Summer kitchen: definition, types, equipment and budget 2026

By Loris Reale, founder of Nox outdoor kitchens · Updated on 1 October 2026

A summer kitchen is a kitchen installed outdoors, on a terrace or in a garden, that brings together a cooking area, a worktop and storage. At Nox outdoor kitchens, an open summer kitchen in 304 stainless steel starts at 9 400 € incl. VAT with the Nox Nova Small (280 cm). With a built-in motorised canopy, it starts at 14 900 € incl. VAT (Nox Studio); the Nox Terrace, the best-seller, starts at 16 900 € incl. VAT. These “from” prices include the standard equipment and exclude delivery, installation and crane lifting.

At a glance

• Six types of summer kitchen: open, covered, enclosed or closable, masonry, kit, and one-piece stainless steel delivered fully equipped.
• Decide on the location before the model: stabilised ground, water, drainage, electricity, prevailing wind, neighbours.
• Compare prices for the same equipment, adding delivery, installation and connections.
• Below 5 m² of footprint and outside protected areas, a summer kitchen requires no planning formality; the local plan (PLU) always applies.

What is a summer kitchen?

A summer kitchen is a complete kitchen station installed outdoors, designed for preparing, cooking and serving a meal without going back into the house at every step. The barbecue is its starting point, not its definition. What makes it a kitchen is everything else: a worktop for chopping, drawers for storage, a sink for rinsing, refrigeration to keep the drinks cool.

What are the different types of summer kitchen?

There are six types of summer kitchen: open, covered, enclosed or closable, masonry, kit and one-piece stainless steel, which differ in their protection when not in use, the work they require and their maintenance.

The open summer kitchen

An island or a straight run with no roof, at home under a pergola, an awning or a roof overhang. When not in use, it stays exposed to rain and leaves. The Nova collection from Nox outdoor kitchens belongs to this family: four widths from 280 to 384 cm, with a pergola or awning to be provided separately.

The covered summer kitchen

A roof stops rain falling straight down and the midday sun: a pergola, an awning against the house or a canopy built into the kitchen itself. The solutions are compared in our guide to the covered outdoor kitchen.

The enclosed or closable summer kitchen

It closes up when not in use: shutters on the cabinets, a garden shed, a conservatory, or a motorised roof that closes over the whole unit and keeps out dust, leaves, wind and rain. Details in our guide to the enclosed or closable outdoor kitchen.

The masonry summer kitchen

Built on site and finished with tiles, stone or render, it calls for a genuine building project: slab, masonry, finishes, utilities, then the purchase of the appliances. The full cost is set out in our comparison masonry or stainless steel summer kitchen.

The kit summer kitchen

Delivered in parts to assemble, it is often the least expensive summer kitchen to buy. Check what the price includes (sink, refrigeration, worktop): assembly and connections remain your responsibility.

The one-piece stainless steel summer kitchen

It arrives assembled and equipped; the work on site comes down to stabilised ground and the connections. At Nox outdoor kitchens, it is delivered finished and inspected, then connected by two Nox installers. Stainless steel grades and maintenance: our complete guide to the stainless steel summer kitchen.

Summer kitchen types compared

Nox prices with the standard equipment, excluding delivery, installation and crane lifting. Competitor prices noted on 22 September 2026, with different equipment included.

Where should you install a summer kitchen?

Install your summer kitchen close to the house, on stabilised, level ground, within reach of the water and electricity supplies, taking into account the prevailing wind and the neighbours' windows.

Stable ground, utilities ready, access studied

Allow 850 kg for a Nox Terrace in its standard configuration and 1 050 kg for a Nox Pavillon. A Nox kitchen is installed without foundations or masonry on a stabilised, level terrace, fixed to the ground by its four feet. Prepare a 3G2.5 mm electrical junction box, a water connection ready for hook-up (Gardena type or G 1/2 male) and a drain; keep at least 30 cm between the kitchen and a wall. Delivery requires a road accessible to a 19-tonne lorry; if access is not direct, crane lifting is studied in advance and entrusted to Foselev or Mediaco.

What equipment should a summer kitchen include?

A functional summer kitchen has four zones, cooking, water, refrigeration and storage, to which you can add, depending on how you use it, an extractor hood, lighting, a television or sound.

