Private Chefs
We select private chefs with experience, culinary training and verified references — for everyday meals, special diets and events.
WHAT DOES A PRIVATE CHEF DO?
A professional devoted to your table
A private chef takes care of the household's food: planning menus, cooking every day, adapting dishes to your tastes and needs, managing the pantry and leaving the kitchen ready. A well-tended table, without you having to think about it.
2026 COST
Full time (40h)
from €1,800/mo
+ depending on experience
| By the hour | €15 – 35/h |
|---|---|
| Events | on request |
| + Social Security you pay (TGSS) | ≈ 22% |
A private chef's salary starts above the sector minimum and varies with experience, culinary training and the type of cuisine, always equal to or above the 2026 SMI plus Social Security. Available full time, by the hour and for events. Figures are approximate.
See prices & cost calculatorREGULATIONS & CONTRACT
A private chef's contract and rights
A private chef's contract must be put in writing from day one. The maximum working week is 40 hours of effective work, with a minimum weekly rest of 36 hours, at least 24 of them consecutive.
The minimum legal full-time (40h) salary in 2026 is €1,424.50 gross/month over 12 payments (equivalent to €1,221/month over 14 payments; €17,094/year), per the 2026 SMI, although a private chef usually sits above that floor. They must be registered in the Special System for Domestic Employees of the General Regime from day one. Non-compliance carries penalties.
COVERAGE
Private chefs in Spain, Europe and the UK
We select private chefs —full time, by the hour or for events— in Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella and across Spain, plus Europe and the United Kingdom with an EU passport. We look for profiles with real experience in home cooking, special diets and service at residences and events.
We check their background in private and professional kitchens, their handling of menus, allergies and intolerances, and verify references from previous homes. You receive the first chefs suited to your style of cooking in under 3 hours.
Maids and co is the best agency we have dealt with. We contacted them on Sunday and they replied the same day. We had an initial chat regarding our requirements and after a few days they sent us 3 suitable Curricula. All the candidates were
OTHER DOMESTIC STAFFING SERVICES
Available in Madrid · Barcelona · Marbella
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hiring a private chef: what you need to know
A private chef's salary starts above the sector floor: from around €1,800/month full time, plus Social Security, and varies with experience, culinary training and the type of cuisine. In any case it must be equal to or above the 2026 SMI (€1,221/month over 14 payments; €17,094/year full time).
Yes. We have chefs full time, by the hour for everyday cooking, and for one-off dinners and events at home. All registered with Social Security from day one when the engagement requires it.
Yes. We select chefs experienced in healthy cooking, diets for athletes, weight management, diabetes, gluten-free or lactose-free diets, and rigorous management of the household's allergies and intolerances.
Yes. Beyond cooking, they can plan the weekly menus, do the shopping, keep the pantry stocked and leave the kitchen tidy and clean, according to the home's needs.
Yes. Many of our chefs hold formal culinary training or have experience in restaurants, hotels and private homes, plus knowledge of food safety and hygiene.
Yes. When the chef works for the household, they must have a contract and Social Security registration from day one, whatever the schedule. For one-off events we assess the most suitable hiring arrangement with you.
If the chef does not suit your style of cooking or the family, we offer one free replacement within the first 6 months, or a 50% refund if you're not satisfied in the first month. The most complete guarantee in the sector. The replacement applies only within our main hubs.
We present the first chefs suited to your style of cooking, with experience and checked references, in under 3 hours.
Related articles
View all
Severance pay for a domestic worker in Spain in 2026: 12 or 33 days, and what else is due
What a family in Spain owes when a housekeeper, nanny or carer's contract ends in 2026: 12 days per year for a justified cause, 33 for an unfair dismissal, one month if the employer dies, plus the final settlement. Figures with the 2026 minimum wage and the BOE sources.
Read more
Domestic worker payslip in Spain: what it must include in 2026
A payslip is mandatory for every domestic employee in Spain. What it must show in 2026: employer and worker details, gross pay and extras, the 6.40% worker contribution, no income tax withholding, the contribution base and bracket, and the employer's cost. Example on the minimum wage.
Read more
What happens if your domestic worker gets sick? Who pays for sick leave and what to do
The worker calls in sick and the doubts begin: who pays each day, which documents to file and how to keep the household running. The full breakdown, step by step.
Read moreLooking for a chef you can trust?
Verified candidates in under 3 h. Pay only if you hire.