Outdoor kitchen with a canopy or pergola – ideas and solutions for the garden

In many Bulgarian homes summer happens in the garden: a barbecue on Saturday, lunch in the shade, long evenings with friends. An outdoor kitchen under a canopy brings all of that into one place. People call it a summer kitchen, a covered barbecue area or a garden dining spot. In this article we share practical ideas and solutions: where to put it, which roof, how to keep the fire safe and what to plan from the start.

What kind of outdoor kitchen do you need?

Start from your habits, not from pictures online. How many people usually sit at the table? Do you really cook outside or mostly grill? Do you want to have dinner there in September and October too? The answers decide the size, the roof and whether the sides are open or closed.

• Barbecue and dining area – grill, worktop and table under a roof. The simplest and most common solution.
• Full outdoor kitchen – sink with water, prep worktop, fridge, storage. Needs water, drainage and power.
• An enclosed room for the season – a garden kitchen or dining room with glass walls, used from spring to autumn.

Where to put it in the garden

1. Close to the kitchen indoors. The less you carry plates and food, the more you will use it. A canopy attached to the house is the most convenient.
2. Wind and smoke direction. Think about where the barbecue smoke will go: to your windows, the neighbour's or into the garden.
3. Afternoon sun. Western sun is the most annoying at dinner time. A solid roof, louvres or side screens help.
4. Access to water and power. The further from the house, the longer the pipes and cables.
5. Distance to the boundary. There are rules on how close structures may be to the neighbouring plot. Check with the municipality what applies to you. See also whether a canopy needs a permit.

Canopy or pergola: which roof for an outdoor kitchen?

For an outdoor kitchen the roof should keep off rain, give shade and let heat and smoke escape. The main options:

• Canopy with a solid roof (panels). Full shade, quiet in rain, does not heat up much. A good choice over the grill and worktop.
• Pergola or veranda with a glass or polycarbonate roof. More light over the table. Under a clear roof it gets warm in summer, so shading is a good idea.
• Bioclimatic pergola with movable louvres. Open the louvres when you grill or when it is hot, close them in rain. More in bioclimatic or classic pergola.

For a comparison of roof materials, see terrace roof: glass, polycarbonate or louvres. You can also try sizes and roof types in our 3D configurator.

A barbecue under a canopy: safety first

This is the most important part. Fire and roof are planned together, rather than squeezing the barbecue in later.

• Chimney and distance. A masonry barbecue or oven needs a chimney that takes the smoke above or away from the roof. Do not put an open fire directly under a low roof.
• Polycarbonate does not like heat. Close to fire and hot smoke the sheets can deform. Better to have no polycarbonate right above the fire.
• Non-combustible materials around the fire. Worktop, floor and wall around the grill in stone, concrete, ceramic or metal.
• Gas or electric barbecue. Follow the manufacturer's clearances to the roof and walls and the ventilation guidance.
• Fire extinguisher or fire blanket. Cheap, and worth keeping at hand.

Outdoor kitchen with sliding doors

If you want to use the kitchen in wind and on cool evenings, the sides can be glazed. Sliding glass systems slide away completely in summer and close the space in spring and autumn. The canopy becomes a light summer garden. A cheaper alternative against wind and sun is ZIP screens. We explain which glass suits in frameless glazing: pros and cons.

If you want it warm in winter too, it is no longer a summer kitchen but a winter garden with insulated glass. The difference is explained in pergola or winter garden.

Water, power and floor: what to plan from the start

• Water and drainage. A sink needs a supply and a drain. Think about how the water will be drained before winter so it does not freeze.
• Power. Sockets for a fridge, hob or grill and lighting. Outdoor wiring should be done by a qualified electrician with outdoor-rated sockets.
• Lighting. Lights over the worktop and the table. Cables are best run before the roof is installed.
• Floor. Non-slip tiles or stone with a slight fall so water drains. The floor should be finished, or at least level, before the posts go in.
• Roof drainage. Water from the gutter should be led away from the worktop and the path.

Garden canopy ideas

1. Canopy against the house with a barbecue at the end. A solid roof over the worktop, glass or polycarbonate over the table, the barbecue at the side with a chimney.
2. Freestanding pergola at the end of the garden. A separate spot away from the house, with a table, lights and plants around the edge.
3. Louvred pergola over the table. Shade by day, open sky in the evening.
4. Enclosed summer kitchen. A canopy with sliding glass on three sides, comfortable even in wind.
5. Combined with a carport. When space is tight, one roof can cover both the car and a seating area. See our carports.

What the price of an outdoor kitchen depends on

The price of the canopy or pergola depends on size, roof type, number of posts, wall-mounted or freestanding, side walls or screens, lighting and preparation of the base. The barbecue, worktop, water and power are a separate part, often done by other trades. It is best to plan everything together. Ask for a quote for the canopy or pergola and we will tell you what needs to be ready before installation.

Take a look at our pergolas and aluminium verandas. We work from our showroom in Ruse, across North-East Bulgaria and the whole country. An outdoor kitchen is best planned in winter and spring so it is ready for the season. Book a free site visit: we will come, look at the garden and discuss where and with which roof it will work best.