• Cooking. Gas barbecue, plancha or charcoal kamado, depending on your recipes. At Nox: 30″ barbecue (3 burners), 36″ (4 burners) or 46″ (4 burners plus an additional burner), 4-burner hob, small or large kamado in place of a drawer cabinet.
• Water. Stainless steel sink and mixer tap as standard on every Nox kitchen.
• Refrigeration. 21″ glass-door or 24″ fridge as standard depending on the model; ice maker placed on the worktop and dishwasher as options.
• Storage. Three-drawer cabinets, a 20 cm pantry cabinet, a gas bottle cabinet.
• Comfort. Extractor hood as standard on the Nox Terrace and Pavillon; as options, a 32″ television, a 43″ television on the Pavillon and both Loggias, and a portable connected speaker.

Which materials should you choose for a summer kitchen that stays outdoors?

For an island or a run exposed all year round, choose grade 304 stainless steel, a coating designed for UV and humidity, and a worktop in stainless steel or sintered stone. Solid wood, waxed concrete and natural stone need regular maintenance.

At Nox outdoor kitchens, the structure is made of anti-fingerprint 304 stainless steel, with a marine-grade PVDF coating designed for coastal climates: UV, sea spray, rain and intense heat, with no fading or rust. A brushed stainless steel worktop in a Tree Bark finish is included; four sintered stones are offered at 490 € excl. VAT: Calacatta White, Cave Stone Beige, Bosinia Grey and Spanish Black and White Root. For a personalised summer kitchen, 20 front colours are included, four of them wood transfers. A damp cloth is all it takes to keep it clean.

What budget should you plan for a summer kitchen?

The ENO CLASSIC 3-module kitchen in a stainless steel finish costs 2 101.16 € incl. VAT without a plancha (noted on 22 September 2026); an equipped summer kitchen starts at 9 400 € incl. VAT at Nox outdoor kitchens. The difference lies in the equipment included. At Nox, the “from” prices of the seven configurable models range from 9 400 € incl. VAT (Nova Small) to 19 900 € incl. VAT (Pavillon), options extra; the two Loggias come as a fixed package.

Delivery, installation and crane lifting are priced separately on the quote: installation 690 € excl. VAT, delivery by the kilometre (minimum 190 € excl. VAT), crane lifting if access requires it. For a non-standard width, see our guide to the made-to-measure outdoor kitchen. For an item-by-item breakdown, see our guide to the price of a summer kitchen.

Do you need permission to install a summer kitchen?

Generally not: below 5 m² of footprint and outside protected areas, a summer kitchen requires no planning formality, but a pergola or an awning added above it may. From more than 5 m² up to 20 m², article R421-9 of the French town planning code requires a prior declaration; above 20 m², planning permission is required. An awning attached to the house remains subject to a prior declaration up to 40 m² in an urban area covered by a local plan, or PLU (article R421-17). In a remarkable heritage site, near a historic monument or in a listed site, the declaration becomes the rule (article R421-11), and the local plan can impose siting rules: check with the town hall.

The Nox Studio, Terrace and Pavillon take up 2.11 m², 2.66 m² and 3.35 m² of floor space. Under a pergola, it is the footprint of the pergola that needs checking. For the procedure, see the prior declaration (DP) page on Service-Public, the official French administration website.

Which mistakes should you avoid before buying a summer kitchen?

The most costly mistakes are made before the purchase: comparing prices that do not include the same equipment, forgetting the utilities, underestimating access to the garden and choosing the size before the use.

• Prices that cannot be compared. A module without a plancha, a run without refrigeration, delivery or installation left unpriced: bring each offer back to a kitchen that works on installation day.
• Utilities prepared too late. A supply that is not ready on installation day can lead to extra costs and a postponed appointment.
• Access overlooked. A narrow gate, steps, a garden on a lower level: have the access studied before ordering.
• Size chosen before use. Start from your usual number of guests, then from the width available.

Which summer kitchen should you choose for your project?

Choose an open summer kitchen if you already have a pergola, a kitchen with a motorised canopy if it has to stay outdoors with no other protection, and its size according to your usual number of guests.

