What to Buy for the Perfect Host or Hostess Gift

Offering a host or hostess gift is the perfect way to show appreciation for your friend or family member’s hospitality. So whether you’re attending a festive housewarming party or an upscale dinner soirée, make sure you don’t arrive empty-handed! As we know, gift giving is often easier said than done. So if you need a little inspiration, here are some ideas (both practical and fun!) that we love:

• A nice bottle of alcohol from a local distillery
• An assortment of gourmet seasoning blends, culinary salts, or peppercorns (like these options from Mountain Rose Herbs’ epicurean line)
• Fun drinking glasses (bonus points if they have flamingos)
• A bottle of infused olive oil or balsamic vinegar (like these from Sotto Voce)
• A cute little box of macarons or truffles
• Decorative soap that’s almost too pretty to use (like this box set by Claus Porto)
• A designer candle (like one of these Jo Malone or Brooklyn Candle Studio options)
• A nice bottle of wine or champagne
• One of those fancy Rabbit wine openers (because who wouldn’t want this?)
• Gourmet coffee or tea
• The ultimate resource for creating a next-level bar setup (The Art of the Bar Cart by Vanessa Dina)

Ultimately, we recommend aiming for a gift that you know your hosts will love, but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. If you’re still stuck (or just running low on time!), keep in mind that no one is going to be upset about receiving a vase of flowers or a cute potted plant.