New York Private Chef Agency
Michelin-trained private chefs for UHNW families across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Hamptons and the Tri-State. Shortlist in 14 days. Up to 6-month guarantee.
Schedule A Confidential Consultation Personally Vetted Chefs · Trial Days Included · Strict DiscretionMontclair Chef places full-time private chefs for ultra-high-net-worth families across New York, from Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights to the Hamptons, Westchester, and Connecticut's Gold Coast. Founded by a Michelin-trained chef with 19 years serving UHNW families as a private chef, every placement carries an up to 6-month replacement guarantee. Meet our founder.
Our chefs come from Michelin-starred kitchens and know New York's premier purveyors, from Lobel's to the Union Square Greenmarket and Citarella.
Three placement categories that cover the majority of New York searches. Each one is a distinct brief, not a variation on the same one.
Full-time private chefs for Manhattan's most exclusive buildings, from Billionaires' Row and Park Avenue to the Upper East Side, Central Park West and Tribeca.
Schedule a Consultation
For families splitting the year between the city and the Hamptons, we place travel-ready chefs who coordinate logistics across Southampton, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, and Sag Harbor.
View Hamptons Placements
Full-time private chefs for UHNW families across the Upper East Side, Central Park West, and Carnegie Hill, experienced in strict Kosher households and long-term estate service.
View Kosher PlacementsMontclair Chef places full-time private chefs for Manhattan households, including Upper East Side residences, Central Park West apartments, Tribeca lofts, West Village townhouses, and Billionaires' Row buildings.
Many of these placements are multi-residence families who split time between New York, the Hamptons, Florida, Aspen, Europe, or the Middle East. We place chefs who can hold the same standard across every kitchen rather than only the primary residence.
Manhattan searches are handled by our New York placement team, so the search stays focused, discreet, and supported by one dedicated city team.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationGross salary in US dollars per year, for a full-time, long-term private chef position. Figures exclude food budgets and benefits.
| Role | Gross salary (USD / year) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level private chef | $140,000 to $160,000 |
| Mid-level private chef | $170,000 to $210,000 |
| Senior, Michelin-trained, or multi-property chef | $220,000 to $250,000+ |
Manhattan and Billionaires' Row households sit at the higher end, as do roles covering multiple residences or specialist dietary programmes. See our private chef salary guide for full ranges across roles and markets.
Billionaires' Row, Park Avenue, the Upper East Side, Central Park West, Tribeca and the West Village, plus Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Park Slope.
Southampton, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, and Sag Harbor, for seasonal and year-round residences, with coordination between the city and the East End.
Westchester County estates, Greenwich, and Connecticut's Gold Coast, with multi-residence coordination across the region and beyond.
1
A confidential call to understand your requirements, dietary needs, household dynamics, and the personality that fits. Conducted by our founder personally.
2
Receive 3 to 5 hand-selected, fully vetted private chefs, matched specifically to your household and the New York market.
3
Interview your preferred candidates and arrange a paid trial day in your own kitchen, so you choose with confidence.
4
Finalise the placement with an up to 6-month guarantee, plus ongoing support as the chef settles into the household.
Reference verification · Paid trial days · Up to 6-month replacement guarantee
Full-time private chefs in New York typically earn $140,000 to $250,000 or more per year, depending on experience, specialisation, and household complexity. Manhattan and Billionaires' Row households usually sit at the higher end. This excludes food budgets and benefits. See our private chef salary guide for full ranges.
Montclair Chef is a boutique private chef placement agency for ultra-high-net-worth families. It was founded by a Michelin-trained chef with 19 years serving UHNW households as a private chef, and it focuses on one thing: placing full-time private chefs across New York and worldwide. Read more about our founder.
Every chef goes through full employment-history review and direct reference verification with previous UHNW households. We place only chefs with a proven record of discretion and long-term private service, never event or short-term cooks. Most are Michelin-trained, and all have strong fine-dining backgrounds.
Executive placements carry an up to 6-month replacement guarantee. If the chef does not meet expectations within that period, we conduct a replacement search at no additional agency fee.
For most placements we deliver a shortlist of 3 to 5 vetted candidates within 14 days. The full process, including interviews and a paid trial day, usually runs 3 to 6 weeks depending on your requirements and scheduling.
It begins with a confidential consultation to understand your household. We then deliver a vetted shortlist within 14 days, you interview your favourites and arrange a paid trial day in your kitchen, and we finalise the placement with the guarantee in place. See our full private chef trial guide for how to approach the trial stage.
Discretion runs through every stage. Chefs sign a confidentiality agreement before any introduction, we share only what is strictly necessary about your household, and we have a proven record placing chefs in some of New York's most prominent and security-conscious homes.
Yes, multi-residence coordination is one of our strengths. Many New York families split the year between Manhattan and the Hamptons, and keep further homes in Los Angeles, London, or Monaco. We place chefs who adapt menus seasonally, coordinate logistics between properties, and travel with the family. See our Hamptons placements.
Yes. Beyond Manhattan, we place full-time private chefs in Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and Park Slope, across Westchester County, and in Greenwich and Connecticut's Gold Coast. Many placements involve families with homes across several Tri-State locations.
Yes. We place full-time private chefs experienced in strict Kosher households for UHNW families across the Upper East Side, Central Park West, and Carnegie Hill. Every candidate is screened for Kosher competence, discretion, and long-term estate service. View our Kosher private chef placements.
Yes. We place chefs experienced with a wide range of dietary needs, including food allergies, gluten-free, Kosher, halal, vegan, keto, anti-inflammatory, and medically guided diets. During your consultation we discuss your family's needs and match you with chefs who have proven expertise in those areas. See also our health and nutrition chef placement.
A private chef works exclusively for one household full-time, managing daily dining, dietary needs, and the kitchen. A personal chef usually serves several clients on a rotating basis. Every Montclair Chef placement is an exclusive, full-time private chef dedicated to your household. Read the full comparison.
Yes, and this is how many New York searches run. We work to your brief, your reporting requirements and your timeline, and the principal need not be involved until the candidate stage. See how we work with family offices and estate managers.
Start with a confidential consultation. Tell us about your household and what you are looking for, and we will guide you through the shortlist, trial, and placement. We run a limited number of searches each month to maintain the standard our clients expect.
For every question families and estate managers ask before hiring, read our full Private Chef FAQ.
We run a limited number of searches each month to maintain the standard our clients expect. Our founder takes the first call on every search.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationPersonally Vetted Chefs · Trial Days Included · Strict Discretion