Superyacht Galley Design

A superyacht galley is one of the most technically demanding spaces aboard any luxury vessel — and one of the most consequential. When galley design is done well, a chef operates with total efficiency, food safety is assured, compliance is built in, and the space reflects the aesthetic standard expected on a world-class yacht. When it is done poorly, the consequences cascade through every voyage. Our superyacht galley design service exists to ensure the former — always.

We combine deep knowledge of marine catering operations, commercial galley equipment, naval architecture constraints and marine compliance requirements to produce superyacht galley designs that are as precise as they are practical. Every layout we produce is grounded in real-world experience across hundreds of vessels — from 24-metre sailing yachts to 110-metre expedition motor yachts.

What Makes Superyacht Galley Design Different

Designing a superyacht galley is fundamentally different from designing a commercial kitchen or a domestic kitchen. The constraints are more severe, the regulatory requirements are stricter, and the consequences of poor design are amplified by the operating environment.

A superyacht galley must function safely when the vessel is moving — sometimes significantly — in open water. It must meet SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and IMO regulations for fire suppression, ventilation and gas safety. It must operate within strict weight and space budgets set by the naval architect. It must be constructed from marine-grade materials capable of withstanding saltwater corrosion, vibration and temperature extremes. And it must do all of this while delivering commercial-grade catering output in a space that is often a fraction of the size of an equivalent shore-based kitchen.

Getting this balance right requires specialist knowledge that sits across multiple disciplines: marine equipment, commercial catering, interior design, marine engineering, food safety and compliance. This is what our design team brings to every project.

Our Superyacht Galley Design Process

Our design process is structured to deliver precision at every stage — from the first client conversation through to handover at the shipyard or refit yard. Every step is documented, coordinated and signed off before the next begins.

Phase 1: Brief & Discovery

Every superyacht galley design project begins with a detailed brief. We work with the owner, captain, owner's representative and — where appropriate — the head chef to understand the vessel's operational profile, cuisine style, charter requirements, crew complement and aesthetic expectations. We also review any architectural drawings and coordinate with the naval architect and interior designer to understand spatial, structural and services constraints from the outset.

Phase 2: Concept Layout & Galley Workflow Planning

With the brief established, we develop initial concept layouts. These focus first on galley workflow — the movement of food, equipment and crew through the space during a service. A well-designed superyacht galley minimises crossover between preparation, cooking, plating and waste, and creates clear separation between clean and dirty zones. Chef ergonomics are central to this phase: working heights, reach zones, sightlines and fatigue factors are all considered in relation to the specific crew who will use the space.

We typically produce two to three concept layouts at this stage, each with annotated workflow diagrams that can be reviewed and discussed with the wider project team before any detailed design investment is made.

Phase 3: Technical Specification & Equipment Selection

Once the preferred layout concept is confirmed, we move into detailed technical specification. This covers every piece of marine catering equipment in the galley — cooking equipment (combi ovens, induction ranges, salamanders, deep fryers), cold storage (marine refrigeration units, blast chillers, under-counter drawers), food preparation (food processors, vacuum packers, prep tables), warewashing (commercial dishwashers, glasswashers), hot and cold beverage systems, and all ancillary equipment.

Equipment is selected based on performance, energy consumption, physical dimensions, marine certification, serviceability at sea and compatibility with the vessel's electrical and gas systems. We work with over 50 of the world's leading marine and commercial catering equipment manufacturers, which means we specify the best solution for the project — not the easiest or most profitable one for us.

Phase 4: Technical Drawing & Services Coordination

The approved equipment specification feeds directly into our technical drawing package. This includes 2D plans, sections and elevations, 3D visualisations, and complete services drawings covering electrical loads, gas supply, cold water, hot water, drainage, ventilation ductwork and extract hood positioning. All drawings are produced to shipyard or refit yard standards and are coordinated directly with the project's naval architect, engineering team and interior designer.

Phase 5: On-Site Support & Commissioning

We support the installation and commissioning of every superyacht galley we design. This includes reviewing installation progress at the shipyard or refit yard, conducting equipment commissioning alongside manufacturers' engineers, and providing handover documentation and crew training where required.

Galley Workflow & Chef Ergonomics

Workflow is the foundation of superyacht galley design. A galley that looks beautiful on paper but forces a chef to cross their own path during a service, or places the dishwash station next to the pass, will fail in practice — and its failure will be felt on every voyage.

Our design process places galley workflow at the centre of every layout decision. We analyse the specific meal service patterns expected on the vessel: the number of guests, service frequency, cuisine complexity and crew staffing. From this analysis, we map the movement of raw ingredients, prepared food, plated dishes and used crockery through the galley, and design a layout that keeps these flows separated and efficient.

