Counter dining with a chef at your Bali villa
How counter dining with a chef works at a Bali villa: who it suits, the seven course menu, what the kitchen needs, and how to check a date and book it.
Counter dining with a chef means up to six guests sit at your villa kitchen counter while the chef cooks a seven course menu in front of you and explains each step. At myCHEF this is our Chef's Table evening at your villa, cooked by Adriano on Friday and Saturday nights. This guide covers who it suits, how the night runs and how to book.
A guest planning this kind of dinner recently asked what details to send and what is paid upfront. The answers are below, with what your villa needs, how it compares with our other dinner formats and the questions to ask before you book. myCHEF has served more than 5,000 events and 20,000 guests across Bali and Lombok.
- Up to six guests at your villa counter, one chef, seven courses.
- Friday and Saturday evenings only, two bookings each weekend.
- The menu follows what the chef finds at the market that morning.
- Price on request, sent as one written total including tax and service.
- Your villa needs counter space or an island with stools for six.
What happens at a counter dinner with a chef?
The chef cooks at your villa counter while you watch. He presents the ingredients of the day, pours a Franciacorta aperitif, then serves seven courses and explains each decision as it happens: the salt, the heat, the rest. Questions are welcome between courses. At the end, guests can ask anything over a digestif at the counter.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | The team arrives, checks the kitchen and sets up the counter |
| 18:00 | Counter set, introductions and the market selection of the day |
| 18:30 | Franciacorta aperitif and the first small bite |
| 19:00 | Seven courses begin, with questions between each one |
| 21:30 | Digestif at the counter, time for any question |
| 22:00 | The team leaves the kitchen clean |
For how a more classic plated evening is paced, read how long a chef dinner takes from start to finish.
What is on the menu?
The menu is built on the morning of your dinner around what the chef finds at the market, so no two evenings are the same. The structure stays fixed: two cold opens, a handmade pasta, the main protein, a pre-dessert, dessert and petit fours. Dietary needs are handled at no extra charge when you tell us early.
- Two cold opens, shaped by the market that morning.
- Pasta made by hand that afternoon.
- The protein, with the technique explained at the counter.
- A light pre-dessert to turn the evening.
- Dessert, kept restrained rather than sweet.
- Petit fours, made in house.
Who is a chef's counter evening best for?
It suits small groups of two to six who care about how food is made: couples marking an anniversary, friends who cook, and guests who have eaten at restaurant counters before. It is less suited to big groups, a relaxed family night or anyone who prefers to talk among themselves rather than with the chef.
| Format | Group size | From, for each guest, including tax and service |
|---|---|---|
| Chef's Table at the counter | Up to 6 | Price on request |
| Signature tasting menu | Flexible | IDR 2,662,000 (IDR 2,200,000++) |
| Fine dining set menu | Flexible | IDR 1,512,500 (IDR 1,250,000++) |
| Dinner, 3 to 4 courses | Flexible | IDR 847,000 (IDR 700,000++) |
For a larger table, compare our tasting menu dinners at your villa or the full list of private dinner menus and inclusions.
Thinking about a counter dinner at your villa?
Send your preferred Friday or Saturday, villa area and number of guests, plus a few photos of the kitchen. We reply within 1 hour during service hours.
Does your villa kitchen work for it?
Most villa kitchens work if six people can sit facing the chef. You need counter space for six guests, or an island where we can arrange stools. The size of the kitchen matters less than the seating. Send a few photos of the kitchen and we tell you within an hour whether it fits, before anything is booked.
- Counter or island space for up to six guests.
- Room for stools on the guest side.
- A working stove, fridge and sink.
- Kitchen access for the team in the afternoon before the dinner.
- Photos of the kitchen sent before you confirm.
What do you need to send, and what is paid upfront?
Send your preferred date, villa area, number of guests, any dietary needs and a few kitchen photos. We confirm availability, check the villa and reply with one written total including tax and service. A 50% deposit secures the date and the balance is due the day before. Wine pairing is added only if you ask.
Read what a chef dinner at your villa includes for how quotes are built, and wine pairing dinners in Bali villas if you plan to add the pours.
FAQ
How many guests can sit at the counter?
Six at most, and that limit does not change. The evening is built around one chef cooking in front of a small group, with time for questions between courses. For seven guests or more, a tasting menu or a plated private dinner keeps the same care at a bigger table.
Which nights can we book?
Friday and Saturday evenings only, and only two bookings are taken each weekend. In peak season, July to August and December, plan 3 weeks or more ahead. Send your preferred dates early and we confirm availability on WhatsApp.
Can another chef cook if Adriano is busy?
No. The Chef's Table is only cooked by Adriano. If he is not free on your date, we offer to move the booking to another evening rather than send a different chef. Our other fine dining menus are cooked by the wider myCHEF team.
Is wine pairing part of the evening?
A Franciacorta aperitif at the counter is always included. Wine pairing is optional and added on request, with 6 to 7 pours matched to the courses. We supply the wine, so the pairing is planned with the menu rather than chosen on the night.
How is the price worked out?
The Chef's Table is priced on request. Send your date and group size and we reply with one written total, including tax and service, before you confirm. A 50% deposit secures the date and the balance is due the day before.
What if we have to cancel?
Cancel 7 or more days before the evening and everything you paid comes back. Cancel with less than 7 days to go and half comes back. Because only two evenings run each weekend, tell us as early as you can.
Your next step
See the Chef's Table details and availability, then send your date, villa and guest count on WhatsApp. For a dinner with more than six guests, our private chefs for villa dinners cover bigger tables.
