Built-in BBQ islands · Bars · Pergolas & ramadas · Fire features
Outdoor Kitchens in Phoenix, AZ
An outdoor kitchen turns your pool deck into the best room in the house. We design and build built-in grills, bars, shade, and fire features as part of one coordinated pool and backyard remodel — so the whole space works together and looks like it was always meant to be there.
In Phoenix, the backyard is where life happens for eight months of the year. An outdoor kitchen lets you grill, cook, and entertain poolside without running in and out of the house — and it keeps the heat of cooking outside where it belongs. Done as part of a pool or complete backyard remodel, it is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make to how your home lives and what it is worth.
What goes into a Phoenix outdoor kitchen
An outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a built-in grill in a stone island, or a full outdoor living suite with a bar, refrigeration, a pizza oven, shade, and a fire feature. Because we build pools, decks, and backyards together, we design the kitchen to sit right with your pool, shade structures, and pool features instead of looking bolted on after the fact. Popular elements include:
- Built-in BBQ islands — gas or charcoal grills set into masonry or stucco islands.
- Bars & swim-up bars — seating counters, poolside bars, and under-counter coolers.
- Pergolas & ramadas — shade over the cooking and dining zone so it is usable in summer.
- Fire features — fire pits, fire bowls, and fireplaces for cool desert evenings.
- Refrigeration & storage — outdoor fridges, ice bins, drawers, and weatherproof cabinets.
- Countertops & finishes — stone, tile, and concrete surfaces that stand up to the sun.
We Fix Ugly Pools® has been a family-owned Phoenix contractor since 2001, with 20,000+ pools built and renovated and 700+ projects a year. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured Arizona contractor (ROC KA5-275609 residential, KB2-304269 commercial, and KA5-353555).
Outdoor kitchen features we build
Built-in BBQ islands
Gas or charcoal grills set into durable masonry islands with prep space and storage.
Bars & swim-up bars
Seating counters, poolside bars, and swim-up bars with under-counter coolers.
Pergolas & ramadas
Shade over the kitchen and dining zone so it stays usable through the Arizona summer.
Fire features
Fire pits, fire bowls, and fireplaces that extend the evening into the cooler months.
Refrigeration & storage
Outdoor fridges, ice bins, drawers, and weatherproof cabinetry that handles the heat.
Countertops & finishes
Stone, tile, and concrete surfaces built to resist sun, heat, and hard water.
One team for the pool, deck, and kitchen
When the pool, the decking, the shade, and the kitchen are designed and built together, the finishes line up and the project moves faster. That is the difference between an outdoor kitchen that looks planned and one that looks added on. Explore our before & after transformations »
Part of a pool or backyard remodel
Most of our outdoor kitchens are built alongside a pool remodel, a luxury custom pool, or a full backyard makeover. Building them together means a single design, one crew, and decking, coping, and kitchen materials that match instead of clashing.
It is also the smart way to budget. You mobilize once, trench utilities once, and pour concrete once — so the kitchen costs less as part of a larger scope than it would as a standalone add-on later. Our designers help you sequence the work so the backyard comes together as one finished space.
How we design and build your outdoor kitchen
Design consultation
We look at your yard, how you entertain, and your budget, then lay out the kitchen, shade, and fire features.
Plan & written quote
A clear design and itemized quote covering grill, bar, utilities, finishes, and any shade structures.
Build & utilities
Gas, water, and electrical are run, masonry islands are set, and surfaces and appliances are installed.
Finish & walkthrough
Countertops, finishes, and fire features are completed and we walk the finished space with you.
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Phoenix?
Every outdoor kitchen is quoted after a design consultation, because the price depends on the size of the island, the appliances you choose, how far utilities have to run, and the shade and fire features you add. As a frame of reference, when outdoor living features are built as part of a pool remodel, the features, equipment, and decking tier of our projects commonly runs $15,000–$30,000, and more extensive backyard build-outs run $30,000+. A simple built-in grill island is a smaller add; a full outdoor living suite with a bar, refrigeration, a ramada, and a fireplace sits at the higher end.
Decking and hardscape around the kitchen are handled by our sister division, We Fix Ugly Concrete. As a market reference for 2026, Phoenix deck surfaces run roughly $17–$26/sq ft for travertine, $22–$30/sq ft for porcelain pavers, $20–$30/sq ft for flagstone and natural stone, and $7–$15/sq ft for a stamped concrete overlay. We will give you one combined plan so the kitchen and the deck are priced and built together.
Materials that survive the Arizona sun
An outdoor kitchen in Phoenix has to handle 115° heat, intense UV, and hard water. We build islands from masonry and stucco rather than materials that warp or fade, and we choose stone, tile, and concrete countertops that resist sun and staining. Stainless appliances are rated for outdoor use so they hold up season after season.
Shade is not optional here — it is what makes the kitchen usable in summer. Pairing the cooking zone with a pergola, ramada, or gazebo keeps the space comfortable, protects your appliances, and lets you actually use the kitchen when it is hottest.
Outdoor kitchen ideas for Phoenix backyards
The best outdoor kitchens are built around how you actually use the backyard. If you host big weekend cookouts, a long bar with seating on the pool side keeps guests in the conversation while you grill. If it is mostly family dinners, a compact island with a grill, a side burner, and a small fridge may be all you need — paired with a shaded dining table under a ramada. Entertainers who like to cook often add a pizza oven, a kegerator or beverage center, and a second prep zone so two people can work without crowding.
Layout matters as much as the appliances. We position the cooking zone so smoke blows away from seating, keep the bar within easy reach of the pool, and leave clear walking paths between the house, the kitchen, and the water. A fire feature at the edge of the patio gives the space a natural gathering point once the sun goes down, and tying the kitchen into a custom pool with a spillover spa or water feature makes the whole backyard feel like one resort-style room.
Because We Fix Ugly Pools designs the pool, the decking, the shade structures, and the kitchen together, every element is scaled to your yard and your budget — so nothing feels cramped and nothing feels tacked on. Our designers will show you a plan that fits the space before any concrete is poured.
As seen in the news
Recognized across Arizona & national media
We Fix Ugly Pools and owner Brian Morris, “the Ugly Pool Guy,” hold a world record for the fastest pool build and have been featured by national and Arizona outlets, including as expert pool columnists for The Arizona Republic.
“They completely transformed our backyard. The crew was professional, the finish is gorgeous, and it’s held up beautifully in the Arizona heat. Worth every penny.”
Why homeowners choose us for outdoor kitchens
- One team for the whole backyard. Pool, deck, shade, and kitchen designed and built together.
- Licensed & insured. Arizona ROC KA5-275609, KB2-304269, and KA5-353555, bonded and insured.
- Built for the heat. Masonry, stone, and outdoor-rated appliances that survive the Valley sun.
- Designers, not just builders. We plan the space around how you cook and entertain.
- 700+ projects a year. Deep experience across Phoenix-metro backyards.
- 4.9 stars from 305+ homeowners. Serving the Valley since 2001.
Ready to design your outdoor kitchen?
Get a free design consultation and a clear, written quote for your pool, deck, and kitchen as one project.