The Light
FromR550per person
A relaxed dinner party: a plated starter and a main, cooked and served at your table.
- Starter
- Main
Sandton & Johannesburg
Private chef hire Johannesburg
Restaurant-quality plated dining in your own home: cooked in your kitchen, served at your table, and cleared away before the chef leaves.
FromR550per person, 10+ guests
The best table in Johannesburg is the one in your own home, with nobody waiting for it after you.
Experience the ultimate in luxury dining with bespoke private chef hire in Johannesburg. Our chefs bring restaurant-quality cooking, attentive service and handcrafted menus to your residence, luxury rental or private venue, so you can host without leaving your guests.
We cook across Sandton, Bryanston, Morningside, Hyde Park, Rosebank, Randburg and the surrounding areas, for dinners of ten guests and more.
The Classic
FromR650per person
The full dinner party: starter, main and dessert, each plated and presented fresh.
- Starter
- Main
- Dessert
The Cheese & Canapé
FromR850per person
An evening that opens with canapés and a cheese table, followed by a plated main and dessert.
- Canapés on arrival
- Cheese table
- Main
- Dessert
The Grand Table
FromR1,350per person
Our fine-dining evening for the tables that matter most: premium ingredients, four courses and a dedicated service team.
- Canapés on arrival
- Starter
- Mains
- Dessert
- Service staff included
Several meals or days
The Stay
A private chef for a weekend staycation, an Airbnb or luxury rental, or a multi-day retreat. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners planned across the stay, drawing on any of the packages above, cooked in the kitchen you are staying in.
- Menus planned across the whole stay
- Chef and service staff
- Menu tastings on request
Final rates may vary slightly with custom ingredient selections, seasonal availability, venue location or short-notice bookings. Beverages, crockery, cutlery and glassware are quoted separately; gratuity is at your discretion.
Private chef prices in Johannesburg
What a private chef costs, package by package, with the total for a dinner of ten guests.
| Package | Courses | From, per person | From, 10 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Light | Starter and main | R550 | R5,500 |
| The Classic | Starter, main and dessert | R650 | R6,500 |
| The Cheese & Canapé | Canapés, cheese table, main and dessert | R850 | R8,500 |
| The Grand Table | Fine dining: canapés, starter, mains, dessert and service staff | R1,350 | R13,500 |
| The Stay | Meals across several days | Quoted | Quoted |
Prices updated September 2026. Every price includes menu planning, ingredients, on-site cooking and plating, and kitchen clean-up. Service staff (included with the Grand Table), beverages, crockery, cutlery and glassware are quoted separately; gratuity is at your discretion.
Why hire a private chef through a catering company
Booking platforms match you with an individual chef. We are a catering company with our own chefs and service staff, which matters once the table is ten or more.
A team, not one cook
A chef plus service staff on request, sized to your guest count, with back-up if a chef falls ill.
One company, one quote
Menu, service, staff and extras on one itemised quote, with canapés, décor or a bar from the same team.
Remembered for next time
Your preferences and guests' dietary needs kept on record, so every booking builds on the last.
What each private chef package includes
| Item | The Light | The Classic | Cheese & Canapé | Grand Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canapés on arrival | — | — | Included | Included |
| Cheese table | — | — | Included | — |
| Starter | Included | Included | — | Included |
| Main | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Dessert | — | Included | Included | Included |
| Bespoke menu planning | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Ingredient sourcing | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| On-site cooking and plating | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Kitchen clean-up | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Service staff | Can be added | Can be added | Can be added | Included |
| Menu tasting | On request | On request | On request | On request |
Three ways to dine with a private chef
Every menu is bespoke. The style decides how it reaches the table.
Plated fine dining
Multi-course plated dining, each course cooked and presented at the table. Our signature private chef experience.
Sharing plates
Generous dishes set down for the table to share, for relaxed dinners and family occasions.
Canapés and starters
Handcrafted bites for a standing evening. For larger cocktail functions, see canapé catering.
Occasions for private chef hire in Johannesburg
Celebrations
Milestone birthdays, anniversaries and family celebrations
A celebration at home that feels like the best restaurant in town, without leaving the house.
Business
Executive dinners and client evenings
A private, uninterrupted table for the conversations that matter.
Stays
Staycations, Airbnb and luxury rentals
A chef for one evening or the whole weekend, cooking in the kitchen you are staying in.
Retreats
Multi-day corporate retreats
Menus planned across several days. For workplace catering, see corporate catering.
What sets our private chefs apart
Choosing professional private chef hire in Johannesburg means your evening stands out for the details.
Artisanal presentation
Every plate composed with deliberate attention to colour, texture and balance.
Harmonious flavour
Premium local produce and considered technique, built into a menu that tells a story.
Uncompromising precision
Hours of preparation behind every component, so every bite is right.
We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and Halaal-friendly menus and specific allergy requirements, planned at the consultation. We are not a certified Halaal kitchen, and allergies must be confirmed in writing.
Private chef hire questions
How much does it cost to hire a private chef in Johannesburg?
Private chef hire in Johannesburg starts at R550 per person for two courses (starter and main), R650 for three courses, R850 for canapés and a cheese table with a main and dessert, and R1,350 for the Grand Table, our fine-dining evening with service staff included. Bookings start at ten guests, so a three-course dinner for ten starts at R6,500. Multi-day stays are quoted to the booking.
What is the average cost of a private chef in Johannesburg?
For a group dinner, expect roughly R550 to R1,350 per person depending on the number of courses and the level of service. Our packages run from R550 per person for two courses to R1,350 per person for the fine-dining Grand Table, for ten guests or more.
Is a private chef more expensive than a restaurant?
For a group of ten or more, often not. A private chef price includes the cooking, plating, service at your table and the clean-up, with no restaurant service charge, and your group has the room to itself.
How many courses can we have?
Two to four. The Light is a starter and main, the Classic adds dessert, the Cheese & Canapé opens with canapés and a cheese table, and the Grand Table is a four-course fine-dining evening with canapés and service staff.
What is included when hiring a private chef?
Menu consultation, ingredient shopping, on-site cooking, full plated service and complete kitchen clean-up. Beverages, crockery, cutlery and glassware are quoted separately.
Can I hire a private chef for one meal or several days?
Yes. We book single-evening dinner parties, weekend staycations, Airbnb rentals and multi-day corporate retreats.
Do private chefs bring their own equipment?
Yes. Your chef brings the specialised tools and equipment the menu needs.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of guests?
Private chef bookings start at ten guests. Larger dinners are welcome by prior arrangement.
Do private chefs serve the food?
Your chef plates and presents each course. Service staff can be added to any package, and are included with the Grand Table and the Stay.
Are menu tastings available?
Yes, tastings can be scheduled on request.
How far in advance should I book?
Two to four weeks is recommended to secure your date, and we always try to accommodate short-notice requests.
Reserve your evening
Book a private chef in Johannesburg
Send the date, the number of guests, the occasion and any dietary needs, and we will come back with a bespoke menu proposal and quote.
