Our most-read guides for booking a chef at an Airbnb or vacation home.
Airbnb private chef: what to expectHow booking works, what the chef brings and what a stay with a chef looks like.Read the guide →
The complete guide to a chef for your AirbnbCosts, timing, house rules and how to plan meals across the trip.Read the guide →
Beach & lake house dinner ideas12 easy menus that work in a rental kitchen, from grill nights to seafood.Read the guide →
Private chef for VRBO group dinnersBeach houses, family reunions and dinners for 10 to 20 guests.Read the guide →
Airbnb chef vs cooking yourselfThe honest pros and cons of cooking on vacation versus booking a chef.Read the guide →
Airbnb chef FAQs
How much does a private chef for an Airbnb cost?
On Platesfull, a private chef at your Airbnb or vacation rental costs $90 to $125 per person for a casual family-style meal, $125 to $175 for a plated fine-dining dinner, and $175 or more for a luxury tasting menu. Minimum spend is $500, $600 or $800 depending on the package. Groceries, cooking, serving and cleanup are included.
Can a private chef cook in an Airbnb or VRBO kitchen?
Yes. Rental kitchens are where our chefs cook most weekends. The chef brings the groceries and any special equipment, works with the kitchen you have and leaves it clean. Share the address, the number of burners and oven, and a photo of the kitchen if you can when you request a quote.
Is a private chef allowed at my Airbnb?
Most rentals allow it, because the chef is a service you book, like a cleaner or a caterer. Check the listing's house rules for guest limits, quiet hours and grill use, and plan the meal around them. If you are unsure, message the host before you book the chef.
Can we book a chef for the whole stay?
Yes. Many groups book a welcome dinner on the first night and a brunch the morning after, and some book every dinner of a longer stay. Ask for a multi-meal quote and one chef can plan the menus so nothing repeats.
How far in advance should we book an Airbnb chef?
Book 3 to 6 weeks ahead for holiday weekends and peak season (summer at the beach and lake, spring and fall in Texas Hill Country). Two weeks can work in quieter months. Booking when you reserve the rental is the safest choice.
Can the chef handle allergies and different diets in the group?
Yes. List allergies and diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free) when you request a quote. The chef plans the menu around them so everyone eats the same meal.
Do we need to tip the chef?
Tipping is not required on Platesfull. The quoted price includes the chef's service, so you can budget the trip up front.
Ready to plan meals for your stay?
Tell us where you are staying, the dates and group size. Local chefs will send menus and prices, free and with no obligation.
Get a free quotePlatesfull is not affiliated with Airbnb or VRBO.