The text arrives, breezy and benign: “So excited for tomorrow! Come at 8ish?”
You reply, “Can’t wait! What can I bring?” to which your host answers, “Nothing but yourself!”
It’s the most familiar lie in modern hospitality, because of course you’re going to bring something. Turning up empty-handed isn’t just ungracious, it’s unthinkable.
But gifting at a dinner party is a tightrope act. Bring too little and you risk looking thoughtless. Bring too much, and suddenly it’s less of a contribution and more of a performance. The sweet spot is somewhere between charming and considered, generous but not overwhelming — the gifting equivalent of knowing when to leave (without having to be asked).
When you enter your late twenties and early thirties, dinner party etiquette shifts. We must graduate from bringing along a bottle of Smirnoff or a packet of tortilla chips, to a well-chosen bottle of wine or a luxe bottle of olive oil.
The host has already done the lion’s share of labour: from curating a menu that suits the entire group’s very particular dietary needs, to planning cooking times, pre-mixing fancy cocktails and putting together a playlist which moves seamlessly from welcoming Bossa Nova to sing-along classics as the night moves on. The least you can do is turn up with something that says, “thank you” and also, ideally, “I have taste.”
Every dinner party host is different. Some value tablescaping and would welcome the addition of new cloth napkins with matching rings. Others have a more light-hearted and industrial approach to the art of hosting a dinner party that involves serving a hearty array of dishes buffet-style – in which case, a decent set of serving spoons or an extra-large casserole dish might suit.
Whether you’re heading to a chic supper in Dalston, a Sunday roast in Barnes, or a pasta night in a flat that still uses an ironing board as a side table, here’s what to bring to the table — and what to leave firmly on the shelf.
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Homeware and accessories
Marin Montagut The Baguette Tray
Hand-painted in Paris and crafted from tin, this tray by Marin Montagut turns a humble loaf into a centrepiece.
Designed to cradle a full baguette, it’s charmingly specific but surprisingly versatile. Use it for bread, obviously, but also as a platform for cheese, aperitivo bits or a stack of candles.
A beautiful gift for anyone who hosts with theatrical flair or simply has strong feelings about good bread.
Buy now £125.00, Liberty
Oka Vaserely Salt and Pepper Shakers Pair
Elegant and pleasingly weighty, these salt and pepper shakers from Oka are a step up from the usual tableware.
Inspired by classic ceramic forms, their curved silhouette adds subtle interest without shouting for attention. They’re the sort of practical gift that gets daily use but still feels considered — ideal for a host who appreciates detail and doesn’t need another bottle of wine.
Buy now £30.00, Oka
The White Company Larton Scalloped Marble Bowl
This marble bowl strikes a rare balance: it’s solid and sculptural, but never showy. The scalloped edge gives it a softness that makes it feel at home on a side table, console or dining setting. Use it for olives, matches, keys or nothing at all.
Buy now £45.00, The White Company
Addison Ross Rechargeable Bobbin LED Lamp
A clever blend of form and function, this rechargeable LED lamp adds a pop of colour and soft, cordless light to any table or corner. The bobbin base keeps things playful, while the dimmable bulb makes it endlessly useful. It’s the kind of gift that ends up migrating from room to room and is perfect for hosts who enjoy lighting as part of the evening’s architecture.
Buy now £125.00, Addison Ross
Miro Pink Spiral Stripe Vase
A cheerful, lightweight vase that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The candy-pink spiral is bold but not brash, and the shape is just right for a few stems; a sprig of rosemary, perhaps, or the remnants of yesterday’s bouquet. At £22, it’s a smart choice for informal dinners or as an add-on to a bunch of handpicked flowers.
Buy now £22.00, Daylesford
Not Another Bill x Compton Marbling Personalised Guest Books
These handmade guest books are a nod to the tradition of proper hosting – think weekend stays, milestone dinners, or the sort of parties that deserve to be remembered.
