![The host and hostess gifts we recommend on a yellow art deco patterned background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/Wxr-iRgqJDEwLD9JIGyRRdihmsQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sl-best-gifts-for-hostesses-tout-efdeb24ceca948aba476ed4ed3697268.jpg)
Southern Living / Brian Kopinski
A tenet of Southern hospitality is to never show up to somebody’s house empty-handed. Every time an invite arrives, that etiquette our mothers taught us about thoughtful host or hostess gifts kicks in. It doesn't need to be elaborate, sometimes a simple heartfelt thank you card suffices, and other times an elaborately planned occasion dictates something a little more grand.
With all the housewarmings, game nights, murder mystery dinners, wine tastings, and soirees happening, it’s hard to figure out the appropriate gesture and how much to spend.
According to Lizzie Post, there is no hard and fast rule about host and hostess gifts: “They occupy a strange space. Some people bring them every time they go to each other's houses, some people only the first time or to a new home, others it depends on the occasion. Our big thing is to not feel a ton of pressure—that host has invited you for your company, not for your ability to bring them a small token gift.”
- Lizzie Post is the co-president of the Emily Post Institute and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette, The Centennial Edition. She’s also Emily’s great-great-granddaughter.
- Brent Ellis is the founder of Atlanta-based stationery design and print studio Dear Elouise and Buckhead Printery.
We spent hours researching products and considered factors like budget, occasion, and the range of gifts available from handmade to luxury to whimsical to personalized.
Inspired by travels along the Alaskan Highway where the founder carried pocket-sized tins filled with fishing tackle, fire starter, and survival gear, Cocktail Kits 2 Go features all the essentials for a craft cocktail in one small, in-case-of-emergency package.
Eight classic flavors are available in vintage-style tins. Choose from Southern favorites like Mint Julep, Mojito, and Old Fashioned. If they love bubbles (and who doesn’t?), the Champagne Cocktail Kit includes aromatic bitters, sugar cubes, a flute charm, and instructions for making the drink as it has been made since the late 1800s. All it’s missing is their favorite sparkling wine.
A sweet set of small bowls fulfill so many functions on a host’s list—they make great dip vessels, hold the perfect amount of snacking nuts, and can be used as receptacles for homemade potpourri.
This set of four is crafted from durable glazed stoneware and is available in six fun colors to liven up any space. They are microwave safe if you need to zap your dip and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. What host wouldn't love another set of small bowls for all their entertaining needs?
These look like ice cube trays, but they are so much more. They come in three sizes that offer a solution for leftover chicken stock, batches of homemade marinara, buttermilk, and more. The food-grade silicone containers are freezer safe and can withstand oven temperatures up to 415°F (hello, individual cheesecakes).
The clear lids allow you to see what’s inside, and provide a secure cover that prevents odors from escaping. Bonus, they stack and are dishwasher safe. Imagine how grateful your host will feel if, at the end of the night, they have a ready-made storage container for all that leftover butternut squash soup.
Anyone who loves to entertain knows the importance of a quality set of cheese knives. This set includes three acacia wood knives—a flat knife for cutting soft cheese, a spade for cutting wedges of hard cheese, and a cheese fork to hold the block in place. If you're wanting to go a bit bigger, considering pairing them with a homemade charcuterie board.
Southerners have a lexicon all their own and these coasters capture that spirit. The set of four is handmade of sturdy bamboo and features favorite Southernisms like “Bless Your Heart,” and “Fixin’ To.” They also include definitions for those unfamiliar with the lingo. The conversation starters are the perfect gift for a host who loves to entertain.
Planning an event, no matter how adept your host is, can be stressful. They will appreciate this thoughtful neck wrap from Slow North, made by hand in Austin.
They are constructed from fabric that comes from a heritage mill in Japan, which is then filled by hand with natural, unscented lentils in the Texas studio. They can be used for hot or cold therapy to soothe aches and pains.
The hours spent prepping food, cleaning the house, and setting up for a dinner party take a toll on a host's hands. Savannah Bee Company’s Beeswax Salve delivers heavy moisture with a light, calming scent that leaves those hard-working hands soft.
Each batch is certified organic and created from a blend of nourishing ingredients like pure beeswax, vitamin E, and olive oil. We love the original spearmint scent, but the salve also comes in cedar and rosemary and lavender scents. After a heavy round of dishes, your host will appreciate this self-care gift.
A red Solo cup, but better. The Pirani Insulated Stackable Tumbler eliminates plastic waste. Southerners love a pre-game tailgate and this stylish cup will make them the envy of the crowd.
