40 Thoughtful Hostess Gifts That Go Beyond Flowers
You’ll definitely be invited back.
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If my mom taught me anything, it’s to never show up to someone’s house empty-handed—no matter the occasion. Providing your host or hostess with a small token of appreciation goes a long way, even if they’ve sworn they have everything covered. From dinner parties, game nights, and housewarmings to summer barbecues, these gifts are guaranteed to impress.
Keep it simple with an inexpensive gift under $20—think candles, coasters, or recipe books, or splurge on a luxury find—hint: colorful glassware sets that elevate their tabletop. Consider a creative find that’ll make cooking, decorating, and cleaning much easier for them—think a cake stand that looks straight out a Parisian flea market or floral oven mitts from Kate Spade. And if your hostess put you charge of appetizers, desserts, or charcuterie, we've sprinkled in a few food gift ideas the whole party will love.
Add charm to their next baking session with this adorable set, which includes two oven mitts adorned with flowers and orange citrus. There’s a hanging loop, so they can keep them on display to double as decor.
If your hostess has a knack for bartending, Tequlia Mockingbird will add a few literary-themed cocktails to their repetitore. The book includes 65 drink recipes, plus bar bites, drinking games, and whimsical illustrations throughout.
Elevate their entertaining with this chic set of cocktail napkins, made from cotton and embroidered with a bottle of champagne. They’re machine washable, convenient in the case of spills.
This minimalist candle melter—available in white and black—provides all the function of a wicked candle, without the smoky smell. It includes a built-in dimmer switch to adjust the brightness and is large enough to fit most candles.
Allowing them to cook with ease, this convenient stand will prop up cookbooks, tablets, or magazines (like the latest issue of Good Housekeeping). It's designed to resemble a stylish cutting board, so it'll pair seamlessly with their modern kitchen aesthetic.
Mackenize-Childs is huge right now. This cute salt and pepper shaker set perfectly matches the brand’s viral Courtly Check tea kettle. Everything arrives in a cute gift box, too.
Turn your next dinner party into a lively game night by gifting the hostess an addicting and easy-to-learn game—trust me, my family loves this game. Up to eight players can get involved by filling in the blanks on a dry-erase slate, trying their best to match other players.
Every host could use another bottle of olive oil, especially when it comes packaged as luxuriously as Kosterina’s gift set. They’re made from a mono-varietal of Koroneiki olives grown in southern Greece.
You know how when you try to slice the gouda on your own, you end up with 20 different sizes—some thick, some thin? This real marble slicer will cut the same size time and time again.
Surprise them with a gift before or after the festivities by sending this cute display of two succulents pre-planted in a stylish gift box straight to their door.
Turns out, you can buy Bath & Body Works' popular White Barn candles on Amazon. With notes of fresh linen, crisp apple, and soft musk, this three-wick candle delivers up to 45 hours of fragrance, per the brand.
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Every good hostess deserves a special set of wine glasses. These stemless hand-blown tumblers come in a slew of colors that will instantly add vintage style to their tabletop.
After all the cooking and cleaning, she deserves some quality R&R. All three of these creams are made with a high concentration of shea butter, vitamin E, and argan oil, which means they'll rejuvenate dry, tired hands.
The trick to gifting the hostess flowers? Arrange them yourself at home, so you’re not giving them another job. This vibrant bouquet has orange snapdragons, hypericum berries, and pink and lavender cushion poms, and you can add on a vase.
Arrive with delicious treats in hand, or more specifically this set of assorted cookies from Levain Bakery. Your host will love sampling all the flavors: Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip.
Wrap one of these printed tea towels around a few of her favorite things (think: homemade sweets, candles, and more) for an extra-thoughtful twist on a store-bought gift.
If she's always got a collection of scented candles burning, this rechargeable electric lighter will make her party prep easier. The affordable tool has thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon and is available in a variety of colors.
A great hostess already has a charcuterie board, but do they have one personalized with their last name? The gorgeous wood serving board is framed with wavy edges and hand-painted navy stripes that make it a conversation piece.
Packaged in a pretty gift box, this condiment set is a delicious gift they can break out now or later. There are six jars: strawberry jam, raspberry peach champagne jam, blue cheese herb mustard, maple champagne mustard, blueberry jam, and red pepper jelly.
Rather than bringing over a bouquet of flowers that'll die within a week, gift them life-like stems that'll last forever. You’ll get 12 seasonal blooms for $38, and bonus points if you arrange them in a vase.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
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