21 of the Best Movie Set Kitchens of All Time

There’s nothing quite like pairing a good meal with a good movie. Whether you’re hosting a casual weeknight dinner, throwing together some appetizers for friends, or just cozying up solo, movies always seem to set the mood.

Which got us thinking: Some of the most memorable movie moments don’t just happen in front of the camera—they happen in the kitchen. From Nancy Meyers’s breezy, light-filled dream homes to Nora Ephron’s cozy, food-filled classics, these cinematic kitchens are as iconic as the films themselves.

And the winners are...

1. Practical Magic (1998)

Built on a set in Los Angeles (but set in a Victorian manse in New England), the kitchen in Practical Magic was bewitching. With black plank floors, glossy oversized tiling, and a hearth-like stove where the cauldron would bubble away, it was perfect for a family of witches.

2. Babette's Feast (1987)

Oscar-winning and G-rated, Babette's Feast is the story of a meal that transcends—and the cook Babette whips it up in a dark, humble Danish kitchen that's as memorable as the food.

3. The Holiday (2006)

In The Holiday, there are a few good kitchens—but the one in Kate Winslet's compact Surrey cottage stole our hearts with white stone walls, a tiny stove, powder-blue cabinets, and a fireplace. Yes, a fireplace!

4. It's Complicated (2009)

Bright, uncluttered, and spacious, Meryl Streep's kitchen in It's Complicated is a California dream—from the way it opens into the dining room to the marble-topped table that's used as a workspace.

5. You've Got Mail (1998)

Maybe it was Meg Ryan, or maybe the glass French doors, or more likely the way she used an old desk with a lamp as extra counter space (who hasn't done that?). Either way, her New York City kitchen in You've Got Mail was the I-can-have-that kind of beautiful.

6. Amelie (2001)

Accented in scarlet, sage, and marigold, the kitchen in Amelie gets us by way of nostalgia. It's retro in all the right ways, itty bitty, and with a big window to spy on passerbys.

7. Sabrina (1954)

The kitchen in Sabrina, where the servants prepare food for the Larrabee family and take their humbler meals, is bright, bustling, and expansive—and cheerful enough to remind Audrey Hepburn that the grass might not actually be greener upstairs.

8. Julie & Julia (2009)

There are two great kitchens in this movie—Julia Child's house in Cambridge and Julie Powell's Queens apartment—but we're going to have to award Julia's as the winner, as it was meticulously recreated from pictures of her original space.

9. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

In Roman Polanski's psychological thriller Rosemary's Baby, the interiors of Mia Farrow's New York City apartment are vividly portrayed; the kitchen, with its mustardy appliances, moody glow, and subway tile walls, was disturbingly likable.

10. A Single Man (2009)

Set in the 60s and shot largely in a home designed by John Lautner in California, Tom Ford's award winning A Single Man is remembered for the striking mid-century interiors—not least of which was the ultra-evocative kitchen space.

11. Ratatouille (2007)

With its glossy black and brass accents, tiled floor, and copper pots, the restaurant kitchen in Ratatouille is as fine-tuned as its chefs.

12. Chocolat (2000)

The workspace in Vianne's controversial chocolaterie is exactly how we'd like our pied-a-terre to feel once we find one to escape to in France: an oversized farm table for working on, warm lighting, and open shelves with everything we need.

13. Gosford Park (2001)

The film that inspired the TV series Downtown Abbey, Gosford Park is set in an English country house in the 1930s. The kitchen, all glistening subway tile and tall order, is a glamorous glimpse into servants' domains of that time and place.

14. The Parent Trap (1998)

This photo doesn’t quite capture it, but the Napa wine country kitchen in The Parent Trap is unforgettable. Leave it to Nancy Meyers to give us yet another dream space—complete with blue cabinetry, rustic wood beams, and wine bottles always at the ready. It’s the kind of kitchen that makes you want to linger over a glass of Chardonnay while something bubbles away on the stove.

15. Downton Abbey (2019)

Okay, technically Downton Abbey started as a show, but since it made the leap to the big screen (with another film on the way this fall), it feels right to revisit. Every time we watch the kitchen scenes—with Mrs. Patmore commanding the space and the staff buzzing around—we want to roll up our sleeves, chop some vegetables, and simmer a big pot of soup alongside her.

16. This Is 40 (2012)

Judd Apatow knows his way around a movie kitchen, too. This one might be a bit more pared back compared to the Nancy Meyers level of extravagance, but it nails that lived-in, sunny feel. The dark wooden stools give it warmth, and the breakfast scene in particular makes you wish you could pull up a seat and pour yourself some coffee.

17. The Taste of Things (2023)

Word is that nearly every dish in this film was the real deal—no trick shots or stand-ins. That commitment to authenticity carries through to the kitchen, which feels wonderfully rustic and lived-in. From the worn wood tables to the collection of vintage cookware (all of which we’d happily take home), it’s a space that proves practicality and beauty can share the same frame.

18. The Intern (2015)

Yes, it’s another Nancy Meyers kitchen—but this one feels a bit more modernized. Anne Hathaway’s character’s space is all clean lines, bright light, and effortless charm. It’s the kind of kitchen that makes you wonder: how do I get this level of airy, suburban elegance inside a New York City brownstone?

19. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Like Downton Abbey, Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel gives us a bustling commercial kitchen worth swooning over. Every frame is meticulous, but the real draw is the patisserie-worthy setup: copper pans gleaming, trays lined with pastries, and that irresistible urge to grab a piping bag and join in on the confections. It’s part kitchen, part candy-colored dream.

20. Lady Bird (2017)

Shoutout to Greta Gerwig: her eye for detail extends to the homes she grew up in. Lady Bird’s un-renovated 1950s-style ranch in Van Nuys, California, features a floor plan and yellow-tiled kitchen that’s apparently identical to Gerwig’s own childhood home. It’s charmingly lived-in, sunlit, and perfectly imperfect.

21. 20th Century Women (2016)

This one sticks with us every time. The kitchen in 20th Century Women is a feast for the eyes: turquoise tile, a matching turquoise oven, yellow cabinetry, and a lovely wooden table that invites conversation and cooking alike. It’s cozy, cheerful, and effortlessly lived-in.

This story was originally published in 2016 but updated in 2025 to include even more beautiful kitchens from the films we love.