It comes in nine different colors and keep drinks cold for 12 hours and hot for six hours. And when the party's over, the cups are dishwasher safe and stack together for compact storage.
These magnolia cocktail napkins are perfect for garden parties and cocktail hour. The timeless elegance of the magnolia blossom elevates any affair. Each set comes with 20 paper napkins.
Ellis often turns to napkins as a go-to gift. “A set of cocktail napkins tied up with a cocktail stir or knife is a fun gift,” she says. “I usually have a few sets of cocktail napkins on hand for gifting so I'm ready to go whenever I need a hostess gift.”
Turtles and turtle conservation are kind of a big deal in the South and turtle-themed serveware is always a good choice. This three-piece set features an embossed design and is versatile enough to be adorable jewelry holders, vessels for nuts and dips, or a coastal touch to any tablescape.
The ceramic pieces are dishwasher safe and stack easily, taking the burden of heavy cleanup off your host’s shoulders. For something a little extra, make a batch of your favorite dip and show up with the dishes ready to serve.
Le Creuset, known for its durable bakeware, is a household staple. Any piece from the collection would be a welcome gift, but for somebody who entertains, the Heritage Rectangular Casserole baking dish offers a versatile vessel for pans of bread pudding, comforting chicken-and-biscuit pot pie, marinating steaks, and more.
The stoneware lid keeps your food moist while baking and facilitates easy transport for potlucks and picnics. One of the best things about this casserole dish is the virtually nonstick interior that makes cleanup a breeze.
It’s safe for the freezer, oven, microwave, broiler, dishwasher, and even metal utensils. Plus, the kaleidoscope of colors guarantees your host's favorite color is available.
Hot toddies have a reputation for being the best thing to wind down with after a long day of hosting. They also have been known to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu, as well as warming a body up on a cold, wet night or welcoming the Christmas season.
Oliver Pluff & Company in Charleston has hand packaged that remedy and now you can gift it to your host. This kit comes with sachets to brew 3 gallons of toddies, just add honey and whiskey.
Every host needs a set of coasters to protect their furniture from unsightly water marks. This set from the Southern Living Collection at Dillard's is surprisingly affordable and features half white marble and half acacia wood. The neutral color scheme will blend seamlessly with any decor and add a touch of sophistication to their home.
The art of letter writing still figures strongly in Southern sensibilities. There is nothing more personal than a handwritten card, no matter the occasion. This set of personalized stationery by graphic designers Robert and Stella from Salt Lake City features friendly daisies on velvety cotton, heavy-weight paper. Minted also offers free recipient addressing.
Ellis, who specializes in printing and paper, has a soft spot for this type of gift. “For friends who have hosted me at their house or vacation spot, I like to send a set of personalized stationery with a custom illustration,” she says. “This is personal and also says how much I enjoyed their special home!”
If you’ve visited a neighborhood with a Tiff’s Treats shop, you’ve seen the line. Their warm cookies, which started as an apology for a missed date, have garnered a loyal following. What started as a small Austin, Texas, operation has grown to over 90 retail bakeries across seven states. And if you have a shop close, a platter of warm cookies can be delivered to your host fresh from the oven.
But, if there isn’t a Tiff’s Treats in the vicinity, they have shipping nationwide for their take-and-bake dough and gift packages (there are even gift packages with Kendra Scott jewelry), including the cookie truffles. Four balls of chocolate chip cookie dough are rolled in chocolate and topped with petite sprinkles—it’s a sweet treat your hardworking host can enjoy while relaxing after the guests leave.
These wine and cocktail-inspired candles, which are poured and packaged in Charleston, have long-lasting scents that transport you to the end of a long day, cocktail in hand, toasting the sunset. Rewined seeks to capture those moments in time and deliver them through the sensory experience of lighting a candle. Bonus: Each vessel is designed to be repurposed.
Post loves to gift a candle: “It may sound cliche, but I think that's a gift that will get well used.”
Table games have made a triumphant return, and these playing cards make the perfect gift for any host. The Special Edition deck designed with six unique colors and new embellishments is crafted on Bee quality card stock for years of rounds of bridge. The deck includes 52 cards and comes in several design options. This beautiful set can seed a new tradition of getting friends together for a round of rummy every week.
We all love a girls' trip, and now your host can relive some of those travel moments with this Vintage Travel Poster Puzzle. It also makes an entertaining conversation starter at any soiree.
