Private chefs in East London
Walking dinner, private dinner or catering plans? Receive personalized menu proposals from our chefs and free quotes
Chat with usWelcome to East London, affectionately known as Buffalo City, a gem on South Africa’s southeast coast. Nestled between the Nahoon River in the north and the Buffalo River to the south, East London is the country’s only river port and a favorite destination for travelers. With its warm Indian Ocean shores, sub-tropical climate, and vibrant cultural heritage, this city offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Whether you're a local or a tourist, elevate your experience by hiring a private chef to bring the best of the Eastern Cape’s culinary delights to your table.
Why Book a Private Chef in East London?
Picture this: a gourmet meal prepared just for you, featuring the freshest local ingredients, all in the comfort of your own space. Hiring a personal chef in East London ensures a dining experience tailored to your tastes. Whether you’re enjoying a family gathering, a romantic dinner overlooking the Indian Ocean, or hosting a celebration at one of the city’s stunning venues, a private chef transforms any meal into a special occasion.
East London is rich in culinary inspiration, from freshly caught Indian Ocean seafood to grass-fed beef and free-range poultry sourced from local Eastern Cape farms. For the adventurous, a private chef can also create dishes featuring game meats like kudu and springbok, a true taste of South Africa.
Perfect for Tourists, Foodies, and Wine Lovers
For tourists exploring Buffalo City, a private chef offers an immersive way to experience the region’s flavors without the hustle of dining out. Locals, on the other hand, can rediscover the joys of Eastern Cape cuisine with a bespoke dining experience at home. Foodies will love the creativity and care that go into crafting a meal, while wine enthusiasts can indulge in expertly paired South African wines, including options from nearby vineyards.
Whether it’s a seafood feast of line-caught kingklip and prawns, or a hearty braai with locally sourced lamb, a private chef brings out the best of what the Eastern Cape has to offer. And let’s not forget dessert—imagine ending your meal with traditional melktert or a twist on citrus-infused treats, inspired by the region’s subtropical produce.
The Benefits of a Private Chef in East London
1. Personalized Menus: From vegan to gluten-free, or traditional South African to international cuisines, your chef will design a menu that meets your preferences and dietary needs.
2. Stress-Free Hosting: Focus on your guests while your private chef handles everything from shopping to preparation and cleanup. It’s the ultimate way to relax and enjoy your event.
3. Memorable Experiences: Whether dining al fresco with an ocean view or enjoying an intimate dinner at home, the bespoke touch of a private chef ensures a meal you’ll never forget.
Celebrate Eastern Cape’s Flavors with a Personal Chef
The Eastern Cape is a treasure trove of culinary delights, and East London is the perfect place to experience them. From its warm coastal hospitality to its rich culinary heritage, hiring a private chef lets you savor the very best of Buffalo City in style. Ideal for romantic evenings, family reunions, or even as a treat during your vacation, a personal chef brings the magic of fine dining right to your doorstep.
Most popular chefs in East London
How it works
Step 1 - Find the perfect chef
At ChefMaison, you'll find the perfect private chef for your culinary experience. Whether it's an intimate private dinner, catering for a special occasion, an unforgettable wedding, or even an interactive cooking workshop, we have something for everyone! Explore our diverse selection of talented chefs and find the one that perfectly suits your culinary desires and needs.
Step 2 - Chat & create a personalized menu
After you've found the ideal chef, it's time to customize your menu to your liking. Through our platform, you can communicate directly with our chefs and discuss all your culinary preferences. Whether you have special dietary requirements, want to add a favorite dish, or give your menu a unique theme, our chefs are ready to make your culinary dreams come true.
Step 3 - Confirmation and Payment
Once your menu has been adjusted to your satisfaction, you can easily finalize your reservation by paying securely through ChefMaison. With ChefMaison, arranging an exclusive culinary adventure becomes an effortless and enjoyable experience, from start to finish. The only thing that remains is to start looking forward to your event!
Help and Support
Our Customer Success Team is available from 7:00 to 23:00 daily to help you with all your questions
How Much Does a Private Chef Near You in East London Cost?
ChefMaison allows you to discuss directly with chefs around East London and receive personalized quotes based on your unique preferences and budget, so every event is customized to your exact needs. Since every ChefMaison event is unique - there's no fixed pricing. However, we offer indication prices ranging from R59 to R194 per person for weekend bookings for 4 courses, depending on the menu and services selected.
What’s included in our indication prices:
- Groceries and menu ingredients - you don't need to do any shopping or preparation
- Chef preparation time and service during your event (cooking, plating, serving, and cleanup)
To make their event even more memorable, many of our clients choose extra options such as:
- Extra courses, such as cheese platters, luxury amuses, wine pairings, and cocktails
- Premium ingredients like wagyu, oysters, caviar, or Kobe beef
- Children menus or special dietary requests
- Servers for larger groups (usually for 10+ guests)
- Equipment rentals (tables, heaters, fancy tableware, fireworks 🎇 etc.)
Tips for reducing the costs on your private chef experience
- Booking during the week is an excellent way to save money, as many chefs offer weekday discounts for events.
- The price per person decreases as the number of guests increases, making it more affordable for larger groups.
- Book early: Booking your private chef well in advance gives you more time to discuss your preferences and budget, allowing you to secure the best chef at the best price. This also avoids premium prices during high-demand seasons and holidays or weekends.
You have the flexibility to work directly with your chef to create a completely personalized experience, whether you're planning a casual dinner with friends or a lavish celebration. Whatever your vision, ChefMaison ensures your event will be exactly as you imagine it because you have direct contact with your personal chef.
