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In our eyes, there is only one firm rule for attending a dinner party: don’t show up empty-handed! But what to bring other than the boring bottle of wine? Our advice: whatever you bring, let it contribute to the vibe of the night. Turns out, we’re not the only ones that think so. Our friend Kate Pauley of Create Dinners says any good host should ask themselves the following questions:
Taking all of the above into consideration, we’re going to go ahead and just say it — good hosting gifts are gifts that feel intentional, help create a mood or experience, or simply look good while helping you prep for the party.
Here are our favorite vibe-making items for you to gift your favorite hosts this holiday season.
We’re skipping the wine bottle here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still bring a fancy bottle of something — especially if the bottle is a work of art in itself. Your host can decide if they want to break it out for fancy mocktails or save it for later.
If your host dabbles in cooking (they all do, right?) and leans towards the spicier tastes in life, I think they’d really be tickled by a gift of fancy chili sauces. Fly by Jing’s branding is already a chef’s kiss, and their Sichuan sauce trio is next level for any spice lover.
Gifting a book always feels so thoughtful to me. Gifting a cookbook at a dinner party is a thoughtful match made in heaven! Bonus points if the book has a stylish cover like this one.
These napkins are so cute, and I especially love the mismatched patterns. I think this is a gift any host would appreciate.
An opinion from a multi-tasker (me): you can never have too many cutting boards, especially ones that are pleasing to the eye. This professional-grade chopping block from Fredericks and Mae is fun and functional. Your host will think of you every time they dice up a veggie.
Bring a chill after-dinner conversational card game for the host to decide if they want to play. I found this beginner tarot deck in the best shade of pink, claiming tarot is for everyone! I completely agree. Guests can pull a card and Google its meaning. The perfect conversation starter.
Alternatively, if you’re not in a tarot crowd, try a low-stakes card game like The Hygge Game or Our Place’s card game, designed especially for dinner parties.
Everyone uses olive oil. This is a great gift for a host who maybe wouldn’t splurge on it themselves but would still love to have it. Extra perk: It can also be used the night of the dinner.
Candles enhance every vibe. What better way to gaze across the table at your friends than by way of candlelight? Extra points if the candles are fun and colorful. As always, let your host decide if they want to use them night-of, or save them for later.
Let’s be honest, not all salts are created equal! Have you ever met a foodie with a very specific salt preference? I definitely have. Gifting this salt cellar helps your favorite foodie-host put that fancy salt they love so much on display in a special handmade jar.
Help your host commemorate their gathering with Polaroids! If you know that the host has a Polaroid camera, bring them film for their Instax. They can take photos at the party and hand them out as a keepsake for guests. Better yet, if you have a Polaroid camera, snap the night away and gift the photos to the host.
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