How groceries work with a villa chef in Bali
How groceries work when you book a villa chef in Bali: the written food estimate, market shopping, receipts at cost, premium items and alcohol on request.
With a villa chef in Bali, the shopping is part of the service and the food is billed at cost: you pay the day rate for the team, then pay exactly what the groceries cost, with receipts. Book a full-day villa chef with groceries at cost and you get a written food estimate before your stay.
This guide explains how the grocery side works from the first estimate to the last receipt: what the day rate covers, how the shopping is done, what a realistic food budget looks like and how premium items and alcohol are handled.
- The day rate covers the chef team and the shopping work, not the food.
- Groceries are billed at cost with receipts, with no markup.
- You get a written food estimate before your stay.
- Premium items are priced and approved before they are bought.
- Alcohol can be sourced at cost, and service can be added.
What the day rate covers and what it does not
The full-day booking is IDR 2,700,000++ per day for a chef and a dedicated assistant, sized for about 10 guests, with three meals you place as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Prices shown ++ have 11% government tax and 10% service added to the staff fee. That rate pays for the people and the work: menu planning, sourcing, market runs, cooking, plating, serving and cleaning the kitchen after every meal.
The food is the one thing outside the day rate. It is billed separately at cost, so you see the real market price of your meals rather than an ingredient budget folded into a package price.
| Item | How it is charged |
|---|---|
| Chef and dedicated assistant | Day rate, IDR 2,700,000++ per day |
| Menu planning, shopping and market runs | Included in the day rate |
| Groceries | At cost, with receipts, no markup |
| Premium items such as wagyu or lobster | Priced and approved first, then at cost |
| Alcohol | Sourced at cost on request |
Stays of 7 days or more drop the day rate to IDR 2,430,000++, and 28 days or more to IDR 2,160,000++. These discounts apply to the service fee, not to groceries. For every rate, see myCHEF pricing.
How the food estimate is built
Before your stay we build a written food estimate from three things: how many meals you want, the cuisine you choose and how many guests are eating. We build it with you rather than publishing one number, because the same week can cost very different amounts depending on whether you eat Balinese dishes from the market or imported steaks every night.
For a full week, the estimate becomes a weekly food budget agreed up front, so nobody is surprised mid-week. If you want to see how a menu is shaped before the estimate, read how a villa chef plans your menu.
Example grocery ranges
These are the example ranges we share for local market shopping, before premium items. They are estimates only, and the real bill is charged at cost with receipts.
| Example | Grocery estimate for the day |
|---|---|
| Couple, one dinner, mixed Western and Asian | About IDR 250,000 to 400,000 |
| Family of six, two meals | About IDR 600,000 to 1,000,000 |
| Longer stays | Weekly food budget planned up front |
Protein choices and kids plates move the number most. Seafood, imported meat and cheese push it up, while Indonesian and vegetable-led menus keep it lower.
Where the shopping comes from
One shop does not cover a good menu. Fish comes from the coast, produce from the highland markets, and specialist and imported items from the suppliers who actually stock them. Nothing is bulk-bought and left sitting in the villa fridge for a week. We shop to the menu on the rhythm the food needs: daily for fish and greens, every second day where it makes sense.
Want a food estimate for your stay?
Send your dates, guest count, villa area and the kind of food you like. We reply within 1 hour with the chef team quote and a starting food estimate.
Receipts and how you pay for food
Every receipt is handed over, so you can see each market run. A 50% deposit confirms the chef dates, and the balance is due the day before. The written quote states the service fee and notes that groceries are extra before you pay anything, so there are no surprise lines after service.
Groups who split costs usually keep one person in charge of the grocery money and the receipts. For bigger groups, see hiring a villa chef for a large group stay.
Premium ingredients and diets
Lobster, imported wagyu, oysters, truffle and similar items sit outside a normal market budget. We price them for you and get your approval before buying anything. Diet changes work the same way: if a vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free substitution costs more, it is billed at cost. Families can plan children's plates with our kids menus.
Alcohol and drinks
Alcohol is not part of the day rate, but we can source it at cost like any other ingredient. If you want drinks mixed and served as well, add a cocktail package or a sommelier for a wine night.
Is this cheaper than shopping yourself?
The food costs what it costs either way. What you save is the time: no lists, no driving between markets and no carrying bags back to the villa. If you are weighing it up, read self-catering or a villa chef for your Bali stay.
What to send us
- Your villa area and dates.
- The number of adults and children.
- The meals you want each day.
- The food you love and anything you avoid.
- Any premium items or drinks you already know you want.
FAQ
Are groceries included in the villa chef day rate?
No. The day rate covers the chef, a dedicated assistant and all the work, including planning, market runs and carrying the shopping. The food itself is billed separately at cost, with every receipt handed over.
Do you add a markup on groceries?
No. Groceries are charged at what we paid, with no markup and no supplier commission. The sourcing work is already covered by the day rate.
How much do groceries cost with a villa chef?
It depends on the menu. As a guide, one dinner for a couple is about IDR 250,000 to 400,000 in groceries, and two meals for a family of six is about IDR 600,000 to 1,000,000 that day, before premium items.
Can we ask for lobster, wagyu or oysters?
Yes. Premium items such as imported wagyu, lobster, oysters and truffle are priced for you and approved before anything is bought. They often add IDR 100,000 to 500,000 or more per guest when chosen.
Is alcohol part of the grocery shopping?
Alcohol is not included in the day rate, but we can source it for you at cost like any other ingredient. If you want the drinks served too, add a cocktail package or a sommelier.
Do we need to go shopping ourselves?
No. You never go to a supermarket, write a list or carry a bag. Your chef plans each menu, decides what is needed and does the shopping before service.
Your next step
See the day rates and what the chef team does on our villa chef page, then send your stay details on WhatsApp. You get a written quote and a food estimate before any deposit.
