Planning an outdoor kitchen: grill, worktops, shade and services

With long summers and mild winters, many homeowners on the Costa Blanca cook and eat outdoors most of the year. A well-planned outdoor kitchen turns the terrace into the most-used room of the house.

Location

Place the outdoor kitchen close enough to the indoor kitchen to carry things easily, but think about smoke, prevailing wind, sun and neighbours. Near the pool and dining area it becomes the natural meeting point.

How will you cook?

A built-in grill, a gas barbecue, a wood-fired oven or a plancha each suit different styles. Decide on the main cooking method first, then plan the work surfaces around it.

Materials that last outdoors

Worktops, fronts and surfaces outside must withstand sun, heat, salt air near the coast and occasional rain. Porcelain and stone surfaces, masonry structures and outdoor-rated fronts are common choices.

Water, drainage and power

A sink needs water and drainage. A fridge, lighting and sockets need outdoor-rated electrical installations. These should be planned before the terrace is built.

Shade and shelter

A pergola or roof makes the outdoor kitchen usable in midday sun and occasional rain. Larger roofed structures may need municipal permission.

Lighting

Task lighting over the work surfaces and softer lighting for the dining area make evenings comfortable. See our guide to outdoor lighting.

Part of the whole outdoor space

An outdoor kitchen works best when planned with the terrace, pool and garden as one outdoor living project.

See examples

Look at our outdoor kitchen project and the outdoor kitchens and pergolas in our reference archive. See our kitchen service, or outdoor living in Las Colinas Golf, Doña Pepa and El Raso.