CHEFIN connects you with vetted private chefs across Newcastle and the Hunter. Your chef does the shopping, cooks on the night, and leaves the kitchen the way they found it. That can be at your place, your office, a space you have hired, or a house you have gone away to in the Hunter Valley or up the coast at Port Stephens. You pick the dining style. We find the chef whose cooking suits your menu, your dietary requirements and the occasion, and a concierge stays with it from the first call to the last plate cleared — restaurant hospitality, in your own space.

Family-style share plates start at $165 a head, GST included. CHEFIN chefs have cooked for more than 100,000 guests, including teams at Airbnb, Microsoft and Tesla. Finding a good chef is the easy part. What sits behind them is the rest of it.

How CHEFIN Works

1. Select Your Style

Whether it’s an intimate 3-course affair or a lavish 5-course feast, choose a dining package that suits your occasion. View here.

2. Matched to Perfection

Our algorithm pairs you with a private chef whose expertise and culinary style match your desires.

3. Tailored to Your Taste

Collaborate with your chef to design a unique menu, exclusively tailored to thrill your palate.

4. Savor the Experience

Your chef takes care of everything, allowing you to relax and immerse yourself in the joy of dining.

Dining styles available in Newcastle

Looking for something different?

RESERVE A PACKAGE IN 3 EASY STEPS: 1. SELECT A PACKAGE, 2. ENTER EVENT DETAILS, 3. SECURE PAY ONLINE.

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Why Hire A Private Chef Through CHEFIN?

Amazing. Great Food. Chat. Relax & Have Fun. No Stress!

Beyond Just a Meal: Experience more than exquisite cuisine with CHEFIN. Every dish is a step into a story, creating moments that become memories. It’s not just about the food; it’s about enriching lives through culinary excellence.

Trusted Expertise: CHEFIN Private Chefs™️ are the heart of your dining experience, selected through a meticulous process for their passion and creativity. They’re not just professionals; they’re culinary magicians dedicated to perfection.

Uncompromised Safety: Your safety is our top priority at CHEFIN. We ensure food safety as a core principle, secure your payments in a trust until the event’s completion, and protect everyone involved with $20 million in public liability insurance for a completely secure dining experience.

Your Event, Stress-Free: From planning to execution, CHEFIN Concierges ensures your event unfolds seamlessly. Enjoy the celebration without the hassle, knowing every detail is crafted to your satisfaction with our 24/7 dedicated support.

intimate dining with friends

what customers say

The entire Chefin team, and experience, were superb from start to finish. It made hosting a group of 15 a real joy, and gave us time to interact with our guests. As to the food and service, can’t say enough good. Thanks!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

a winter truffle dinner partnered with Hopewood House and Robertson Truffle Farm

Chefin team, and experience, were superb James

I would like to say thank you in writing too. You and your team are absolutely fantastic! The guys had a really great time, everyone is a huge fan of Brazilian food now 🙂 Please forward my thank you to all of your team members.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brazillian BBQ from chef Rob Morales

Everyone is a huge fan of Brazilian food now Andrea

Ian created the most incredible experience for my 40th Birthday Party. From beginning to end, everything was handled so professionally and promptly. In fact, went above and beyond our expectations. The food was absolutely amazing, with several comments from guests. On top of the delicious food, the service and friendliness was impeccable. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chef Ian Woodcock dish

Ian created the most incredible experience Kerry Douglas

Chef Manuel, sous chef Daniella, and our waitress Elle were the most amazing team! The food was delicious and our 15 guests left with smiles on their face. Thank you for making our event wonderful!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chef manuel diaz eatable art

The most amazing team! Elizabeth Clark

I do want to let you know that the dinner & company were very enjoyable. Sasha’s selection of dishes & ingredients were terrific – the prep & presentation outstanding. The company was a real pleasure (and we really appreciated Petko’s wine offerings). I would highly recommend this blindfolded dinner (done by any of the CHEFIN chefs) as a fine evening to enjoy in Sydney. And you can quote me. Thank you!

