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A proposal, a wedding, a birthday, a family gathering — every occasion in New Zealand deserves a private chef.
About Private Dining
The most important moments of your life deserve more than a restaurant. UpChef connects you with New Zealand's finest private chefs — a proposal dinner for two, a birthday at your home for twenty, a wedding reception, a corporate client dinner. Every chef verified, every menu at the highest standard.
Every occasion
From an intimate dinner for two to a wedding for a hundred — whatever you’re hosting, there’s a chef for it.
How UpChef works
No phone calls, no emails, no waiting days for a reply. Everything happens inside the app — live chat, instant notifications, and real offers from verified chefs near you. Pick whichever way suits you.
Share the details that matter — date, number of guests, cuisine, budget, location, and any dietary needs. It takes about a minute, and there's no obligation to book.
The moment you post, verified chefs around you receive a live notification on their phone. They respond fast — often within minutes — sending you personalised menus and quotes to compare.
Review the offers side by side, chat with the chefs you like to fine-tune the menu, then book the one that's right for you — securely, in a couple of taps.
Browse verified chefs near you by cuisine, occasion, and guest count. See full menus with prices, real reviews from past events, and each chef's signature dishes.
Message the chef directly in the app — no emails, no phone tag. Ask questions, tailor the courses, and get instant replies. The chef can send you a custom offer right in the chat.
Choose a set menu and book in a couple of taps, or accept the chef's custom offer. Your payment is held securely until after the event, so you're always protected.
It all happens inside the app — live chat, instant notifications, and secure payment. Book your private chef in less time than a restaurant reservation takes.
Why a private chef
Picture an evening with no crowded reservation, no drive across town, and no surprise bill at the end. You sit at your own table, in your own home, while a professional chef prepares a meal built around your taste and your occasion.
Book a private chef for an intimate dinner for two, a feast for forty, or a week of healthy meal prep. You choose the menu, the budget, and the mood — we bring the talent to your door.
And because your chef cooks, serves, and cleans up, the only thing you're left with is a memory your guests won't stop talking about.
Restaurant-quality food at home
Menus tailored to your event
Transparent prices, no surprises
The host finally gets to relax
Built on trust
Welcoming someone into your home takes trust. That's why UpChef is built around verification, protection, and transparency at every step — from the first message to the last plate.
Every chef is reviewed before they can take a single booking, and every rating you read comes from a real, completed event — never anonymous, never invented.
Pay securely in the app and your payment is held safely until after your event. If something isn't right, you're covered — the chef is only paid once everything goes to plan.
Plans change. If a chef cancels, we help you find another or refund you in full. If you cancel, you get a complete refund up to seven days before your event.
UpChef was built by people who have worked the kitchen. We take 0% commission from chefs, so the person who cooked your food is paid fairly — and that care lands straight on your plate.
Questions before, during, or after your event? A real support team is one message away in the app, ready to make sure your evening goes exactly the way you imagined it.
From Riyadh to London to São Paulo, UpChef works in your country, your currency, and your language — with chefs who understand both local tradition and global cuisine.
Real experiences
Hosted a big family lunch and didn't lift a finger. The kids had their own menu, my mother actually sat down to eat for once, and the kitchen was spotless after.
Booking a private chef felt like a luxury until I actually did it. The whole thing was simpler than a restaurant reservation, and the evening was unforgettable.
Restaurant-quality food at my own table, with none of the hosting stress. I'll never go back to cooking for big groups myself.
Explore by City
We cover 4 cities across New Zealand. Choose your city to browse available chefs.
For chefs in New Zealand
Join the chefs building their own private-dining business on UpChef across New Zealand — with 0% commission, keeping every penny they earn.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about booking a private chef in New Zealand.
Download the UpChef app, choose your city in New Zealand, browse verified chefs by cuisine and occasion, and confirm your booking in minutes. Your chef arrives fully equipped — you just enjoy the evening.
Yes — your chef comes to your home or venue in Auckland (or wherever you are), cooks fresh on site, serves, and leaves the kitchen clean. You're a guest at your own table.
