You're heading to a villa or chalet and wondering: is it better to hire a private chef or eat out at restaurants? The honest answer: it depends. Here's the guide to making the right choice.
Private Chef
Restaurant
Spoiler: I'm a private chef, so you might think I'm going to tell you "hire a chef, it's better". But that would be dishonest. The truth is that both options have their advantages, and the best choice depends on your situation.
The complete comparison table
Let's start with the raw facts, no commentary:
| Criteria | 👨🍳 Private Chef | 🍽️ Restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (6 people, 7 nights) | ~€4,500 all-inclusive | ~€2,100 (dinners only) |
| Lunches included? | Yes | No (you manage those yourself) |
| Time spent organising | 0h | ~7h (bookings, travel) |
| Schedule flexibility | Total (you decide) | Limited (set service times) |
| Adapting for children | Separate meals possible | Late dining times difficult |
| Culinary discovery | Chef's cuisine | Variety of styles |
| Atmosphere / night out | At your place | Discovering new places |
| High season availability | Advance booking | Very hard to book |
| Special diets | 100% customisable | Varies by restaurant |
| Privacy / discretion | Total | Public space |
The real advantages of a private chef
👨🍳 What the private chef does better
- Zero mental load (shopping, cooking, washing up = handled)
- You enjoy YOUR terrace with the view
- Children eat at 7pm, adults dine at 9pm in peace
- No evening drives (alcohol, tiredness, children)
- Menus 100% adapted (allergies, diets, preferences)
- Total privacy (birthdays, private conversations)
- Local market produce, cooked in front of you
- No booking stress in high season
The real advantages of restaurants
🍽️ What restaurants do better
- Discovering different cuisines / atmospheres
- Going out = change of scenery, "a proper evening out"
- More flexible budget (can mix price ranges)
- No commitment over several days
- Discovering local culture
- Possible encounters (other guests, staff)
- No need for an equipped kitchen
The real drawbacks of each option
Let's be honest about the weak points too:
👨🍳 Private chef limitations
- Higher budget
- Less culinary variety
- No "night out"
- Someone else in your space
- Requires an equipped kitchen
🍽️ Restaurant limitations
- Round trips (30-60 min)
- Hard to book in summer
- Late dining times (9-10pm)
- Tricky with young children
- You still cook lunch yourself
- No alcohol = someone drives
5 real-life situations: which to choose?
Situation 1: Family with young children (ages 2-6)
The children are hungry at 6:30pm, exhausted after the beach/pool, and asleep by 8pm. You dream of dining in peace.
Situation 2: Couple without children, first time in the area
You want to discover local cuisine, hidden gems, the atmosphere of the villages at night.
Situation 3: Group of 10 (extended family or friends)
Grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins... You're a big group, with different diets and children of various ages.
Situation 4: Short stay (3-4 days), tight budget
A long weekend, you want to enjoy yourself without breaking the bank.
Situation 5: Birthday / special occasion
You're celebrating something important and want to make it memorable.
Who the private chef is for
✅ A private chef is for you if...
- You're 6+ people
- You have children with different schedules
- You want to TRULY switch off
- You've paid a lot for the villa/chalet
- Meals have caused tension before
- Someone in the group has allergies
- You're celebrating a special occasion
- You don't want to drive in the evening
✅ Restaurants are for you if...
- You're a couple or small group
- You want to discover the area
- Going out is part of your holiday
- You enjoy culinary variety
- You're staying less than a week
- Budget is a priority
- Your children are older / independent
The budget question
Let's be clear on the figures (6 people, 7 days):
The restaurant seems cheaper. But if you add:
- Shopping for lunches (~€300)
- Time spent cooking (~15h)
- Time spent washing up
- Restaurant travel (petrol + time)
- The stress of booking in August
The gap narrows. And the real question becomes: how much is your peace of mind worth on holiday?
💬 My honest opinion (as a chef)
I don't tell everyone to hire a private chef. If you're a couple who love discovering local restaurants, it would be a shame to stay cooped up in your villa.
However, if you're travelling as 8 with children and you know it's always the same person ending up in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys the pool... then yes, a chef changes everything.
The best compromise? Private chef for 5 days + 2 restaurant evenings to discover the best local spots. You get the rest AND the discovery.
Fancy trying a private chef?
Request a free, no-obligation quote. I'll honestly tell you if it's right for your situation.
Request a quoteIn summary
Private chef = total peace of mind, ideal for large families, groups with children, and those who truly want to enjoy their rental.
Restaurant = discovery, variety, nights out. Ideal for couples, small groups, and those who want to explore the area.
A mix of both = often the best compromise for getting both the rest AND the discovery.
Either way, the important thing is to make a conscious choice — not to end up doing kitchen duty by default because you didn't think about it beforehand.
About the author: Adam Brunet has been a private chef since 2018. He works in villas and chalets across France, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. And yes, he goes to restaurants when he's on holiday too.