What shapes the investment
- Custom, covered or pre-fabricated
- Size, counter length and appliance count
- Materials and finishes
- Gas, water, drain and electrical runs
- The shade structure, terrace and lighting around it
Outdoor Kitchens in Pacific Palisades
Outdoor Kitchen Design and Build in Pacific Palisades
Outdoor kitchens for Pacific Palisades homes, planned with the view, the pool and the fire zone around them. We design the kitchen around how you cook and how you host, run the gas, water and electrical, pull the permits and build it with our own crews, from a grill island on the terrace to a covered kitchen beside the pool, and on a rebuild we plan it with the new house.
- 25+years of experience
- 10,000+projects completed
- In-housedesign-build crews
- LIC #715731licensed & insured
- 5-star
Start here
What you're looking for
Start with how you cook and how you host; the size, the appliances and the cover mostly follow from it. These are the four kitchens Palisades homeowners ask for most, shown in our Greater Los Angeles work.
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01 A full kitchen outdoors Grill, pizza oven, prep space, refrigeration and storage in one run, so a whole meal gets cooked without going back inside. See outdoor kitchens -
02 A counter that faces the view Bar seating along the counter, turned toward the canyon or the ocean, so the cook and the guests look the same way. See hillside kitchens -
03 A covered kitchen and bar A roof, lighting and a screen over the counter, so the kitchen works through a gray June morning and a warm September evening alike. See entertaining kitchens -
04 Fire for the evening A gas fire table or fireplace beside the kitchen, so the evening keeps going once the marine air comes in. See fire features
Service options
Custom-Built Outdoor Kitchen
Best for Anyone who wants the exact layout, appliances and finish they have in mind.
- Any size, shape and configuration
- Choose all appliances and finishes
- Integrates with the terrace, the pool and the planting
- Built in stone, stucco or concrete that will not burn
- Full design customization
On your property Built in place on a concrete base, in non-combustible materials that suit a fire zone and match the house. Near the beach we specify marine-grade stainless for the doors, drawers and hardware. Gas, water and electrical are run and permitted with it.
- Stone terraces
- Pools and spas
- Bar seating
- Entertaining lighting
Covered Kitchen and Dining
Best for Homeowners who want the kitchen, dining and lounge under one roof, usable in midday sun and on cool coastal evenings.
- A solid roof for shade and the occasional rain
- Room for ceiling fans, heaters and lighting
- Kitchen, dining and lounge in one outdoor room
- Gas and wiring run inside the structure
- Reads as part of the house rather than an add-on
On your property A covered structure is permitted in its own right, with setbacks, height and engineering to meet, and in the Palisades fire zone it is built with ignition-resistant materials. On a rebuild we design it with the house so the two read as one.
- Pools and spas
- Outdoor lighting
- Fire features
Pre-Fab Kitchen Island
Best for Homeowners on a tighter budget or timeline who want a quality kitchen quickly.
- Faster installation than custom
- Fixed sizes from manufacturers
- Most economical option
- Includes grill and basic prep space
- Can add storage, freezer or cooler
On your property Arrives as modular units and is installed on a prepared terrace or concrete base. The gas, water and electrical still have to be run and permitted.
- Simple terraces
- Existing utilities
- Modest entertaining spaces
How we work
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Before Assess how you cook and host
How often you cook, what you cook and how many people you feed decide the size, the appliances and whether the kitchen needs a roof.
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Design Design and appliance selection
Layout, grill, burners, refrigeration, storage and finishes, drawn with the view, the pool and the terrace around them and shown in 3D.
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Utilities Utilities and permits
Gas, water, drain and electrical runs are planned, and the LADBS permits pulled, before any cabinet is set. On a rebuild, the lines go in with the house.
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Installation Installation
Our crews build the base and the island, install and test the appliances and finish the counters. Pre-fab islands arrive mostly ready.
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Finished Integration and finishing
Paving, seating, shade, lighting and planting finish the outdoor room around the kitchen.
Key decisions
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
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Custom, covered or pre-fab
A custom island fits the space exactly, a covered kitchen adds a room, and a pre-fab island saves time and money in fixed sizes.
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Where it sits
Close enough to the house to carry food out, turned toward the view, and placed where the afternoon onshore breeze carries smoke away from the seating rather than into it.
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Fire-zone materials
Stone, stucco, concrete and steel do not burn, and they keep a kitchen near the house consistent with the ember-resistant zone. Any roof over it is built with ignition-resistant materials.
