Al fresco dinners, long afternoons by the pool, bustling holiday barbecues – summer is one long season of hosting. There’s an art to being a great guest, and it starts with never showing up empty-handed! Below, some of our favorite summer hostess gifts that will guarantee you get invited back.
If I’m traveling to someone’s house, one of my go-to gifts lately has been from Los Angeles brand Flamingo Estate. It’s nice to bring a taste of your hometown, but Flamingo Estate is so good everyone would love a present – no matter where you’re from. The Mini Garden Tour box is a collection of their greatest hits: sage candle, extra virgin olive oil from trees over 150 years old, and a rosemary and sage hand soap.
You need to match the right gift with the right host. If your host already has a fully stocked kitchen, try pumping up other parts of the house, like the games cabinet. What about a pretty orange and pink backgammon set from Mark and Graham? Or a summery blue pickleball paddle set? A personalized wood Monopoly set? And remember, just because you’re a guest doesn’t mean you have to let them win!
A personal touch is always nice, even if it requires a bit of extra planning. How about a cabana stripe towel with their names emblazoned on them? Bamboo lacquered tray perfect for serving up happy hour in style? Or a colorful waterproof tote for carrying essentials all summer long?
When in doubt: give a candle. Something summery and incredible so they’ll think about you every time they light it. Here are a few of my favorite scents: Antica Farmacista Desert Sage, Antica Farmacista Aperol Spritz, and finally, Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato (which is my absolute favorite summer candle).
Shop the rest of our summer hostess gifts 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.
