The 63 Best Hostess Gifts of 2025 for the Avid Entertainer

We all love the avid entertainer—that friend who cooks the most delicious food, owns the most gorgeous tableware, and generally has the art of hosting down to a science. Given her impeccable taste, it can be a little intimidating to buy a present for your life’s resident Martha Stewart, but that’s where the best hostess gifts come in.

As someone who loves to cook and entertain—and the daughter of the ultimate hostess (my mother is an event planner by day and an absolute legend in the kitchen by night)—I have given and received many gifts over the years to aid in the art of hosting. Below, I’ve rounded up some of my favorites. Each of these suggestions focuses on both form and function. After all, the best presents are ones that are both useful and beautiful—things that are practical but just a smidge nicer than you’d ever buy for yourself.

Whether you’re attending a holiday gathering, an intimate dinner party, or a cocktail soirée, this guide has you covered. You can even take many of these options a step further and add a personal touch. From Flamingo Estate’s personalized olive oil to Lazy Jamie’s engraving service and Sabre’s customization feature, there are so many ways to give something special and show how much you really care.

Serveware

If I’ve learned anything from watching hours of Chopped, it’s that presentation matters. Plating and serving your food with beautiful utensils and platters is a fabulous way to elevate your dining experience. From caviar spoons to elegant platters, these versatile pieces are bound to be used again and again.

Sabre Bistrot Set of 4 Serving Pieces

Pottery & Poetry Porcelain Tray

Porta Giorgia Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker

Lazy Jamie Picky Bits Cheese Knife Set

Gohar Mother-of-Pearl Spoons

Mervyn Gers Ceramic Cake Stand

Barware

If you’re shopping for a cocktail expert, why not help stock her bar with accessories? You can never go wrong with gorgeous glassware, a tasty aperitif, or stylish bartending tools.

Gohar Lemon Squeezer Trio

JW Anderson Full Murrina Jug

Sophie Lou Jacobsen Tulip Wineglasses

Carl Auböck Hand Brass Bottle Opener

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritifs

Gohar Silver-Plated Cocktail Picks

Georg Jensen Sky 3-Piece Gift Set

For the Tabletop

Ambiance, anyone? Set the mood with festive table decor that will add some flair to the dining room. Whether you’re setting a stylish dining table or dressing up a coffee table, these unique pieces are sure to leave an impression.

Biagio Barile Waves Wood Inlay Tray

Edie Parker Glass Tabletop Lighter

Now 25% Off

Georg Jensen Cobra Candleholder Set

Bottega Veneta Intreccio Foulard Basket

The Glass Studio Marbled Hand-Blown Vase

H&M Glass Tea Light Holder

Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Candle

Games

Give the gift of entertainment with these elevated games. A chic backgammon or chess set is always a welcome treat, and these Eames-inspired playing cards are perfect for the design lover in your life. If you’re looking for something more unique, Liberty wooden puzzles are the most special treasure.

Art of Play Eames Kite Playing Cards

Forwood Design Faux-Shagreen Travel Backgammon Set

Liberty Puzzles Spanish Coast Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

Giobagnara Parma Leather Dominoes Set

Printworks Tumbling Towers

Elevated Pantry Picks

For the friend who loves to cook, you can never go wrong with fancier versions of everyday ingredients. You can even pair these grocery gifts with a vessel to put them in. Give the finishing-salt set along with a salt bowl or the olive oil with a glass dispenser. The combinations are endless.

Flamingo Estate Personalized Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fly by Jing Set of Chili Sauces

Fishwife Holiday Gift Set

Brightland Balsamic & Champagne Vinegar Duo

Bona Furtuna Taste of Trapani Pasta Kit

Cheerie Lane Big Sur Bakery Caramel Corn

Gelée Holiday Cadeau de Gelée

Cookware

Finesse any kitchen routine with the gift of premium tools. I’m often serving food straight out of the pot or pan and typically opt for versatile pieces that are both beautiful and functional. I mean, have you ever met anyone who didn’t want a Le Creuset Dutch oven?

Le Creuset Cast Iron Braiser

Great Jones Holy Sheet

Now 25% Off

Alessi 9093 Kettle

Now 19% Off

Great Jones King Sear Cast-Iron Skillet

Now 28% Off

Printworks Sushi Tools Essentials

Material Kitchen Resting Stone

Now 20% Off

Material Kitchen Salt Sphere

Cookbooks

Whether your giftee is a home cook looking to elevate her craft or a cocktail connoisseur, these reads are the perfect addition to any cookbook shelf or coffee table. Alison Roman and Lindsey Baruch’s cookbooks are some of my favorite new releases of the year when I’m looking for recipe inspiration.

Something from Nothing: A Cookbook

Now 16% Off

That Sounds So Good: 100 Real-Life Recipes for Every Day of the Week

Now 52% Off

Something Delicious: 100 Recipes for Everyday Cooking

Now 29% Off

By Heart: Recipes to Hold Near and Dear

Now 43% Off

Flamingo Estate: The Guide to Becoming Alive

Now 42% Off

Win Son Presents a Taiwanese American Cookbook