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Gas, water and electrical
Gas and electrical runs and a sink drain are what trigger permits, and in the Palisades those go through LADBS. On a rebuild they are planned with the house, so the lines run under the terrace instead of across it.
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Salt air
Closer to the beach, salt air works on metal. Marine-grade stainless, sealed counters and covered storage keep the kitchen looking new.
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Shade and weather
A pergola filters the sun, a solid roof adds shelter, and heaters stretch the evenings, which cool off quickly once the marine layer comes in.
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Integration with the yard
The kitchen anchors an outdoor room. The pool, dining, lounge, lighting and planting complete it.
Investment and timeline
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
What shapes the schedule
- Design and appliance selection
- LADBS permits and utility coordination
- Appliance and cabinet lead times
- Installation and system testing
- On a rebuild, the house construction schedule
Why entertainer's cabana was drawn together with the rest of the property
Decking, drainage, utilities, planting, shade and lighting all bear on where a feature goes and how it gets built. Settling them on one set of drawings is what keeps conduit out of the wrong trench and stops paving being cut to fit afterward.
- Placement The kitchen run sits along the side wall, a few steps from the house and facing the dining table and the pool.
- Dining A long table under string lights sits right beside the counter, so the cook stays part of the party.
- Counter and storage A built-in grill, side burners and stainless drawers set into dark cabinetry.
- Cover A timber cabana with its own bar and screen anchors the far end of the terrace.
- Planting and walls A planted timber slat wall and the block wall frame the kitchen and dining area.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
What customers say
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After redoing the backyard, Pacific Outdoor Living also handled the driveway, walkway, and outdoor kitchen, creating a home made for hosting. Each project coordinated seamlessly with the others, and the vision came together beautifully. We now have an outdoor space perfect for entertaining and family gatherings.
Lily Chavis Google review Backyard, driveway and outdoor kitchen -
Other companies struggled with the steep hillside, but Pacific Outdoor Living transformed it into a three-tier patio space with thoughtful design and execution. Their expertise in handling difficult terrain made all the difference. The final result is stunning and has completely changed how we use our property.
April Crow Google review Steep hillside turned into a three-tier yard -
The company used its own crews, treated the yard and homeowner with respect, and got the job done on time. Having the same team throughout meant consistency and accountability. We appreciated their professional approach and the respect they showed our property.
Ronnie Stewart Google review Own crews, finished on time
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Pacific Palisades?
Usually, if the kitchen has gas, electrical or plumbing. The gas line, new circuits and a sink drain are what typically trigger permits, and a covered structure needs its own. The Palisades is in the City of Los Angeles, so they go through LADBS, and we handle them in house.
We are rebuilding. When should the kitchen be designed?
With the house. Running the gas, water and electrical to the kitchen while the house and the terrace are going in costs far less than opening finished work later, and the kitchen gets placed as part of the whole yard.
Is an outdoor kitchen safe in a fire zone?
Built the right way, yes. We use materials that do not burn for the island and the counters, keep the area around the house non-combustible, and build any roof over the kitchen with ignition-resistant materials. The gas line gets an accessible shutoff, and the planting nearby is low and spaced.
What appliances should we include?
Start with how you cook. A grill and enough prep space are essential; refrigeration, a sink, side burners, a pizza oven and a warming drawer are the most popular additions. We size the counter to the appliances you will actually use.
Will the salt air damage the kitchen?
It can, closer to the beach, so we plan for it. Marine-grade stainless doors and hardware, sealed counters and covers for the grill keep corrosion and staining in check.
Should the kitchen be covered?
If you will cook at midday or use it in the evenings, usually yes. A pergola filters the sun; a solid roof adds rain and heat protection and makes room for fans, heaters and lighting. A covered structure has setbacks and height limits to meet, so we plan it with the permits.
What does an outdoor kitchen cost in Pacific Palisades?
It depends on size, counter length, appliances, materials, how far the gas, water and electrical have to run, and whether it is covered. A pre-fab island and a covered kitchen sit at very different ends of the range. Your designer prices it from a measured plan, so the figure reflects your yard rather than an average.
Do you build outdoor kitchens across the Palisades?
Yes, from the Alphabet Streets and the Riviera to the Highlands and the bluff-edge lots, and in the neighboring Westside communities. Use the address checker on our Pacific Palisades page to confirm coverage for your exact lot.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.