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Chef Sasha serving a group of ladies

The dinner & company were very enjoyable Alan

Having a Chefin chef took all the hassle out of hosting our friends for dinner. It was nice to be able to enjoy the meal with our friends without spending the time cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. The hot smoked salmon cakes as a canapé.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chef cooking in a private kitchen

Took all the hassle out of hosting May

Meet our Newcastle private chefs

Chef John Hampson Profile Photo

John Hampson

Executive Chef
  • Location: Australia, Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Cuisines: Continental European, Indigenous Australian, Modern Australian
Chef Jonathan Heath profile

Jonathan Heath

Chef de Cuisine
  • Location: Australia, Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Cuisines: Asian Fusion, Continental European, Modern Australian
Chef Bryce Reynolds Hunter Valley & Newcastle private chef profile

Bryce Reynolds

Executive Chef
  • Location: New South Wales, Australia, The Hunter Valley Region, Newcastle
  • Cuisines: Indigenous Australian, Mediterranean, Modern Australian

Explore all CHEFIN Private Chefs

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How much does a private chef cost in Newcastle?

You pay per person, and the rate depends on the dining style and how many are coming. Family-style share plates start at $165 a head, three-course plated fine dining at $195, and five-course at $245. All inclusive of GST, with nothing added at checkout. There is no call-out fee, no ingredient surcharge and no cleaning charge either. The number you are quoted covers the chef, the groceries, the cooking, the service, and the kitchen left the way they found it.

Each package page shows its current rate. For an exact figure on your date and guest count, ask the concierge. Prices can shift on public holidays and for last-minute bookings, and a Hunter Valley booking may carry a travel component depending on where you are staying.

What every package includes:

  • A vetted private chef, matched to your menu and dietary requirements
  • Menu design and revisions with your chef before the event
  • All ingredients, sourced and shopped for by your chef
  • Cooking on site at your venue, arriving ahead of service
  • Full kitchen and dining area clean-up
  • Concierge support from booking through to the event
  • All taxes: the displayed rate is the final rate
  • Public liability coverage, and payment held in trust until after your event

What sits outside the per-person price:

  • Wait staff and bar staff: available as an add-on
  • Drinks, tableware, glassware and cutlery: can be arranged as add-ons

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Where can I find private chefs in Newcastle?

Through CHEFIN. Tell the concierge your date, where you are, how many are coming and what the night is for, and we come back with chefs who are free and whose cooking suits it. You are not trawling directories or chasing quotes, and every chef has already been checked before you see them.

What is the difference between a private chef and a personal chef?

A private chef is booked for one occasion — a dinner party, an anniversary, a corporate event — and cooks and serves on the day. A personal chef visits regularly to prepare meals for a household to eat through the week. CHEFIN provides both across Newcastle. A third option, employing a full-time chef on salary, is a different arrangement again. Tell the concierge which you are after.

Can I book a private chef for a Hunter Valley weekend?

Yes, and it is one of the most popular bookings we take here. Chefs travel out to the Hunter for cellar-door weekends, winery stays and holiday houses around Pokolbin, Lovedale and Cessnock, cooking a long lunch or a plated dinner at your accommodation while you handle the wine. Give the concierge the address and the numbers and we match you with a chef who works that patch. A dedicated Hunter Valley page is on the way, but you can book one through here today.

Do private chefs clean up after cooking?

Yes. Every CHEFIN booking in Newcastle includes full clean-up of the kitchen and dining area, and your chef leaves the space as they found it. Clean-up is part of the per-person price, not charged separately.

Do private chefs do the grocery shopping?

Yes. Your CHEFIN chef sources and shops for all ingredients and brings them on the day. You do not need to buy anything or arrange delivery, and the ingredient cost is included in the per-person price rather than billed afterwards.

 

Are there any extra costs or taxes added at checkout?

No. CHEFIN prices are inclusive of GST, and the per-person rate covers the chef, all groceries, the cooking, the service and full clean-up. There is no call-out fee, ingredient surcharge, cleaning charge or tax added on top. The only extras are add-ons you choose yourself, such as wait staff or drinks, and travel for bookings well outside the city. The price quoted is the price you pay.

Do you have a private chef available for my event date?

Yes. Give the concierge your date, location and guest count, and we come back with chefs who are free — including at short notice and on peak dates such as Christmas, the summer holidays and long weekends in the Hunter. If your chef becomes unavailable closer to the event, we arrange a replacement, so a change on our side never becomes your problem.

Can a private chef in Newcastle cater to dietary requirements?

