It’s easy to forget all the money, time, and prep work that goes into hosting a party or holiday when you’re not the one doing all the cooking (and decorating, and shopping, and seat-chart making, and invitation sending). That being said, you should never show up at your host’s door empty handed. And while a bottle of wine—the standard go-to gift—is a safe bet, there are dozens of other options on the market that’ll guarantee you an invite back next year.
Of course, how much you want to spend on a gift for your host depends on a variety of factors: how well do you know him or her? How big is the event they’re hosting? How much money per plate do you think your host has spent? If you’re visiting for a holiday like Thanksgiving—where stress levels tend to run especially high—consider something that your host can enjoy once their guests have departed, like a relaxing bath oil.
And if you’re particularly close with your host, but all they asked is for you to bring a cake, show your gratitude by presenting it on a keepsake serving stand. Despite what you may think, there’s no such thing as being so close with someone that you should feel comfortable showing up at a dinner sans gift.
To help conjure up ideas beyond the old bottle of Pinot, we asked a variety of entertainers, cooks, and new homeowners what they’d really want to receive from a guest. So scroll through our collection of gift suggestions that will make your host really happy they invited you, below. Fair warning: you may wind up purchasing a few things for yourself, too.
A Himalayan Salt Plank
Charcoal Companion Himalayan Salt Plate and Holder Set (amazon.com, $32), Himalayan Salt BBQ (uncommongoods.com, $30), Himalayan Salt Plate with Holder (williams-sonoma.com, $50)
A Diffuser
Tom Dixon Charcoal Scent Diffuser, Earth (net-a-porter.com, $120), Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Aroma Reeds (moltonbrown.com, $65), Fornasetti Flora Diffusing Sphere (net-a-porter.com, $450), Diptyque Ambre Hourglass Diffuser (net-a-porter.com, $150)
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Jonathan Adler Mohawk Salt and Pepper Shakers (jonathanadler.com, $48), L’Objet Han Salt and Pepper Shakers (bloomingdales.com, $185), Kate Spade New York Hopscotch Drive About Town Buildings Salt and Pepper Set (macys.com, $30)
A Picnic Basket
Picnic Time Bristol Picnic Basket (amazon.com, $60), Best Choice Products 2-Person Wicker Picnic Basket (sears.com, $40), Picnic at Ascot Surrey Picnic Basket for Two (bedbathandbeyond.com, $126)
A Compartmentalized Server
Michael Aram Palm 6-Compartment Server (neimanmarcus.com, $275), Christofle Malmaison Three-Section Server (bloomingdales.com, $880), Arthur Court Designs Antler 3-Tiered Server (bedbathandbeyond.com, $81)
Room Spray
Arquiste For St. Regis: Carolines Four Hundred Room Fragrance (arquiste.com, $85), Cire Trudon Joséphine Room Spray (barneys.com, $190), Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Room Spray (nordstrom.com, $60), Matter & Home Space Clearing Room Spray (net-a-porter.com, $42)
Board Games
Taboo (amazon.com, $15), Monopoly: Game of Thrones Collector’s Edition Board Game (amazon.com, $45), The Game of Life (toysrus.com, $13), Cards Against Humanity (amazon.com, $25)
A Coffee Table Book
In the Spirit Of Rio (net-a-porter.com, $50), 100 Photographs: The Most Influential Images of All Time (shop.time.com, $25), Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders (amazon.com, $26)
A Giant Candle
Diptyque Figuier Large Candle (nordstrom.com, $295), Fornasetti Scimmie Thyme, Lavender, and Cedarwood Scented Candle (net-a-porter.com, $525), Cire Trudon La Grande Bougie, Odelisque (barneys.com, $495), Jo Malone London Lime, Basil, and Mandarin Deluxe Candle (nordstrom.com, $65)
A Garlic Chopper
Casabella Garlic Slicer (amazon.com, $14), Chefn Garlic Zoom Garlic Chopper (amazon.com, $14), Zoom Garlic Chopper (store.moma.org, $10)
A Tiered Serving Stand
Prouna My Honeybee 3-Tier Cake Stand (bloomingdales.com, $400), Michael Aram Enchanted Garden Three-Tier Etagere (neimanmarcus.com, $695), Janice Mirror Petrified Wood Three-Tier Server (neimanmarcus.com, $200), Miranda Kerr for Royal Albert 3-Tiered Sweet Stand (neimanmarcus.com, $115)
Bath Salts or Oil
Susanne Kaufmann Nourishing Herbal Whey Bath (net-a-porter.com, $56), African Botanics Kalahari Desert De-Tox Bath Salts (net-a-porter.com, $75), Herbivore Botanicals ‘Calm’ Bath Salts (nordstrom.com, $18)
A Serving Bowl
Tory Burch Spongeware Serving Bowl (toryburch.com, $128), Michael Aram Enchanted Garden Medium Bowl (neimanmarcus.com, $225), Nambé Bella Platter (amazon.com, $191)
Decorative Coasters
Michael Aram Hammerstone Coaster Set (amazon.com, $99), Stoneware and Crackled Glass Coaster Sets (uncommongoods.com, $32), Tenfold New York Set of Four Marble Coasters in White (theline.com, $45)
A Cheeseboard and Knife Set
Marble Cheese Board Set with Knives (williams-sonoma.com, $180), Michael Aram Dogwood Cheese Board with Knife (neimanmarcus.com, $200)
