Villas & vacation rentals
A Private Chef for Your Costa Rica Villa
You booked the villa with the view and the pool.
Chef Eddie brings the missing piece: restaurant-level dinners cooked in your own kitchen, anywhere on the Pacific coast, from Esterillos and Manuel Antonio down to Ojochal.
Why villa groups book a chef
The best restaurant on your trip is your own table
A villa dinner with a private chef solves the problems every rental group knows: who cooks on vacation, who drives the mountain road home after dinner, and how eight people with three diets agree on a restaurant.
Eddie handles all of it. One custom menu for your whole table, fresh ingredients from the local markets, full course-by-course service, and a spotless kitchen afterward. The per-person price is all-inclusive, and it gets friendlier as your group grows, which makes a chef night one of the best-value evenings of a villa stay.
How it works
From booking form to last bite
- 1
Book your dates
Send the booking form with your villa location, group size, and preferred dates.
- 2
Shape the menu together
Eddie proposes dishes around your tastes, dietary needs, and what is fresh at the market.
- 3
Eddie shops and cooks
He arrives with everything, cooks in your villa kitchen, and serves course by course.
- 4
You just eat
When dessert is done, the kitchen is spotless and your only job is deciding which night he comes back.
Where Eddie cooks
Villa service across the southern Pacific coast
Based between Manuel Antonio and Dominical, Eddie serves villas and rentals in every town along this stretch of coast.
- Private chef in Manuel Antonio
- Private chef in Dominical
- Private chef in Uvita
- Private chef in Ojochal
- Private chef in Esterillos
Staying in Esterillos, Portasol, or somewhere between? Ask Eddie, the answer is usually yes.
Hosts who keep rebooking
What villa hosts say
“It's truly an honor to have had Chef Eddie of Eklectic Kitchen prepare meals for our guests. We have hired Eklectic Kitchen each time we have extended stay guests. Chef Eddie has an incredible and contagious personality, completely immersing the guests in the culinary arts. You can eat at his well appointed home or he brings Eklectic Kitchen to you. He leaves the kitchen cleaner than when he arrived.”
★★★★★
“Where do I even begin? From the international cuisine to the impeccable service, stunning presentation, and incredibly satisfying portions, every aspect of this experience was exceptional. Eddie and Maribel delivered a five-star dining experience that I will never forget. The menu featured a fusion of Latin, Italian, Russian, and French influences, all elevated with a distinctive Costa Rican flair. I'm usually not someone who gravitates toward desserts, but their tres leches cake was so incredible that I found myself going back for seconds.”
★★★★★
“Absolutely delicious! We have hired Eddie several times over the past 3 years, including for a Christmas dinner, and every time he has impressed us. Him and his team are great hosts, have been able to accommodate various dietary restrictions, and are simply a joy to interact with. Ps: He makes the best tres leches I've ever had (and I've had quite a few!).”
★★★★★
“My wife and I had Chef Eddie cook for us whilst we were staying in Manuel Antonio and it was a fantastic experience. We enjoyed a tuna tartare appetiser and a main course of mahi mahi cooked in a creamy sauce with capers. For me the dessert was the highlight, Chef Eddie's famous tres leches cake, absolutely fantastic! One other point is that when Chef Eddie cooks for you he leaves the kitchen cleaner than it was when he arrives!”
★★★★★
“Chef Eddie absolutely crushed it for us. We had him cook for us two nights and both meals were amazing, like restaurant-quality but in the comfort of our place. He was professional, on time, super easy to communicate with, and made the whole experience feel effortless. Portions were generous, everything was spotless when he wrapped up, and everyone left happy and full. If you're thinking about booking a private chef, hire Eddie.”
★★★★★
“This was our first time in Costa Rica and we had Chef Eddie come in to make us in-home breakfast each day. Hands down one of the best things we did! Each morning we had fresh fruit with an amazing authentic Costa Rican breakfast dish. Absolutely the BEST breakfast we have ever had. Professional, personable, and amazing food! Definitely one of the highlights of our trip!”
★★★★★
“Chef Eddie and Maribel delivered an unforgettable anniversary dinner that exceeded every expectation. From the exquisite, locally-inspired courses bursting with fresh flavors to the perfect wine pairings that elevated each dish, the entire evening was pure magic: intimate, romantic, and flawlessly executed. We couldn't have asked for a more special celebration!”
★★★★★
“Chef Eddie prepared the most wonderful meal for our family when we were staying at the Casa Cali villa, catering thoughtfully for both the carnivores and the two vegetarians among us. Every mouthful was pure pleasure and Eddie was a lovely man. Very highly recommended.”
★★★★★
“I would like to say thank you to Chef Eddie and his wife Maribel for an AMAZING dining experience as our personal chefs for our trip to Playa Hermosa. Every single dish was delicious. If I could give 7 stars instead of 5, I would. The food, the service and the experience was top tier. I will be contracting them again on all future visits. Pura vida!!!”
“We asked Chef Eddie to help with cooking and catering for a private brunch at our house for our friends and neighbors. He delivered an amazing culinary experience with dishes that beautifully blended authentic Costa Rican ingredients with a sophisticated international influence. Each course was thoughtfully crafted, expertly executed, and elegantly presented. Beyond his remarkable cooking skills, Eddie brought warmth, charm, and a great sense of humor to the event.”
Villa chef questions
Good to know before you book
How does a private chef work at a villa rental?
You book your dates and share your group size and tastes. Eddie designs the menu with you, shops for fresh local ingredients, cooks in the villa's kitchen, serves each course, and leaves the kitchen cleaner than he found it. You never leave the pool.
What does a villa chef cost in Costa Rica?
Dinner is all-inclusive per person: $100-$110 for 2-3 guests, $85-$95 for 4-8, and $75-$85 for 9-12, with children under 12 half price. Breakfast for groups of 6 or more runs $45-$55. Ingredients, service, and cleanup are included.
Does the villa kitchen need anything special?
No. A basic kitchen and a place to eat are all Eddie needs. He brings ingredients, his own tools, and everything else the meal requires.
Can the chef cook several nights of our stay?
Yes, and many villa groups do exactly that: a welcome dinner, a mid-week feast, and a farewell meal. Multi-night arrangements are easy to set up on the booking form.
What about dietary restrictions?
Tell Eddie when you book. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergy-safe menus are all part of the service, at the same table as everyone else.
More answers on the full FAQ page, and the complete dinner menu is here.
Your villa, Eddie's kitchen
Send your dates and villa location, and get back a menu worth planning the evening around.
Book a villa dinnerNo obligation. Custom menu ideas with every reply.
