25 Chic Hostess Gifts That Are Equally Charming and Original

“My go-to gift is a nice merlot or cabernet. My fallback has always been these glasses. I love the design of them so much! They’re stylish, sturdy, and truly the perfect size. They hold plenty of ice, so they work well with mixed drinks or just a refreshing glass of water.” — Brandon Carte, senior technology editor

More: 9 Best Wine Advent Calendars for 2022

A digital picture frame is a techy gift with an analog soul — making for a delightful hostess gift for the modern household, or for your nearest and dearest when they welcome you for the holidays.

Sync up photos and display them on a crisp, Wi-Fi-connected 10-inch screen. It also comes in a gift-ready box, and you can even pre-load images for your recipient for next-level gifting.

Only the best from America’s heartland! This cheese and charcuterie box from Cheese Brothers includes seven full-sized products that deliver amazing flavor variety, from Americano salami to smoked gouda to Italian Fratello to a sweet cherry lavender jam.

This makes a great hostess gift for intimate get-togethers or game nights, especially if they’re preparing dinner themselves — assure them that the wine and cheese are on you.

This set of spongy Swedish dishcloths is made of three reusable, super-absorbent kitchen towels that are fabulous for cleaning up spills and everyday messes, and are capable of wicking up 20 times their weight in liquid. They’re also 100% biodegradable and are made to be used for 4 to 6 months (think of all the trees they’ll save by foregoing paper towels!).

The limited-edition collab with Death & Co also features this kitschy retro print plus the recipe for their signature Swish cocktail.

Have a green thumb in your life or one that enjoys fresh herbs in their pasta or mint in their cocktails? Charm their pants off with a foolproof, self-watering herb-growing kit that's also sure to be one of the more original hostess gifts they've ever received.

At 6 inches tall, it can nestle unobtrusively onto any kitchen countertop. Choose from basil, mint, lavender, or eucalyptus.

Give the gift of zero guesswork in the kitchen with this trio of kitchen oils that are clearly labeled for their specific use: cooking, finishing, or blending. Helmed by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey of Top Chef fame, this set makes a great gift for your hostess.

Stonewashed and made of 100% flax linen, this set of four table napkins gives a perfect (eco-conscious) touch of everyday luxury to your hostess' tablescape. Not only do they come in six chic neutral colorways, but they also get better with each wash.

Trying to find a hostess gift for a serious tea lover? Give her something to steep every hour of the day with this Mood Gift Set from Numi Organic Tea.

With selections like Moroccan Mint for a refreshing pick-me-up, or calming Chamomile Lemon for relaxing before bedtime, this 40-bag assorted tea set is perfect for a ritualistic tea drinker.

“Every great host knows that there are two simple entertaining essentials that guarantee a great time: wine and cheese. But if your recipient is eager to impress a house full of guests, there’s more to it than just springing for the good stuff. This elegant marble and brass cheese board from West Elm offers a classic yet modern aesthetic that’s still sturdy enough to slice into a crumbly Stilton wedge.

Its soft veining won’t distract from the real guests of honor (hello, charcuterie!), and there’s plenty of room to pile on a handful of nuts or some slices of crusty bread.” — Zarah Kavarana, contributing writer

Keep those glasses filled with this set of sugar cubes that dissolve in alcohol to create instant cocktails. It's a hostess gift that offers them the convenience of being unchained from the bar, and their guests the freedom to refill at their leisure while choosing their favorite cocktail.

This dry dip mix sampler makes preparing appetizers totally mindless, so they can focus on the main meal. It includes eight tasty dip options, featuring some classic flavors — like original ranch and toasted onion — plus some bolder blends, like chili con queso and sizzlin' sriracha.

Dress up a bottle of wine with a gorgeous gift bundle that'll top their holiday table with a touch of greenery. It includes an award-winning pinot noir plus an evergreen centerpiece that's filled with fragrant noble fir, western red cedar, natural pinecones, juniper, and berries.

Whether as a shareable gift to top the dessert table or a special treat for your hosts to enjoy after their guests are gone, this decadent sea-salted caramel cheesecake makes for an unforgettable follow-up to any great meal.

It's hefty, weighing 4 pounds and spanning 10 inches, but with a luscious, creamy center and crumbly graham cracker crust, you'll be lucky if there are any slices left for seconds.

Elevate their desktop-greenery game with a stylish, modernist-inspired planter. Because the ceramic top doesn't have a drainage hole, layer the bottom of it with small stones for drainage, and then slot in the mini cactus or succulent of your choice before you gift it.

“My family became obsessed with this game over a Christmas break and it’s now the hot topic of our group chats when we’re planning a trip: ‘Who’s bringing Codenames?’ It’s a low-key, low-time-commitment group game that pairs well with drinks and apps.

Since your hosts probably already have Cards Against Humanity and Catchphrase, it’ll be a welcome new addition to their game collection!" — Bridget Clegg, senior digital art director

Here's a hostess gift that doubles as a dinner-party trick. This brilliantly designed colander turns completely shut, allowing the cook to wash and thoroughly drain its contents over the sink without letting any precious pieces escape.

It's one of those things that you never know would make your life better until you actually try it, which is why it makes for a great gift — and it's pretty stylish, too!

“I love gifting foodie items to my friends whenever they’re having a party, or even if they’re hosting me for a weekend stay. Because there are quite a number of olive obsessives in my life, I’ve been able to introduce them one by one to Kalamata olive spread, and it’s been a total thrill. This deep-purple spread has a salty brininess that tastes great slathered on sourdough bread, mixed into hummus, or flecked onto sunny-side-up eggs in lieu of hot sauce.

Bundle this jar with fancy crackers and spreadable drunken-goat cheese, and you’ll always be invited back." — Melanie Yates, senior home decor editor

Not every cookbook is able to bridge the gap between beautiful and practical, but Julia Turshen's latest tome does exactly that. Now & Again is a book to inspire home cooks of any skill level to whip up a delicious new dish out of last night's leftovers. Gifting it to your hosts should help spark some ideas for remixing their dinner-party fare.

If she's throwing a housewarming party, this 12-in-1 multitool might just be the perfect hostess gift to get her. Equipped with specialty functions like a zester, grater, can opener, peeler, garlic crusher, bottle opener, and corkscrew, she won't have to crowd her kitchen drawers right away with the full-sized versions.

“My friend gave me the small version of this candle as a hostess gift last year and I absolutely loved it! It’s the perfect size for a bathroom, and now I light it every time I have people over.

It’s a gift that both the host and the guests get to enjoy. It’s also something that I probably wouldn’t buy myself, which makes it that much more special to receive.” — Erica Murphy, senior director, SEO and content