The 1,000-piece puzzle features the volcanic slopes of Chile, cherry blossoms at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel, and sunny Monte Carlo as you travel the globe through each section completed. The brightly colored images capture that vintage travel poster look while supplying plenty of inspiration to plan that next big trip.
Both of our experts love a practical tea towel as a thank-you gift and this bright, citrus-patterned cotton version works well as a liner for a basket of bread, a dish drying towel, or just decoratively hanging from the included loop. The 28- by 21-inch towel is machine washable, making it easy to clean for a hardworking host.
Spices are such a foundational part of any entertainer’s kitchen, and this collection from award-winning Southern chef Meherwan Irani features classics like garlic powder and crushed red pepper alongside special blends like Sicilian sea salt and Mediterranean oregano.
Spices are sourced in small quantities, and roasted, ground, and packed in small batches to ensure freshness. The 10- and 18-packs comes in sealed baggies inside adorable spice tins that stack—so functional and cute that you’ll want to gift these over and over, and probably buy a set for yourself.
Bread baking seized the nation during the pandemic, and it’s not letting go. As busy hosts across the South hone their skills with sourdough and banana bread, products like this Bread Baking Bowl from trusted brand King Arthur level up their loaves.
This custom-made, clay vessel is versatile enough for any type of dough, from wet doughs like rye to classics like peasant bread. The porous clay traps steam while the bread is baking, yielding a crispy crust in a beautiful round shape. For an extra thoughtful touch, include a card that lets your host know if they coat the inside of the pan with neutral oil before each use, a pretty patina will develop with each bake.
A pet-friendly and air-purifying plant is a welcome addition to any home. The money tree has large, star-shaped leaves and a braided trunk that will lend a tropical feel with the proper care.
Bloomscapes offers a wide variety of houseplants delivered to your door, but the money tree is thought to bring positive energy and good luck (they also say it relieves stress and anxiety), a lovely way to say thank you to your favorite host. It comes in five different pot colors, and if for some reason it dies within 30 days, Bloomscape will replace it for free.
A bottle of wine checks so many boxes: The range of prices is wide, it’s a fast solution to a last-minute invitation, and it can help a host out when more people than expected show up to their event. It’s even better when that bottle comes from a family-owned winery where the grapes are grown and wine is produced right here in the South. Messina Hof's legacy began with one Texas acre, and now spans four locations across the state cared for with generations of family experience. They are the leading producer of 100% Texas wines and have garnered the most awards of any winery in the state.
And, if you order ahead, they offer personalization on the labels. Just think, a label that already says thank you with your name on it so you can just grab it from your rack and go, no card required.
If getting together over coffee is your connection to your host, the Barista Warrior Pour Over Coffee Maker Set is a thoughtful choice as a gift. The 7-cup, heat-resistant borosilicate glass coffee carafe offers a sturdy and elegant solution for barista-level at-home coffee. The reusable stainless steel filter not only saves paper from the landfill, but also provides dual filtration for richer flavor. Plus, the included acacia wood coffee scoop is adorable.
Winner of the 2023 James Beard Award for U.S. Foodways Cookbook, I Am From Here by celebrated Southern Chef Vishwesh Bhatt delivers reliable recipes alongside stories of growing up watching his mother and grandmother cook, and the evolving culinary narrative of the South.
The 130 recipes are organized by ingredient and many are stars on the menu at Snackbar in Oxford, Mississippi, where Bhatt has served as the executive chef since 2009. This will become a staple for any host as they plan future dinner parties, trying out dishes like Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Tandoori Spices or Collard-Wrapped Catfish with a spicy Peanut Pesto.
The dishes adorning the pages represent the best Southern ingredients that are easily accessible, and the meal-planning guide will help you navigate pairing dishes for different occasions. But even better, the narrative this cookbook weaves reminds us all what it is to be a Southerner.
If your host likes hot sauce, and let’s be real who doesn’t in the South, they will appreciate you introducing them to this chef-created line. Like so many Southerners, Chef David Thomas grew up watching his grandmother cook delicious meals from scratch. She taught him the importance of quality ingredients which has carried through to Thomas’ approach to soul food.
H3irloom Food Group, owned in partnership by Thomas, his wife Tonya, and close friends and partners Linda and Floyd Taliaferro, produces this pack of three hot sauces that along with other products and experiences“...uplift the Black food narrative and provide a deeply personal approach to the Black food experience that’s rooted in history and culture.”
