The Best Host and Hostess Gifts Our Editors Love to Give

Collage showing a wine bottle in a marble holder glasses and snacks a potted plant and earrings — Credit:
Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma, The Sill, Tuckernuck

Whether it's a Friday night dinner or a holiday soirée, it's good etiquette to bring your host a gift. And while his or her go-to bottle of wine is always appreciated, it's fun to get a little creative with your gift selection. Your host is a natural entertainer, one who is not just the source of the party but the heartbeat of it, too.

For example, you could try entertaining-focused gifts they can use at their next event (think embroidered napkins or a stunning cake stand) or elevated presents to pull out after the party has ended (like a sophisticated scented candle or piece of home decor). Any of these thoughtful gifts will delight and serve as a token of your gratitude.

01 of 26

Anthropologie Fluted Taper Candles

multiple colored, fluted tapered candles on a grey background — Courtesy of Anthropologie

Tall, statement-making taper candles add a sophisticated touch to any table or mantel, and your host will love that these candles feature an elegant fluted design.

$30 at Anthropologie

02 of 26

Tuckernuck Home Cream and Rattan Beaded Napkin Ring Set

3 Rattan Beaded Napkin Rings on a green background — Courtesy of Tuckernuck

This set of four stylish napkin rings will add an elevated flair to your host's arsenal of entertaining essentials. The neutral colors fit with most aesthetics, and the beading adds a touch of whimsey.

$48

$29 at Tnuck.com

03 of 26

Williams-Sonoma Original Peppermint Bark

red tin of peppermint bark on a pink background — Courtesy of

A tin of beautifully packaged peppermint bark is almost always well-received. The popular host gift from Williams-Sonoma is made from custom-blended Guittard chocolate and double-distilled peppermint oil.

$35 at Williams-Sonoma

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Coral & Tusk Arctic Tree Tea Towel

The embroidered goods from Coral & Tusk will make any host smile! They are delightful and whimsical and so beautifully crafted. We love a selection like this tea towel, which would be ridiculously charming wrapped around a bottle of bubbly.

$52 at Coralandtusk.com

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Ten Thousand Villages Bowl of Berries Colander

How darling is this handcrafted colander for berries? Made in Nepal by fairly-paid artisans, it’s the perfect size for cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and more.

$45 at Tenthousandvillages.com

06 of 26

The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails

With a whopping 10,000 reviews on Amazon and a near-perfect rating, this cocktail book is a safe bet for hosts with home bars. It’s beautifully bound and chock-full of recipes, tips, and more.

$14 at Amazon

07 of 26

Grounds and Hounds Rescue Roast Coffee

The aromatic scent of coffee—and that soft, smooth taste—will definitely be a gift your host appreciates. As a bonus, 100 percent of all profits generated by Rescue Roast Blend are donated to a new pet rescue organization each month.

$17 at Groundsandhoundscoffee.com

08 of 26

The Sill Olive Tree

Flowers are a perfect pick when walking into a host’s home, but why not switch things up a bit with a plant? This gorgeous olive tree from The Sill comes in an earthy pot available in black, cream, blue, green, and stone white.

$80 at Thesill.com

09 of 26

Hawkins New York Brass Soap Stand

Hawkins New York Soap Stand — Courtesy of Hawkins New York

Take the soap bar in your host's guest bathroom to new heights with this brass holder, which works across multiple design aesthetics.

$24 at Hawkinsnewyork.com

10 of 26

Joanna Buchanan Gold Trim Dinner Napkins (2)

This sophisticated duet of hand towels from Joanna Buchanan adds the perfect touch to any dinner for two. Along with duck blue, the brand has many other colors to choose from.

$56 at Joannabuchanan.com

11 of 26

Dear Annabelle Superlative Place Cards

At your host's next dinner party, expect to sit down and find "Best Gift Giver" on your superlative place card.

$60 at Dearannabelle.com

12 of 26

Williams Sonoma Marble Wine Chiller

Give their bar cart an upgrade with this sleek marble wine chiller that looks as good empty as it does doing its job.

