The Alfresco Ritual: Designing a High-End Outdoor Kitchen & Dining Space

There’s a certain type of person who makes salad outside. And we’d very much like to be them.

At Koi No Yokan, we believe in designing not just for how people live, but for how they long to live. And nowhere is that fantasy more potent than in the outdoor kitchen and dining realm - a place where smoke curls, olives glisten, and the wine is always within arm's reach.

This is not a barbecue behind the garage. This is an environment, a sensual stage for long lunches, golden hour prep chats, and barefoot 10pm bowls of pasta under the stars.

Here’s how to curate your own.

1. The Kitchen: More Than a Hob Under a Pergola

A true outdoor kitchen should function with grace and look like it belongs - think less “shoddy extension and a spare fridge from 2006,” more “Tuscan farmhouse with friends, meets Aman resort”.

Essentials:

• Integrated worktops in stone, tile, or poured concrete - weather-resistant and tactile

• Cabinetry in slatted teak, oak or burnished steel with patina potential

• Built-in appliances: go for a proper gas grill, a small but mighty fridge, maybe even a pizza oven if you’re the hosting type

• Sink with a tap: trust us - you won’t want to run back inside with tomatoey hands mid-meal

Hide as much of the tech as possible. The luxury comes from invisibility.

2. The Dining Table: The Emotional Centrepiece

No matter how glossy your appliances are, the heart of the alfresco experience is the table. Long, generous, and preferably worn-in. Whether you’re feeding four or fourteen, it should feel generous and abundant.

Look for:

• Reclaimed wood or honed stone slab tables with honest texture

• Simple but elegant seating - think thin metal chairs or sling-back canvas

• Soft cushions in linens, boucle, or neutral striped ticking

Garden cuttings, heavy crockery, and linen napkins. Don’t stress about matching items - in fact, I dare you to not match on purpose. The tablescape should look organically accumulated, not shop-bought.

3. Shade is Essential - Even if Dappled

Full sun is lovely for swims, but no one wants to chop coriander in direct exposure. Shade adds contrast, intimacy - and an excuse to wear those new Tom Ford sunglasses without sweating into your linen.

Options:

• A well-proportioned timber pergola with climbing wisteria or grapevine

• Canvas sail shades in soft oat or clay hues

• Retractable awnings in warm neutrals or stripes (yes, stripes are allowed, but I will not be up)

• Position your scene under nature's canopy - arguably the best option

There's an extra feeling of "presence" from filtered light that makes your food - and your guests - part of the scene.

4. Surfaces to Touch (and Spill On)

This is where materials really matter. Nothing should feel synthetic. Everything should feel like it gets better with wine stains and weathered age.

Choose:

• Honed marble (do not go delicate), sealed concrete, brushed limestone

• Brushed brass taps that tarnish politely

• Rough-sawn timber that doesn’t mind a splash of olive oil

Surfaces should invite closeness - not scold you for placing a lemon slice on them.

5. Plant With Scent in Mind

As ever, scent is the shortcut to memory. The right planting around your outdoor kitchen and dining area creates an olfactory snapshot for the scene.

Go for:

• Bay, thyme, mint, lemon verbena

• Jasmine or night-blooming plants for evening gatherings

• Tall rosemary hedges for structure and scent

Pick while you cook. Hand a guest a sprig of mint for their spritz. Clever design allows you to remain in the moment.

6. Lighting That Says “We Might Stay Out Here Forever”

Good lighting turns a generic meal into core-memory territory. It should feel warm, directional, and slightly cinematic.

Use:

• Subtle wall sconces for a washed glow

• Hanging lanterns from pergolas (real flame or warm LEDs)

• Table candles in storm jars or heavy glass

• Path and low-level lighting for subtle Mediterranean drama

Lighting dictates time. Curate it so that you gently insist this meal is not to be rushed.

Designing your own? Remember these:

• Gas & Water Connections

• Electrics - Lighting, Plug Sockets, etc.

• Music Source - Emphasis on this!

• Refrigeration - A bonus is an ice machine

• Concealed Storage

• Concealed Refuse

• Layout for Hosting

• Ventilation - If covered

Final Thought

A well-designed outdoor kitchen and dining space doesn’t just serve food - it serves ritual. It says: here, life slows. Here, the tomatoes are better. Here, we stay for one more glass and a warm uplifting conversation.

And when it’s done right, it becomes a space you return to - not just physically, but in memory. A place that hums with the echo of shared jokes, burnt garlic, and the faint clink of glasses long after summer ends.

Subscribe for More

Designing a life that feels rich, ritualistic, and slightly cinematic? So are we. Sign up to our KNY Journal Newsletter for more seasonal reflections and weekly design ideas.

KOI NO YOKAN