Welcome to Metropolitan Mama’s Christmas Gift Guide for Party Hosts. Below you will find hand-picked selections of the best furniture, decor, serveware, glassware, lighting, games, activities, and accessories for people who love to entertain - both indoors and outdoors.
Whether you gift recipient enjoys hosting formal dinner parties, weekend brunch, high tea, or backyard barbecues, this list will help you find exactly the right gift.
Party hosts can never have too much party gear - especially in adorable, artistic designs! Based in my home state of Arizona, Slant Collections offers delightful partyware options by theme. Find paper plates, napkins, cups, cake toppers, candles, and everything else you might need to add a special touch to your next celebration.
Pictured (left to right): Birthday Cake Party in a Box, Happy Birthday Cake Shaped Napkins, Make A Wish Bead-Filled Cake Topper.
Libbey is a glassware company with a long history of producing lovely, translucent glasses, plates, prep bowls, and serveware. Since 1818, Libbey has become synonymous with glassware for parties. I'm fairly certain that the punch bowl at my first baby shower nineteen years ago was made by Libbey!
For holiday 2024, I'm loving the modern (yet nostalgic!) farmhouse look of the new glass and acaciawood serveware pieces. The wood is beautifully marbled in color and grain - each piece is unique!
We are choosy about dinnerware and we adore Liberty Tabletop's American Bistro set. Made in the USA in the cheerful and sun-kissed city of Tucson, Arizona, these pure white dishes are sturdy, smooth, and elegant. When you pick them up, you'll be surprised by both the weight and the grace of each plate, bowl, and mug. When Tim and I got married twenty years ago, we chose white dishes on purpose and that was one of the best registry decisions we made. White dishes go with every kitchen and tabletop decor theme and can be seamlessly used for everyday meals or fancy dinner parties (even weddings!).
Liberty Tabletop is a brand that is committed to quality and patriotism. In fact, Liberty Tabletop bought Oneida in 2005 and it is now the only remaining flatware manufacturer in the United States. You can expect shiny, durable, and high-end flatware from Liberty. The spoons, knives, and forks in the Annapolis collection will add beauty to any table, while also being a pleasure to use.
I recently discovered Frontier soup mixes by Anderson House and promptly decided that they would make the perfect stocking stuffer, even for people with a variety of dietary needs & preferences (ex: vegetarian, gluten-free, health-savvy, etc). These soup packets are made with only real ingredients that you will recognize (veggies, herbs, etc). You simply take a packet, mix in additional ingredients that are specified, and make a delicious, savory soup in minutes! My nephew was visiting when I made the Rocky Mountain Trail Loaded Potato Soup and my sister-in-law called me up that very night to say he wanted the recipe! It was exceptional.
We stopped using our previous waffle maker about five years ago over concerns about Teflon flaking and the associated health risks. Oh how I've missed belgian waffles ever since then (although I did have the best waffle I've ever eaten in Bruges, Belgium in May 2024!).
This year, I was overjoyed to discover that GreenPan makes a ceramic, nontoxic waffle maker that is elegant on the table, simple to use, and ideal for serving a crowd (it makes four square waffles at once!). I highly recommend!
Serving hot beverages to a crowd can get complicated fast. Never fear though! Nostalgia's 45-cup coffee urn can save the day. With speedy brewing power and an incredibly handy keep warm function, these large-capacity urns with double spigots are perfect for serving large amounts of coffee, tea, hot cider, or hot chocolate to large groups of people. Ideal for baby showers, dinner parties, and holiday get-togethers!
For knives that are both sharp and stylish, we turn to Cutco. They're beautiful to look at, a joy to use, and durable enough to last decades. In fact, Cutco is the best knife brand I've ever found for longevity and loveliness. We also love Cutco's accessories and kitchen tools, which are equally sturdy and sophisticated.
Pictured (left to right): 4-Pc Table Knife Set, Slice n' Serve, Kitchen Tool Set with Holder, Traditional Cheese Knife.
If you've been on the fence about buying an area rug, consider this your motivation to move forward. Area rugs add so much warmth to a room, perhaps more than any other single factor. Area rugs are cozy, comforting, and inviting.
Ready to change your room instantly with one purchase? Shopping for rugs can be overwhelming since there are so many colors, sizes, and designs to choose from, but we were 100% happy with our recent experience with Nourison Home. Our Somerset rug is gorgeous and well-made, soft on your feet and such a treat to sit on too!
Add a little extra to your favorite person's coffee with an easy-to-use milk frother. This convenient device uses a whisking mechanism to aerate the milk, giving it a light and fluffy texture. Simply add your milk, choose your desired setting, and let the frother do the work.
Experienced party hosts will love the versatility and portability of this ingenious pop-up station where you can serve beer and wine or just sparkling water, mocktails, and hot cider with caramel and whipping cream.
A beautiful cutting board adds so much to a kitchen. It can be both a piece of art and an incredibly practical every day tool for chopping vegetables, displaying cheeses and nuts for a charcuterie party, or kneading dough for cut-out sugar cookies.
Low-cost household items that help party hosts keep their house in order are a good pick for a housewarming gift or a holiday party hostess basket.
Tea and coffee drinkers will be enamored by the exquisite design of the Stagg EKG Electric Kettle by Fellow. The precision spout ensures a smooth, steady pour at an optimal flow rate, while to-the-degree temperature control heats and holds water to your desired heat scale. This means you'll get a perfect cup of your favorite warm beverage exactly when you want it (you can even schedule it ahead of time).
Foosball is a super fun addition to any game room or backyard porch. It provides instant entertainment and hours of play for two to four players of all ages.
We've been devoted users of cast iron for years - and Lodge Cast Iron is our go-to brand. We use our Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven every week - especially for soups and chilis during the fall and winter months. It's beautiful, durable, easy to clean, and non-toxic.
For loyal cast iron enthusiasts, consider gifting one of the brilliant storage and cookware organizers that will make their cast iron collection easy to access throughout the day.
Stumped about what to get a party host that seems to have everything? Hand soaps are a smart pick because they are a disposable resource. People who love to entertain will be grateful for hand soaps - especially in pretty bottles and refreshing scents.
Be the best grandparents or neighbors on the block with a well-stocked sports organizer. Fill it with balls, racquets, backyard games, and other great fitness equipment - all stored neatly in the garage or on the patio.
Voted "Board Game of the Year," Outsmarted is like Trivial Pursuit on steroids. With add-on question expansion packs and thousands of questions that adjust based on age level, this is a techie trivia game that the whole family will enjoy. Really fun for parties too! Designed for ages 8+ and 2-24 players.
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Some of the listed products were sent to us to try. Other products are ones that we purchased ourselves or were given by family members and friends. Know that I only recommend products and brands that we actually use and love.