$70 at Williams-Sonoma

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Aesop Aromatique Room Spray

Infuse your host's home with notes of geranium, incense, and patchouli by way of this room spray; the fragrance lasts for hours.

$66 at Nordstrom

14 of 26

Brass Monkey Incredibly Pointless Trivia

Show up with this fun trivia game, and you might just be the life of the party. The deck includes 200 trivia questions and is meant to slightly mislead you on the answer.

$14 at Amazon

15 of 26

Jane Austen's Table: Recipes Inspired by the Works of Jane Austen

cover of jane austin cookbook — Morgan LIbrary

For the host with a taste for the Regency era, this pretty collection of more than 50 recipes inspired by the novels of Jane Austen will bring their Mr Darcy (or Elizabeth Bennet!) dreams to fruition. Think recipes like Charles Bingley’s White Soup, Box Hill Picnic Pies, General Tilney’s Hot Chocolate, and Donwell Abbey Strawberry and Rose Delice.

$20 at Themorgan.org

16 of 26

18 Chestnuts Plant Based Soup Trio

No time to whip up some homemade soup to bring to your party host? Opt for the next best thing. This gourmet trio from 18 Chestnuts includes Carrot Ginger Dill, Tuscan Tomato, and Butternut Squash Pear Soup—all packaged in tall slender jars.

$44 at Amazon

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Skeem Glass Match Cloche with Striker

If your host is a candle lover, there’s a good chance they’ve already got a nice stash to work from. Consider, instead, this gorgeous cloche for their matches.

$36 at Amazon

18 of 26

Leaves of Leisure The Four Seasons Tea Bundle

This delicious tea set from Leaves of Leisure includes a batch of teas for every season: Autumn Breeze, Snow Angel, Picnic in the Park, and Sun Soaked. Each includes 15 tea bags housed in a beautifully illustrated, durable paper container.

$79 at Leavesofleisure.com

19 of 26

Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil "The Gift Set"

A gorgeous olive oil gift set is one your giftee will reach for over and over again—especially if it’s a high-quality version like this one from Graza. The set comes with a cooking and drizzle-worthy extra virgin olive oil.

$42 at Graza.co

20 of 26

Icelandic Elements Sea Salt Collection

Salt is a must for everything you do in the kitchen—eggs, vegetables, meats, casseroles, and even desserts. This beautiful quartet from Icelandic Elements features four salts from the island, including Birch Smoked, Arctic Thyme, Flaky Sea Salt, and Lava Salt.

$45 at Uncommon Goods

21 of 26

Harry & David Snack Lovers Gift Box

You’ll be well-greeted when your host opens up the door seeing you holding a yummy snack box. Caramel popcorn, sausages, cheese, nuts, and mixed nuts is included in this set from Harry & David.

$50 at Harry & David

22 of 26

FinaMill Battery-Operated Pepper Mill & Spice Grinder

This fancy pepper and spice grinder has been making the waves on social media, largely because it makes cooking and seasoning easier and more fun. It uniquely allows you to swap and grind different spices with just one hand.

$69 at Amazon

23 of 26

Hotel Lobby Candle

Candles are a great host gift, but picking the perfect scent can be a little tricky since everyone has their own preferences. One inspired by a high-end hotel lobby, however, is bound to satisfy all tastes.

$58 at Neiman Marcus

24 of 26

Pure Enrichment PureGlow Crystal Himalayan Salt Lamp and Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser

Here’s a simple way to add a dollop of ambience to your giftee’s space. This two-in-one diffuser features beautiful himalayan salt at the bottom that softly glows while emitting a fine mist of fragrance.

$70 at Amazon

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FEBU Swedish Dishcloths

These reusable—and compostable!—dish towels look way nicer than any paper towel roll ever could.

$17 at Amazon

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Grown Alchemist Hand Wash in Sweet Orange, Cedarwood, Sage

This gentle hand wash is the perfect gift for the host who appreciates
an aesthetically pleasing bathroom. The sleek bottle looks great next to
the sink, and the formula—a blend of sweet orange, cedarwood, and
sage—will have users' hands smelling fresh and feeling clean.

$39 at Grownalchemist.com