The global chef residencies worth travelling for

The chef residency movement has injected a healthy dose of excitement into the food landscape in recent years. Whether it’s a big-hitting chef’s table, a feast prepared by a star of tomorrow or a highly anticipated collaboration between international icons, these inspiring events offer guests the chance to sample a chef’s cooking in a novel setting.

The magic of these immersive dining experiences lies in the fusion of different ideas, ingredients and traditions, transporting guests from the spice-packed flavours of India or the colourful street-food of Vietnam to pared-back New Nordic cuisine, one dish at a time. From a Michelin-starred takeover at Kyoto’s top hotel to a rotation of talent at a neighbourhood restaurant in Brooklyn, here are 12 of the best international chef residencies worth travelling for.

Where the game-changers are cooking

Guest Chef Series at Peligoni Club, Zakynthos 

Best for: Soul-nourishing feasts in a blissful setting
Location: Agios Nikolaos, Volimes, Ag. Nikolaos 290 91, Greece

Resting in the foothills of northern Zakynthos amid tangled olive groves and staggering cypress trees, the rustic-chic Peligoni Club attracts a free-spirited tribe with its back-to-nature living and supreme line-up of wellness activities. This summer marks the eighth edition of its prestigious guest-chef series, which has previously seen the likes of Robin Gill, Jackson Boxer and Abby Lee captain the kitchen. First to arrive on the island in June is Ana Ortiz and Tom Bray of Somerset-based cookery studio Fire Made, plating up their signature South American-style dishes alongside the sparkling Ionian Sea. Eight other takeovers present menus from the chefs behind Soho’s Paradise restaurant and Tower Bridge staple Legare, plus feasts from bestselling food writer and author Claire Thomson.

Fulgurances Laundromat, New York

Best for: Rising-star chefs and an exceptional bottle list  
Location: 132 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222, United States

Following six successful years in Paris, the visionary Fulgurances restaurant group launched in New York’s most exciting culinary neighbourhood Greenpoint in 2021 – and it’s safe to say that it has been shaking up Brooklyn’s dining scene ever since. Sharing the same concept as its siblings, the 34-cover restaurant provides emerging chefs with a space to explore different flavours and hone their craft without the fuss that comes with heading up a restaurant. Residencies typically span a three-month period, with past menus featuring Korean, Mexican, Cuban and Laotian cuisine. Forager Adam Lawrence is set to succeed Nazareno Mayol this June – expect platters of seasonal goodness paired with low-intervention wines from the killer bottle list.

Noma at Ace Hotel Kyoto, Kyoto 

Best for: Farm-to-table eating at Kyoto’s finest hotel
Location: 245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward, 604-8185 Kyoto, Japan

Three Michelin-starred Danish restaurant Noma will return for its second residency at Ace Hotel Kyoto this October with a ten-week spell at the hotel’s slick third-floor restaurant Kōsa. Noma co-founder and head chef René Redzepi will build a tasting menu inspired by Japan’s distinctive ingredients, working with local artists, farmers and foragers to whip up a storm of seasonal specials. Menu highlights from their previous pop-up included dried strawberries with mochi, swordfish jelly in kombu butter, and barbequed miso cured wild boar – so you know it’s going to be a feast for all the senses. As for the setting, floor-to-ceiling windows reveal a blanket of greenery, while swathes of colourful textiles, accent chairs, potted plants and wooden tableware combine for an intimate vibe.

Arkhé, Adelaide

Best for: Open-flame cooking from a string of hot-ticket chefs 
Location: 127 The Parade, Norwood SA 5067, Australia

Australian-born chef Jake Kellie first made waves at Michelin-starred restaurant Burnt Ends in Singapore before returning Down Under and launching hit restaurant and bar Arké in Adelaide. The open-flame joint debuted its year-long Arkhé and Friends series in April, in partnership with Scottish whisky brand Laphroaig, where 12 top tastemakers are scheduled to host a one-off, flavour-packed meal. The series kicked off with a five-course banquet courtesy of Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz from Sydney’s Porteño steak restaurant. James Lowe of Lyle’s in London and Vaughan Mabee from Amisfield in New Zealand are next to arrive.

Numeroventi, Florence

Best for: Hyperlocal menus at a storied palazzo 
Location: Via dei Pandolfini, 20, 50122 Florence, Italy

Housed in a 16th-century palazzo in the heart of Florence, just a short stroll from the Bargello Museum and Uffizi Gallery, Numeroventi is the brainchild of designer Martino di Napoli Rampolla. Part artist residency, part guesthouse, the light-filled space is a catalyst for creativity, with aspiring chefs invited to cook for in-house artists through its chef-residency programme. Previously, Bordeaux-born chef Mathieu Canet took to the kitchen, blending traditional Florentine cooking with French cuisine, followed by a breakfast takeover by Parisian chef Lou Chapuis, who served flaky pastries and eggs cooked in various forms. Chefs are encouraged to sensibly source local produce and residencies vary from two weeks to two months.

