How Airbnb Is Bringing Hyperlocal Chefs To Your Next Travel

Picture this: you’re on a vacation in, say, Paris, London, or San Francisco, in a delightfully Instagrammable Airbnb home in a tony neighbourhood. It’s everything you asked for minus the comfort of a standard hotel. No room service or in-house restaurants—just you figuring out your meals. But that’s about to change. In a major announcement, Airbnb founder Brian Chesky has announced a major update: the all-new Airbnb Services tab, now live on the website and the app.

Travellers in 260 international cities can book a range of services while on their vacation, including massages, makeup and hair artists, or personal training. But the major talking point of this announcement is that the platform brings hyperlocal culinary experiences to guests. The platform will now allow travellers to book ready-to-eat meals prepared by professional chefs, or better still, organise a catered meal that can be entirely customised. 

This new Services tab went live a few minutes before writing this story, so we decided to explore it a bit. In Paris, for example, we stumbled upon Chef Pietro, an alumnus of the Mandarin Oriental, who offers a refined three-course meal at $166 (Rs 14,165) per guest. Those looking to splurge can opt for his wine-paired dinner, which comes in at $388 (Rs 33,108) per guest. On the other end is Chef Boris, a local caterer offering a classic French apéritif for just $8 (Rs 683) per guest, or a hearty lunch featuring salads, charcuterie and cheese boards at $38 (Rs 3,243).

In London—especially relevant for Indian travellers planning summer holidays—Airbnb’s offerings are equally compelling. Chef Karl, previously with The Connaught, serves up a champagne afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches, scones and pastries for $79 (Rs 6,741) per guest, or a more traditional British dinner for USD 59 (Rs 5,034). And for when the inevitable craving for Indian food kicks in, there’s Chef Arup, who offers an Indian party menu at $49 (Rs 4,181), or a refined six-course Indian tasting experience.

Airbnb founder Brian Chesky emphasised the platform’s rigorous vetting process. Every chef listed undergoes quality checks before being featured. In a quick conversation on the sidelines of the event, Dave Stephenson, Airbnb’s Chief Business Officer, shared more: “We’ve created teams dedicated to handpicking these chefs—evaluating experience, skill, reputation, and consistency. I’ve personally sampled a few of the curated experiences in San Francisco, and they’ve been outstanding.”

Our next question: Will we be able to book these chef-led experiences in India? 

“For now, the services are not yet rolled out in India, although given the diversity of Indian food and its strong links to culture, we see this as a huge potential to showcase Indian chefs differently to a global platform,” says Stephenson. 

ELLE Gourmet’s Verdict

How does this change things for travellers? This new trend of in-home culinary experiences on vacation reflects a larger trend of travellers seeking hyperlocal and unique experiences. The offering covers different price points, from high-end to affordable. This trend is also a new way of connecting with local chefs. It will admittedly require a superior experience and exceptional quality to divert consumers from more affordable and predictable options like food delivery apps or the neighbourhood gourmet store, but we do see these hyperlocal food experiences becoming a popular trend among discerning travellers who seek culture, immersion, and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Could Airbnb's ‘room service’ be this summer’s hot new trend?