Bound in marbled paper with the option to personalise, they’re quietly luxurious and completely unique.
A generous gift for someone who takes hosting seriously, or simply enjoys a touch of old-world charm on the sideboard.
Buy now £75.00, Not Another Bill
Diptyque Baies Candle 190g
One of luxury French fragrance brand Diptyque’s best selling scents, the Baies candle has a fresh fragrance, with notes of blackcurrant and Bulgarian rose, that would enhance any household. In a masculine black hand-blown glass jar, it’s the larger size that has a burning time of 60 hours.
Buy now £58.00, Space NK
Axel Vervoordt: Portraits of Interiors
Known for his art and antique dealing empire, as well as his impressive interior design, Axel Vervoordt is a Belgian entrepreneur worth knowing about - as proven by this beautiful collection of his eighteen recently designed houses. By incorporating nature, art and timelessness, he encourages self-reflection and positivity.
Buy now £42.30, Amazon
Food and drink
The Tinned Fish Society Ibarra Selection
Tinned fish has gone gourmet, and this curated box proves it. It comprises a selection from Spain’s legendary Ibarra cannery, beautifully packaged and ready for a tapas spread. Think sardines in olive oil, razor clams, and tuna belly — rich, briny, and ready to impress. Ideal for food-forward hosts or anyone who enjoys turning a last-minute nibble into something celebratory.
Buy now £45.00, The Tinned Fish Society
Lady A Rosé Magnum
The signature rosé at Soho House, the revered members’ club, Lady A is hot on the heels of Whispering Angel as the pink to sink this summer. It’s made in Provence, like the latter, while the bottle is famously emblazoned with a butterfly logo designed by legendary artist Damien Hirst.
Blending Grenache and Cinsault grapes, the wine is aged for five months to serve up seriously delicate flavours.
Buy now £31.00, Ocado
Nicolas Alziari Provence olive oil
Another Provençale favourite, Nicolas Alziari’s olive oil is what made the brand a household name in the region. It is a blend of oils from a variety of European olives but you’ll have to fight them for any more information than that as the recipe has been a secret for 100 years.
The oil is made from young, green olives, lending it that distinct fresh and fruity flavour, whilst also being delicate.
Alziari uses the Genoese method of cold extraction that involves slowly grinding the olives for two to three hours to release the oil into a stone basin, which is then filled with cold water and left until the oil floats to the top and it can be collected.
Cuvee Prestige available at Selfridges
Buy now £22.90, Sous Chef
Fortnum & Mason Handmade English Chocolates
At royal grocer Fortnum & Mason, you will find a veritable feast of sweet and savoury delights that have been given the late Queen Elizabeth’s seal of approval. If we can steal you away from the biscuit aisle, the chocolate selection boxes deserve your attention - and not simply for the gifting appeal. These are the kind of chocolatey smorgasbords that you will want to keep for yourself.
For easing indecision, look to the selection boxes that contain a mix of clusters, caramels, truffles and more including the most sought-after Rose & Violet creams. These are housed in a chic box in F&M’s signature Eau de Nil colour.
From £20.
Buy now, Fortnum & Mason
Britpop Brut by Alex James NV
From Blur bassist to cheesemaker and now winemaker, Alex James doesn’t know when to stop – and we’re glad he doesn’t.
His wine brand, cleverly named Britpop, has been welcomed with open arms by even cynical oenophiles and it’s not hard to see why. This fizz is made from a Chardonnay-based blend using the traditional method and is creamy, long and toasty.
Plus, the bottle is bound to spark conversation at any table.
Buy now £22.02, Laithwaites
Booja Booja
No dairy? No problem. Indulge in delicious handmade Fine de Champagne chocolate truffles from boutique confectioner Booja Booja. This box holds 16 richly flavoured vegan sweets in a charmingly patterned box that’s just made for celebrations.
Buy now £15.02, Amazon