In the beautifully packaged box, you will find the award-winning Sweat, Sosu, and Smok’d hot sauces. The Sweat formula offers a vinegar base with preserved heirloom tomatoes and Thai chile. Sosu is a West African-inspired "peppa" sauce, and the Smok’d is an earthy hot sauce with Mbongo spice and natural charcoal.
Gardening serves as a therapeutic hobby for many people, and you know how much we pride ourselves on a beautiful garden in the South. Pollinators are the key to bountiful hydrangea and delicate roses. Vision Bee Cups are porcelain flower-shaped vessels that attract native bees and honey bees to get the vital water they need to do their jobs.
Created by eco-artist Jen Rose, the delicate handmade cups have an ultraviolet ceramic glaze that mimics the way flowers attract bees, but can only be seen by bees. Rose makes these unique cups in Texas with locally-sourced materials, and in keeping with their sustainable product, “Bee Cups LLC commits to using zero plastic in its packaging and production, recycles all the unusable bee cups, and strives to be zero waste.”
It’s the perfect gift to bring plenty of color into your host’s garden while helping save the bees.
A luxurious, comforting blanket is like offering your host a warm hug long after you depart. The Lola Blanket’s double-sided construction keeps soft, comforting fabric on top at all times, plus the chunky knit adds a textural statement to any room. The combination of the “...faux-fur/minky fabric and elastic creates a blanket that stretches and hugs you back.”
Lola founded a program specifically for breast cancer survivors, Blankets for the Brave. They donate soft Lola Blankets to women living with breast cancer and 10% of all proceeds from all Rosewater Lola Blankets goes to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to fund research and treatments. The blankets are available in more than a dozen colors and three sizes, and you can know your purchase furthers the fight against this deadly disease.
This aluminum bowl from Beatriz Ball celebrates the graceful shape of the oyster shell with its gentle curved lines, and would make an elegant addition to any hostess's collection. It makes a great vessel for seafood salads, cocktail shrimp, and oysters, of course. It’s also oven and freezer friendly.
A bottle of wine is great, but what about the hostess who doesn’t imbibe? Enter the Dri/kit. The high-quality, non-alcoholic cocktail kits incorporate the best alcohol-free wine and spirits available.
The kit includes one bottle of Ritual zero-proof gin, one bottle of Wood Stove Kitchen blueberry and lavender mixer, one box of Big Heart Teas minty blue butterfly pea tea sachets, one bottle of Bea's Squeeze lavender lemonade, and an optional add on of Flouwer Co. French lavender finishing sugar. The pastel colors provide a stunning way to beckon in the warm weather in a glass.
Unbreakable and barware seldom occupy the same space, but Snowfox’s stainless steel ice bucket with a lid, tongs, and four rocks glasses checks both of those categories. The stainless steel set has a double-wall design for durability and temperature control—your ice stays solid and bottles stay chilled even with the lid off. The chic design comes in seven wrap colors to match any host's taste. This thoughtful choice will amp up any occasion from a housewarming to a Sunday supper.
As board game nights become more popular, cool options like this National Parks Travel Cribbage Set join the scene. If your host loves the national parks, this is a great gift that is customized to feature their favorite one—there are 63 choices from Acadia to Zion.
You also get to select a nature-themed shape for the two included sets of playing pegs. They'll appreciate that this cribbage set is ready to go on their next camping trip or family vacation with its stylish cotton drawstring pouch, an opportunity to bring more people to the classic game.
Available in charcoal or white, this elegant, handmade spoon rest is handcrafted with real lace in Nashville. The sturdy stoneware makes a lovely addition to the stovetop, breakfast table, or afternoon tea setup. The lace is pressed into the stoneware before glazing, creating a delicate embossed pattern on each spoon rest, and at 4 by 4 inches, it doesn't take up much room when the table is full.
Adorned with the Mackenzie-Childs signature grey checked pattern, this napkin holder is the perfect vessel for a set of beautiful napkins, snacks for a party, or even jewelry. The ceramic dish is a sturdy and stylish way to say thank you to your host.
If your host loves plants but doesn't have a green thumb, air plants are a smart choice. This stylish set features a handcrafted, artisanal candle made from premium soy wax available in seven scents and a Tillandsia air plant which can grow to over 8 inches tall and blooms with violet flowers.
The air plant comes in a two-tone miniature ceramic planter with a bubbled white finish on top and a smooth cream color on the base and feet. Also included is one glass bottle of matches. The best part is air plants, known for their resilience, thrive without soil, making them the perfect gift for a plant-loving host that doesn't have time for extensive plant care.
