Private chef in Madrid: the complete guide to a perfect evening

A private chef at home is a professional cook who travels to your house, your second residence or your event venue to design, shop for, prepare and serve a bespoke menu. Unlike a traditional caterer — who delivers pre-cooked food — the private chef cooks live in your kitchen, guaranteeing a level on par with a restaurant.

The service is designed as a complete experience: from the initial consultation to design the menu, to cleaning the kitchen at the end of the evening. You don't touch a plate, you don't shop for groceries, you don't wash a single pan. You sit down and enjoy.

Each chef has their own offer, but a complete service in Madrid usually includes:

• ◆Personalised menu design after an initial phone or written consultation.
• ◆Sourcing of ingredients at the finest markets (La Paz, Chamartín, Maravillas, Vallehermoso).
• ◆Travel to and set-up at your Madrid home.
• ◆Cooking entirely on site, with professional tools brought by the chef.
• ◆Table service by the chef or a dedicated team depending on the format.
• ◆Optional wine pairing (with or without purchase).
• ◆Full kitchen clean-up at the end.

Prices depend on three variables: number of guests, number of courses, and produce level. As an indication, current Madrid rates range from €75 per person (5-course Mediterranean menu) to €150 per person (tasting menu with premium produce: scallops, lobster, truffle).

A travel fee may apply for events outside the M-30 or in the sierra. For small groups (4 to 6 guests), a minimum charge equivalent to 8 covers is often applied, since prep time barely changes with guest count.

Simple rule: the earlier the better. For a weekend dinner, 7 to 10 days notice is comfortable. For larger events (weddings, corporate lunches) or peak dates (Christmas, Valentine's, New Year, May and June weekends), 4 to 8 weeks ahead secures the most options.

Some chefs keep slots open for last-minute bookings at 48 or 72 hours. Don't hesitate to ask: the answer is often yes if the menu is slightly simplified.

No. A standard domestic kitchen — two burners, an oven, a medium fridge — is perfectly sufficient. The chef arrives with their professional tools, knives, pans and small specialist equipment (Pacojet, sous-vide, siphon when relevant). If your kitchen is very small, just let the chef know so the menu can be adapted accordingly.

In central Madrid flats with 5 m² kitchens, it works too. We've served seven-course tasting menus in kitchens smaller than a hotel bathroom.

The service is available across the Madrid region: central Madrid (Salamanca, Chamberí, Chamartín, Retiro, Centro, Malasaña, Justicia), northern towns (La Moraleja, Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes), western suburbs (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Las Rozas, Majadahonda, Boadilla del Monte, Aravaca) and, on quote, the sierra and more distant municipalities.