Perhaps the duties of cooking and entertaining don’t come instantly to mind when you think of vacationing. But take a look at some of these gorgeous vacation kitchens from resorts and villas and you might feel a bit more inclined to spend hours lingering in the kitchen. Perfect for preparing meals and appetizers using fresh local ingredients or unwinding with friends over cocktails, these spaces allow you to enjoy kitchen comfort with the luxurious indulgence that most of us only allow ourselves on holiday.

Palmasola in Punta Mita

This ample and luxurious kitchen is part of Palmasola, a lavish private beach front estate located in the Punta Mita gated community and destination resort in Mexico. Fully equipped with professional  appliances, including Sub-Zero and Viking appliances. There’s enough room here to prepare a gourmet meal for a crowd or simply gather for margaritas while overlooking the pool deck. The prep sink on the nearest island is perfect for preparing drinks, washing fruits and vegetables or filling pots without ever having that “too many cooks in the kitchen” feel. If your idea of luxury is having a kitchen you can really work magic in while still remaining social, this is the place for you.

Villa Lilly in Italy

Old world charm resonates through this beautifully tiled Italian kitchen located in Villa Lilly. The sconce lighting delicately illuminates this bright kitchen that gets most of its radiance from the outdoors and all of its ambiance from the crashing waves of the Tyrrhenian sea, gently cresting over the cliffs just outside the arched doorway. Plenty of counter space and a lovely and functional double kitchen sink, perfect for rinsing fresh fruits from one of the nearby orchards. You’ll feel at home here–especially if you’re an old soul.

Thousand Waves in Maui

Modern comfort in  a tropical paradise–that’s what you’ll get in the kitchen of Thousand Waves, a Maui beach front property. Wow your family and friends on vacation as you weave deftly through the culinary amenities of this spacious kitchen. The hood helps spirit away the heat and steam from a succulent dish on the stove while allowing the aromas of fresh fish, grilled pineapple and other fresh tropical delicacies to waft among  your guests and their cocktails like a luminous, charismatic party guest. Perfect for breakfast, late night Mai Tais or a home cooked Hawaiian feast.

Casa La Laguna

Who can stand to spend a second indoors when you’re in beautiful Los Cabos, Mexico? The designers of this outdoor kitchen had the same thought when they created this wet bar/grill at Casa La Laguna. The long, arching single hole faucet is perfect for filling pitchers or rinsing the last crystals of salt from the rims of tall, crystalline glasses.With cool breezes rolling off the Pacific Ocean and the flavor of a freshly grilled Mahi Mahi lingering on the palate, this kitchen could only exist in paradise. As the sun sets, the hanging lights cast the bar in a soft glow so you can enjoy sipping margaritas long into the night.

Chateau Des Anges

This country kitchen with elegantly carved wooden cabinets and sunlight pouring in from the courtyard is just one of the reasons to love the French Riviera. The Chateau Des Anges is a true country manor, with its luxury amenities inflected through a rustic comfort that will make you forget about everything save for the serene. The antique chandelier bathes the modern appliances in a soft, soothing luminance as night creeps over this cozy kitchen that’s as comfortable to cook in as it is to relax over an aromatic French roast or a Provencal rosé.

We hope that these faraway retreats haven’t left your imagination too deeply entrenched in fantasy. Eventually you have to come home. And while you can’t bring the sea spray and the sun home with you, you can dress your own kitchen in the same lavish luxury that you experienced on vacation.