The bounty of seafood in the South is legendary and this serving set makes it easy to enjoy. Crafted from durable stainless steel, the set includes tongs, an oyster knife, and a spoon, all ergonomically designed for comfortable gripping and use. The packaging features an oyster print tied with raffia and a beautiful shell for your host to add to their collection.
Located in Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, Tempered Fine Chocolates draws inspiration from historic French and Swiss chocolate-making techniques to create their confections.
Each bomb can serve up to 3 cups of comforting hot chocolate. Drop the hot chocolate bomb in the milk of your choice and sit patiently as the outer milk chocolate shell melts away into the milk creating the nostalgic beverage we all turn to on chilly days. Your host will appreciate this thoughtful pick-me-up.
We love Mackenzie-Childs, and this 2-quart, heavy-gauge steel tea kettle bedecked with garden blooms will be a welcome gift for any host. A wood handle and glass-topped lid complete the adorable kettle that can be used over medium flame on gas ranges, medium to high settings on electric ranges, and low to medium settings on ceramic top ranges. The perfect cup of tea is just minutes away.
Operating out of Charleston since 2012, Bulls Bay Saltworks was the first operational salt company in South Carolina since the Civil War. The women-owned company ensures each stage of production and packaging is done onsite by hand.
This gift set includes two grinders, one filled with sea salt and one with smoked sea salt. The gourmet finishing salts are carefully crafted for their texture and distinguished flavor of the South and the smoked version is smoked with oak cut from their homestead.
A candle-loving host will appreciate this gift set so she can care for and prolong the life of her favorite scents.
Available in four patterns, this tissue box will keep tissues accessible for guests and act as a decoration instead of an eyesore.
The updated version of the classic cookbook aims to help readers learn the techniques and variations needed to be able to cook without looking at a book.
This gift set includes olive oil in four infused flavors: Blood Orange, Roasted Garlic, Aromatic Basil, and White Truffle.
The best thing about this personalized gift is that it comes with free monogramming.
Questions And Answers
How much should you spend on a host gift?
So, you’ve decided to give a host gift, now comes the puzzle of what price range to shop in. Ellis bases her gift amount on the level of hosting involved. “If a friend has me over for dinner, I like to bring a cute set of napkins or a bottle of wine, which usually runs about $20-$25. If I'm being hosted for an entire weekend stay, I'll splurge a little more on something special and personal that costs around $150-$250.”
Post thinks it’s about you and your budget. She loves quality homemade items and remembers fondly her mother’s go-to holiday host gift growing up, a mason jar of her homemade Hard Sauce. “It was something she could afford to do, and she felt good about giving it as a special treat at the holidays.”
Do you have to give a host gift?
This is a tricky question. Ellis, who often finds herself on the hosting side because she enjoys throwing a party, says, “I know how much effort goes into getting the house ready for a dinner party or hosting a beach weekend for friends. That being said, when the tables are turned and I'm being hosted, I want to make sure my gift says how much I appreciate the effort and thought to include me.”
Post says to go with your gut. “You know the people that you're going to visit and the events that you're visiting them for. If it feels like it'd be nice to show up with something, great. If it feels like this is not the person or the event where you need to worry about it, don't. It's amazing how much your own common sense will get you there if you take a minute to think about it.”
What are some last-minute host gift ideas?
We always hope to get an invitation far enough out to be thoughtful and strategic about what we gift, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes an invite comes up the day of and you are scrambling to find a suitable gift at the last second. Post shared this advice, “Flowers in some kind of a container, ready to go is my go-to. Consumables are also really great—you can even think small like a small jar of a special flavor of jam. If you know people drink, a bottle of wine is a great last-minute choice.”
Ellis also likes fresh flowers, but she skips the store and harvests a bouquet straight from his hydrangea bushes in his backyard. She adds, “I keep an assortment of vases in my basement that I can pull from and leave with the host.”
Why Trust Southern Living
Carrie Honaker is a food and travel writer who loves to bring a mason jar full of homemade treats or thoughtfully-chosen pieces of local art whenever she’s invited over. As an avid traveler who relishes time with friends when she’s home, she knows the value of keeping a stock of wine and a stash of her signature stationery for those last-minute get-togethers. To compile this list, Carrie spent hours researching what to consider when shopping for host or hostess gifts, including budget, occasion, availability of items, and functionality. For expert tips on what to look for in host or hostess gifts and the etiquette surrounding giving them, she spoke to Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette, The Centennial Edition, and Brent Ellis, Founder of Dear Elouise and Buckhead Printery.