• If you already have a pergola, choose an open kitchen: the Nox Nova Medium for the balance between worktop, storage and budget, the Nova Large if you cook often, the Nova XL for large gatherings.
• If the kitchen has to stay outdoors without a pergola or an awning, choose a kitchen that carries its own roof: Nox Studio for a terrace and 4 to 6 people, Nox Terrace for a garden and 6 to 8, Nox Pavillon for a large garden and 8 to 12.
• If you want a low kitchen that closes, choose a Loggia: 112 cm high, motorised lifting roof, fixed package.
• If your width falls outside the standard sizes, choose the Nova Sur Mesure, from 200 to 700 cm.
• If you cook outdoors only a few evenings each summer, open modules and a cover are enough.

What does Nox outdoor kitchens offer in summer kitchens?

Nox outdoor kitchens offers one-piece summer kitchens in 304 stainless steel, delivered equipped: the open Nova models, the Studio, Terrace and Pavillon with a built-in motorised canopy, and the two Loggias with a motorised lifting roof. Written warranty: 10 years on the structure, 2 years on the kitchen's electrical appliances. The brand belongs to REALE PATRIMOINE SARL, whose head office is in Eyragues (Bouches-du-Rhône).

Three models to start with:

• the Nox Nova Medium, open: 308 × 65 × 91.5 cm, from 9 900 € incl. VAT;
• the Nox Terrace, with a motorised canopy and an extractor hood as standard: 285 × 93.2 × 235 cm, from 16 900 € incl. VAT;
• the Nox Light Loggia: 269 × 88.5 × 112 cm, 15 900 € incl. VAT as a fixed package.

In Lamagdelaine (Lot), near Cahors, a 269 cm Nox Terrace equips a stone house. See the Lamagdelaine project.

Torn between two types? A project manager configures the kitchen with you by video call, with no commitment, and sends your quote within 48 to 72 working hours after the configuration is submitted. Book a discovery call

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a summer kitchen and an outdoor kitchen?

None in substance. “Summer kitchen” is the traditional term in France; “outdoor kitchen” stresses use beyond the summer. Both describe a complete station installed outdoors: cooking, worktop, storage, often a sink and refrigeration. What matters is protection when not in use: it decides whether the kitchen can stay outside all year round.

How much does a summer kitchen cost?

Noted on 22 September 2026, the ENO CLASSIC 3-module kitchen in a stainless steel finish costs 2 101.16 € incl. VAT, plancha not included. At Nox outdoor kitchens, an equipped kitchen costs from 9 400 € incl. VAT (Nova Small) and from 19 900 € incl. VAT for the Pavillon with its motorised canopy, excluding delivery, installation and crane lifting.

Do you need planning permission for a summer kitchen?

Rarely. Article R421-9 of the French town planning code requires a prior declaration for a new construction with a footprint of more than 5 m² and up to 20 m²; above that, planning permission is required. Below 5 m², outside protected areas, there is no formality. The Nox Studio, Terrace and Pavillon take up 2.11 m², 2.66 m² and 3.35 m². The local plan (PLU) may add rules: check with the town hall.

Can a summer kitchen stay outside all year round?

Yes, if its materials are made for the outdoors and it is protected when not in use. Nox kitchens combine 304 stainless steel with a marine-grade PVDF coating designed for UV, sea spray and rain. On the models with a canopy, the closed roof keeps out dust, leaves, wind and rain. In prolonged frost, drain the water supply and close the gas bottle.

Does a summer kitchen need foundations?

Not a one-piece kitchen. A Nox kitchen is installed on a stabilised, level terrace, without foundations or masonry, and fixed to the ground by its four feet. You do, however, need to prepare a 3G2.5 mm electrical junction box, a water connection and a drain. A masonry kitchen, by contrast, needs a slab and a genuine building project.

Where can you see a Nox outdoor kitchens summer kitchen?

The Nox showroom in the Var can be visited by appointment, and a network of professional dealers also presents the range. A project manager can configure your kitchen by video call, with no commitment; the quote is sent within 48 to 72 working hours after the configuration is submitted. Nox outdoor kitchens delivers to mainland France, Belgium and Switzerland.

Chosen your model? Choose your installation slot as soon as you request your quote: it is held after your call with a project manager, with the 1 500 € booking deposit.

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