Happy Fourth of July weekend! I’m spending mine with friends and family, and hopefully a perfectly grilled hot dog. If you’re the guest of honor at someone’s house for the weekend or just dropping by for dinner, don’t show up empty handed! We put together a list of thoughtful hostess gifts that bring a little more to the table than the usual bottle of wine. You’ll be invited back in no time.
The key to nailing the perfect gift is knowing who you’re giving it to. Is your host a top chef? The consummate entertainer? For the chefs, you can do better than a bottle of wine! What about this monogrammed canvas wine tote, complete with two of your favorite bottles? One of my favorite gifts to receive is really nice olive oil, like California’s own Brightland Duo. The big bucket of Maldon salt will last them all year long.
Personalized gifts are always a great way to thank your host, and certainly sticks out. Mark & Graham is a favorite of mine for their stylish gifts you can monogram, like this acrylic serving tray for poolside treats, beautiful block printed cloth napkins, or notecards in a ribbon acrylic holder for the desk.
In the kitchen, you can gift beautiful serving pieces that they’ll use long after you leave. Amanda Lindroth’s rattan trays and thermoses are favorites, as are her rattan hurricanes for long, candlelit evenings together.
If you’re staying for a weekend, bring something you can all play together! Board games are a wonderful no-screen way to all hang out, and this acrylic backgammon set, this limited edition linen Scrabble, or this acrylic Mahjong set are incredible gifts. I also love a monogrammed set of playing cards! Another fun throwback? Williams-Sonoma’s croquet set, which is best played during cocktail hour with a cold gin & tonic.
When all else fails, a beautiful coffee table will do the trick: Slim Aarons’ Style and Gray Malin’s Beaches are my go-tos.
Shop the rest of our hostess gifts edit below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