Popular dining experiences with guests in South Africa
Michelin-level plant-based dining
Kaiseki & omakase sushi feast 🍣
Gourmet vegan menus
New Nordic sustainable cuisine
Romantic dinner for 2 at home 🌹
High-end kosher menus
Traditional pasta making workshop
Michelin restaurant at home 🌟
Molecular gastronomy
Private dining with friends or family
Holiday / vacation chef
Anniversary gourmet dinner
Indian tasting menu
Chalet après-ski dining
Château & Villa Rentals
Full-time freelance personal chefs
Farm-to-table organic dining
Care-free 21 dinners
Italian modern cuisine 🇮🇹
Intimate halal dining
Luxury private villa experience
Customized meal prep
Private dinner with colleagues
Truffle & Foie Gras Tasting
Sit-down dinner with sommelier
Mediterranean mezze
French haute cuisine at home
Exclusive garden party
Reviews of our chefs and caterers around East London
Emilie
Vous pouvez faire appel au Chef Johann Schopff les yeux fermés! Une très belle expérience pour un anniversaire de mariage (7 personnes). Les plats sont très biens présentés, bien travaillés et les produits de qualité. Nous nous sommes régalés. Un très bon rapport qualité prix. Bref : au top, à renouveler!
Armando
Every week you are surprising me with new delicious dishes, and always even better than the week before. Thank you so much!
Shamira
Chef Wilco heeft een geweldige avond verzorgt. Het was een unieke ervaring, welke we snel zullen herhalen! Was echt geweldig! En elke wijn paste perfect bij alle gerechten. Super bedankt Wilco!
Frans
Afgelopen week hebben wij als familie een chef aan huis laten komen. Er was wel reden voor een feestje en met 2 jonge kinderen leek dit voor ons de ideale manier om samen een avond uitgebreid te dineren. Deze manier van een chef aan huis ontvangen was zeker een topkeuze! Vincent stond in de keuken en heeft ons de meest heerlijke gerechten geserveerd. Gabriel wist daar de juiste wijnen bij te serveren en zorgde ervoor dat de rest ook op en top geregeld was. Mochten we dit nog eens doen, dan vragen we deze twee heren zeker weer! Het was een gezellige avond met heerlijk eten en drinken. En niet onbelangrijk: de keuken is brandschoon achter gelaten.
Chloe
Nous avons passé un excellent moment grâce au chef Dehaye. Tout s’est très bien déroulé, des premiers échanges via l’application, en passant par le repas en lui même et la cuisine nickel après le passage du chef. Gérard est très agréable, discute volontiers avec les invités, donne des explications sur les plats servis, tout en sachant se faire discret. Il ne fait nul doute que Gérard est passionné par son métier et a à cœur de faire plaisir avec sa cuisine généreuse et gourmande. Nous ferons appel à lui sans hésiter a l’avenir.
Micheal
Pablo thank you, thank you !!! Everything was amazing today, and for next time, can we please have the tasty paella again, which you made on Monday?
Wilma
Voor de verjaardag van mijn vriend heeft Terenzio Ignoni een overheerlijk diner voor ons gemaakt. De communicatie was top, alles was bespreekbaar en mogelijk. Zelfs op de dag van het diner kon er nog wat toegevoegd worden. Zijn zelfgemaakte ravioli met truffel was om je vingers bij af te likken, om over het grand dessert nog maar te zwijgen 😋 bedankt voor deze onvergetelijke avond.
Mathilde
Direct contact met de chef via het platform. Kan het menu naar je eigen wensen invullen. Gelijk duidelijkheid over de kosten. Maar het belangrijkste, een ongelooflijk mooie en goeie ervaring! Nu 2 keer gedaan, beide voelde het alsof je echt uit eten bent en de kwaliteit is zeer hoog! Daarbij werkt het platform ook erg fijn! Kan Chef Maison alleen maar aanraden komt voor mij als geroepen in deze tijd :)
Leonie
Eind augustus heeft de Italiaanse chef Terenzio en zijn collega een heerlijk diner verzorgd ter ere van het 50 jarig huwelijk van onze ouders. Heerlijk eten dat met liefde en passie werd bereid. Een echte aanrader dus!
Christel
Geweldig genoten hebben wij van het fantastische diner verzorgd door Vincent. Gabriel deed de service aan tafel. We zijn echt in de watten gelegd. Een ooie herinnering is gemaakt. Contact vooraf was heel prettig zo ook tijdens het diner.
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Irene
Via een winactie van Marne mosterd had ik een Private chef gewonnen!! Sherwin is een hele fijne chef! Heel rustig en relaxed. We hebben heerlijk gegeten! Het was echt Kunst zoals de gerechten eruit zagen. Super ervaring!
Stefan
Het regelen van een chef via chefmaison was erg gemakkelijk. De site was overzichtelijk opgezet en er worden duidelijke voorwaarden gegeven waar de chef aan zal voldoen. De avond zelf met Chef Wilco van den Baar was geweldig. Bijzondere gerechten en sterke wine pairing. Enorme aanrader. Erg tevreden!! Ga zo door.
Kingsley
Thanks for the dinner of yesterday, it was amazing! I can’t wait to eat again this tuna tataki, we really loved it. Let’s stay in touch for next summer in Ibiza.
Bhakti
We had the pleasure of getting Chef Terenzio for our anniversary when the full Amsterdam was in lockdown. And what an experience it was! Our Italian chef was on time, extremely respectful of our space and left it cleaner than before. The food was Mama Mia!! It is by far one of the best ravioli I have had. The starter, main course and desert were worth more than the price charged and we even had leftovers for next day. Overall a 5 star experience in the comfort of our home.
Jeannette