WildKitchen X Carousel, UK 

Best for: An intimate chef’s table at a lakeside location 
Location: Ashcombe Estate, Salisbury, SP5 5QG, United Kingdom 

The culinary collective behind London hotspot Carousel are heading to Guy Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estate this summer to host a series of suppers in the glorious Wiltshire countryside. Taking place in the award-winning film director’s super-swish outdoor kitchen – which recently starred in his hit Netflix series The Gentleman – eight heavyweight chefs are set to prepare a tasting menu cooked over fire for intimate parties of 18 guests. Part one of the series welcomes Adriana Cavita, Niklas Ekstedt, Thomas Straker and Chet Sharma, while part two bookings are yet to be announced. Be sure to bag one of the cosy farmhouse bedrooms for a proper off-grid retreat.

Zuma at The Charles Hotel, Munich

Best for: Authentic Japanese plates and alfresco dining 
Location: Sophienstraße 28, 80333 Munich, Germany

Modern Japanese restaurant Zuma is launching a pop-up restaurant at The Charles Hotel in Munich on 31 May – an opening that comes just in time for the start of Euro 2024. Bringing the high-end chain’s no-fuss izakaya dining concept to Germany for the first time, guests can expect cult dishes like the spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, and grilled sea bass with chilli and ginger. The sushi counter makes for a great date spot, with sharing-style small plates accompanied by a solid drinks selection. On warmer days, dine alfresco at the parasol-clad terrace overlooking the city’s Old Botanical Gardens. You can also find Zuma pop-ups at the Ibiza Gran Hotel, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Capri Palace Jumeirah this summer.

Chop Chop Love, Paris

Best for: Rotating residencies and vintage wines
Location: 48 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010 Paris, France

Dating back to 1876 and known for its glamorous crowd, Parisian bistro La Chope des Artistes occupies a prime position just off Boulevard Saint-Martin, bookended by a handful of theatres and independent shops. Ramy Ndione’s ownership has seen the addition of Chop Chop Love – a wine bar adjacent to the bistro that hosts a range of chef pop-ups, from Afro vegan cooking courtesy of Glory Kabe, to lesser-known pop-ups such as Ariel McQueen’s Mexican masterpieces and Orfeo Ranieri’s Italian plates. Snag a bar-facing stool and enjoy vintage and low-intervention wines coupled with an exclusive menu. Chef residencies are announced via Chop Chop Love’s Instagram.

Sidewalk Kitchens, Milan 

Best for: Streetside eating and multicultural pop-ups 
Location: Via Bonvesin de la Riva, 3, 20129 Milan, Italy

Tucked down an unassuming street right in the centre of Milan, Sidewalk Kitchens is the new culinary concept from friends Ludovico Leopardi and Leo Schieppati. The collaboration features six spaces, including an artisan coffee roastery, Japanese sandwich bar and a native NYC burger joint. Upcoming takeovers include cocktails from the team behind Rome-based bar Fischio, who collaborate with DJs and independent winemakers to put on sell-out events and serve stellar drinks, plus plenty more flavour-filled announcements in the pipeline. Takeovers mirror the laid-back vibe and often don’t require bookings thanks to the streetside set-up.

Pasero, London

Best for: Mid-century interiors and game-changing London chefs
Location: 120a West Green Road, London, N15 5AA

Londoner Genevieve Sparrow opened this neighbourhood restaurant in Tottenham following a string of popular supper clubs and a successful crowd-funding campaign in 2022. Since then, a rotation of chef residencies has seen bold Jamaican plates from vegan chef Denai Moore and comforting Vietnamese flavours from Jenny Phung of roving pop-up restaurant Ling Ling’s, with Zeus Ioannou (formerly of The Aviary and L’Atelier) currently holding the reins. Pasero’s summer takeover series takes place in August with week-long residencies that begin shortly after the line-up is released. The restaurant doubles up as a wine bar and often hosts tasting events, too, with an impressive selection of whites, reds and ambers gracing the shelves. As for the interiors, a mid-century-inspired palette is characterised by polished concrete floors, glazed terracotta tiling, tan banquettes and chalkboard menus.

Casa Balandra, Mallorca

Best for: An artist hideout in a rural Mallorca
Location: Cami de, Camí Can Parrisco, 42, 07141 Mallorca, Spain

Hidden in the lesser-known village of Pórtol on the outskirts of Palma Mallorca, sisters Claudia and Isabella del Olmo are the masterminds behind Casa Balandra, a secluded six-key bolthole for slow-paced creative retreats. Welcoming like-minded creators from different practices, artists are fed by an ever-changing roster of guest chefs – each beating the drum for Mallorca’s local larder through farm-to-fork suppers. It’s all satisfyingly low-key, where family-style eating is prepared by Claudia between named residences, and is a nostalgic taste of her childhood. A heady sense of creativity can also be traced through the food with edible installations and playful tablescapes.

Villa Magnan, Biarritz

Best for: Garden dinners and an art deco guesthouse
Location: 11 Rue de Mouriscot, 64200 Biarritz, France

Villa Magnan’s De Puta Madre restaurant distils the very essence of French charm with its greenhouse dining – all flower-strewn tables decorated with a happy mishmash of colourful tableware. New York’s favourite pop-up Has Dac Biet kicks off its 2024 chef residency series, with culinary couple Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns serving up their spin on Vietnamese cooking. Soon after, Belgian chef Paul-Atoine Bertin – founder of French bakehouse Grain and wine bar Raki – will plate up freshly caught seafood and vegetables harvested from the villa’s grounds. Manchester-born Luke Cockerill returns for a second summer season to steer the kitchen between pop-ups from Thursday to Sunday, and it’s confirmed that his amaretti with custard, rhubarb and cream is back on the menu.