Chef ergonomics — the physical comfort and operational efficiency of the crew working in the galley — are addressed alongside workflow. Working surface heights, the position and reach of equipment controls, the height and depth of storage, lighting levels, flooring grip characteristics and the position of safety equipment are all specified with the working chef in mind. A well-designed superyacht galley reduces fatigue, minimises injury risk and allows the culinary team to perform at their best regardless of sea conditions.

Ventilation, Extraction & Marine HVAC

Marine galley ventilation is one of the most technically complex elements of superyacht galley design — and one of the most commonly underspecified. A superyacht galley generates significant heat, steam, smoke and cooking odours that must be captured at source and expelled from the vessel in a controlled, compliant manner.

Our designs include fully engineered extract canopy specifications, ductwork routing, fresh air supply, make-up air volumes and the integration of fire suppression systems within the ventilation design. We coordinate all ventilation design with the vessel's HVAC engineer and ensure compliance with applicable marine regulations. Where cooking equipment includes solid fuel or gas appliances, we apply the appropriate interlock and safety requirements.

SOLAS, IMO & Marine Compliance

Every superyacht galley design we produce is reviewed against the applicable regulatory framework. For commercial yachts operating under MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) or Flag State requirements, this includes SOLAS Chapter II-2 fire protection requirements, LY3 and MCA Large Yacht Codes, and applicable MARPOL requirements for galley waste management.

Our compliance review covers fire suppression system requirements for cooking equipment (typically wet chemical or CO₂ systems), gas safety systems (LPG/CNG detection, solenoid valve interlocks, ventilation requirements), electrical equipment certification (marine-approved equipment and installation standards), and waste separation and storage requirements. We coordinate our compliance review directly with the flag state surveyor and class surveyor where required.

Storage Design & Cold Storage Planning

Provisioning storage is one of the most frequently overlooked elements of superyacht galley design — and one that has the greatest daily impact on crew workflow and food quality. A superyacht operating for extended periods between provisioning ports must carry sufficient dry stores, chilled goods, frozen product, wine, beverages and specialist ingredients to support the full menu programme.

We design storage solutions that maximise the use of available space while maintaining practical accessibility, correct temperature zoning and FIFO (first-in, first-out) stock rotation. Cold storage design covers refrigeration unit selection and placement, temperature zone separation, defrost arrangements, alarm and monitoring systems, and the structural requirements for installing marine refrigeration in the available space.

Electrical & Services Integration

A modern superyacht galley is one of the highest electrical load areas on the vessel. Cooking equipment, refrigeration systems, ventilation motors, dishwashing equipment, coffee machines, beverage chillers and food preparation equipment all place significant and often simultaneous demands on the vessel's electrical system. Our design process includes a detailed electrical load schedule that is coordinated with the vessel's marine electrical engineer to ensure adequate supply, correct circuit protection and compliance with applicable marine electrical standards.

We also coordinate gas supply sizing and routing (where applicable), freshwater and hot water supply, drainage gradients and grease trap requirements. All services are detailed in our design package to ensure a clean, coordinated installation without the costly on-site design decisions that arise from under-specified drawings.

Who We Work With

Our superyacht galley design service is used by a range of clients at different points in a vessel's life:

• New build owners and owner's representatives — engaging us early in the design process to ensure the galley is designed right from the outset
• Shipyards and build managers — seeking specialist galley design input that their own teams do not cover
• Naval architects and interior designers — requiring coordinated galley design input that integrates with the wider vessel design
• Captains and chief stewardesses — advocating for a galley that will actually work for the culinary team during a refit
• Refit project managers — planning a galley upgrade or full galley replacement within an existing vessel structure

Whether you are specifying a galley for a new 80-metre build at a Northern European shipyard or planning a full galley refit for an existing vessel at a Mediterranean refit yard, our process is the same: thorough, precise and coordinated.

What Our Galley Design Service Includes

• Initial brief, vessel review and design workshop
• Galley workflow analysis and chef ergonomics planning
• Two to three concept layouts with workflow diagrams
• Full equipment specification and selection from 50+ brands
• 2D and 3D galley design drawings to shipyard standard
• Ventilation, extraction and marine HVAC specification
• Electrical load schedule and services coordination drawings
• SOLAS, MCA and flag state compliance review
• Cold storage and provisioning storage design
• Coordination with naval architects, shipyards and interior designers
• On-site installation review and equipment commissioning support

Superyacht Galley Design — Frequently Asked Questions