Yes. Dietary requirements are collected at booking and the menu is built around them — gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, halal, low FODMAP and specific allergies. Newcastle and Hunter chefs on the platform cover more than 20 cuisines, so a dietary preference rarely means a lesser dish. Flag severe allergies explicitly so your chef can manage cross-contamination.

What do I need to prepare before a private chef arrives?

Not much. Clear a shelf or two in the fridge, clear the bench, and show your chef the kitchen and where everyone is eating. They bring the ingredients. If you have not booked wait staff, you will set the table with your own crockery, glassware and cutlery. Holiday houses and cellar-door stays vary a lot, so mention what the kitchen is like when you book and your chef will plan around it.

Private chef experiences for every occasion in Newcastle

People book a private chef in Newcastle when the evening matters more than the venue. These are the occasions we cater to most.

Dinner parties: the most common Newcastle booking, usually six to twelve around one table.
Hunter Valley weekends: cellar-door stays, winery weekends and group getaways with a chef cooking at the house.
Milestone birthdays and anniversaries: plated fine dining, often matched to a Hunter Semillon or Shiraz.
Corporate events: client dinners and team gatherings across the CBD, Honeysuckle and Newcastle West.
Weddings and engagements: intimate ceremonies and receptions at home, a hired venue or a Hunter estate, plated or as a shared feast.
Beach and harbour hosting: chefs travelling to Merewether, Bar Beach, Nelson Bay and around Lake Macquarie for holiday-house weekends.

Private Chef Nick Guan explains his dishes to guests

Where CHEFIN private chefs cook across Newcastle and the Hunter

CHEFIN chefs cook across Newcastle, the Hunter and the surrounding coast. If you are looking for a private chef near you in any of these areas, we have chefs who go there regularly.

We cook wherever you are hosting: houses and apartments, offices and boardrooms, hired event spaces, holiday houses and winery accommodation, and outdoors on decks, in gardens and by the pool. Tell the concierge what the space is like and your chef plans around it.

Inner Newcastle: Newcastle East, Cooks Hill, The Hill, Bar Beach, Merewether, Hamilton, Honeysuckle
Lake Macquarie and south: Charlestown, Warners Bay, Belmont, Eleebana, Cardiff
Port Stephens and north: Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Medowie, Raymond Terrace
The Hunter Valley: Pokolbin, Cessnock, Lovedale, Rothbury, Maitland, Branxton
Beyond: the Central Coast and the wider Hunter, and further across NSW, for weekend and holiday-property bookings

Happy guests at the table during the event delivered by private chef in Perth

Private chefs in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter is Australia’s oldest wine region, and it hosts the way you would expect a wine region to — long lunches, cellar-door weekends, a group in a house among the vines. A CHEFIN chef fits that better than a restaurant booking does. They come to your accommodation, cook a menu built around the region and the season, and leave you to the wine and the view. No convoy back down the highway after dinner.

It suits the big Hunter occasions: a milestone birthday over a long lunch, a bucks or hens weekend, a wedding at an estate, a corporate retreat at a winery. The chef handles the food and the clean-up while you handle the cellar door. If you are booking accommodation around Pokolbin, Lovedale or Cessnock, tell the concierge where you are staying and we match you with a chef who knows the area and can plan around the kitchen you have got.

Cooking in Newcastle and the Hunter: cuisines, seasons and produce

Newcastle cooks like the harbour city it is, and the Hunter behind it cooks like wine country. Modern Australian leads, then Italian, French, Japanese and South American, and the chefs on the platform cover more than twenty cuisines between them. What ties the culinary style together is the produce on the doorstep and the wine an hour inland, and menus built around what is seasonal.

The region grows and catches most of what lands on the table. Seafood off the Newcastle and Port Stephens coast, oysters from the estuaries, beef and lamb from the Hunter tablelands, cheese from the Hunter Valley dairies, and the wine that made the region — Hunter Semillon and Shiraz out of Pokolbin and Lovedale, matched to the menu by chefs who cook here often. It is genuine farm-to-table, and the flavour shows it.

The seasons run coastal and mild. Summer is for seafood and long lunches outdoors, and it is peak season in the Hunter; autumn is vintage and game; the mild winter is the case for slow cooking and Hunter reds; spring brings the first of the local produce back to the table. The venues run from beach houses and terraces in Cooks Hill to winery accommodation in the valley. Tell your concierge which one you have got.