Absolutely. You can choose from a chef's menus or message them directly to tailor the courses, dietary needs, and number of guests before you book.
For dinners we recommend a few days' notice so your chef can plan and shop for fresh ingredients, but many chefs in New Zealand accept last-minute bookings too.
Yes. You pay through the app and your money is held securely until after your event, so you're always protected. Chefs are paid once the experience is complete.
Prices depend on the chef, menu, and number of guests — you always see the full price before you confirm. Most private dinners in New Zealand are quoted per person, and larger events are priced on request.
We cover Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and more across New Zealand, with new chefs joining every month. Choose your city in the app to see who's available near you.
Yes. Every chef on UpChef is vetted before they can take bookings, and all reviews come from real, completed events — so the ratings you see in New Zealand are genuine.
Private dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, weddings, family gatherings, and weekly meal prep. If you're hosting it in New Zealand, there's a chef for it.
New Zealand's finest private chefs, at your table tonight. Every chef on UpChef is verified, rated by real guests, and paid 0% commission — fine dining at its best, in the privacy of your own home.
Available on iOS & Android · Free for customers
Meet the chefs
Browse verified private chefs and book the one that fits your table.
Italian
Lebanese
Japanese
Italian
Italian
Asian
French
Italian
Italian
Lebanese
Italian
Italian
Italian
Seafood
Indian
Italian
Italian
Italian
Italian
Italian
Saudi
Italian
Mediterranean
On the menu
From their kitchens
choice of protein, seasonal vegetables
Típica lasagna con pasta artesanal con huevo
a summer salad of heirloom tomatoes, homemade boccacini poached peaches, Parma ham, wild rocket & watermelon vinaigrette. fresh & vibrant flavours
grass fed fillet, sliced finely topped with a rocket & Parmesan salad, confit truffle oil & truffle emulsion
grass fed fillet, sliced finely topped with a rocket & Parmesan salad, confit truffle oil & truffle emulsion
fresh pasta stuffed with braised beef striploin & pork shoulder, serves with a smoked tomato ragu, fresh herbs & 22month aged pecorino
fresh pasta stuffed with braised beef striploin & pork shoulder, serves with a smoked tomato ragu, fresh herbs & 22month aged pecorino
tiramisu set in a caramelised tart shell, served with fresh 55% cocoa grated on top
tiramisu set in a caramelised tart shell, served with fresh 55% cocoa grated on top
potato’s rosti, Avacado mousse, picked chilli’s, whipped feta & seared pork belly.
potato’s rosti, Avacado mousse, picked chilli’s, whipped feta & seared pork belly.
a menu that is customisable and affordable,
a menu that is customisable and affordable,
braised lamb neck, coriander yogurt, coffee & chilli harissa & curried lime leafs
braised lamb neck, coriander yogurt, coffee & chilli harissa & curried lime leafs
slamon gravalax, whipped smoked cod’s roe & pickled garden veg
slamon gravalax, whipped smoked cod’s roe & pickled garden veg
Creamy burrata with heirloom tomatoes, aged balsamic, and basil oil
Creamy burrata with heirloom tomatoes, aged balsamic, and basil oil
Grand cru chocolate soufflé with vanilla bean crème anglaise
Grand cru chocolate soufflé with vanilla bean crème anglaise
Mediterranean sea bass baked in parchment with fennel, olives, and citrus
Mediterranean sea bass baked in parchment with fennel, olives, and citrus
Silky vanilla panna cotta with Amalfi lemon curd and candied zest
Silky vanilla panna cotta with Amalfi lemon curd and candied zest
Pan-seared duck foie gras with fig compote and brioche crumble
Pan-seared duck foie gras with fig compote and brioche crumble
Carnaroli rice with white truffle, aged parmesan, and brown butter
Carnaroli rice with white truffle, aged parmesan, and brown butter
Roasted Moulard duck breast with Grand Marnier glaze and confit leg
Roasted Moulard duck breast with Grand Marnier glaze and confit leg
