20 best hostess gift ideas for holidays, dinner parties and beyond

Looking for the best hostess gift ideas for foodies, campers, or wine lovers? You’re in the right place.

Whether it’s for this holiday season or a festive and spontaneous dinner party, gathering loved ones and coordinating everything — from table to decor to a delectable dinner menu — is a large feat.

RELATED: The best dinnerware sets of 2024

So, it’s important to show your appreciation to the host or hostess for doing the absolute “mostest.” That’s why the New York Post Shopping team put together one of our most heartwarming gift guides yet: the 20 best host or hostess gift ideas for the holidays.

What to get someone who likes camping?

If you’re looking for gifts for someone who enjoys camping, consider unique options like a s’more roasting kit, which adds a fun twist to their outdoor experience. High Camp Flasks are also a great choice; these bar-quality flasks and drinkware are designed for outdoor use with an elevated feel.

Read on to pick up something special and personal for the person or family welcoming you into their home. You’re bound to make memories to last a lifetime, so adding one of these thoughtful purchases to your shopping cart will serve as a token of appreciation.

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• Best Hostess Gift Ideas
• Best Last-Minute Hostess Gift Ideas

Best Hostess Gift Ideas

Best overall: Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Scented Home Candle

As one of the most luxurious options to buy for your hostess, the Jo Malone London Scented Home Candle is a treat they may not pick up themselves. Its English Pear & Freesia scent has a base note of patchouli, too, creating a luscious scent that’s perfectly packaged in a bow-topped gift box upon purchase.

For more options, check out our guide to the best Nordstrom gifts.

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Most unique gift: Uncommon Goods Pistachio Pedestal

We’re not going to lie — we own the Uncommon Goods Pistachio Pedestal and it’s a game-changer. Growing up with our families putting out mixed nuts before dessert time, it’s both chic and practical: pick up nuts off the top tray and place empty shells on the bottom. Genius!

For more options, check out our guide to the best Uncommon Goods gifts.

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Best hostess gift for grandma: Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check Cookie Jar

What better way to begin the holidays than with a cookie jar? Tapping into the “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired checkerboard print, the Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check Cookie Jar is too precious to pass up. Ideal for the baker and lover of all the unique trinkets, this cookie display is one of our ultimate favorite recommendations.

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Best budget gift: Anecdote Candles Rooftop Soirée

One of our favorite candle brands, hands-down, is Anecdote Candles. Its rich scents all come personalized to a particular recipient or vibe, like this Rooftop Soirée option that’s ideal for your next alfresco dinner moment. After all, it “smells like night air and brut rosé, peony and suede.”

For another favorite, we recommend its Adulting candle (well, because hosting is for the adults in the room, anyway). It’s described as smelling “like early nights and steady paychecks” (ha!), with scent notes of fig and cashmere.

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Best hostess gift for gardeners: Anthropologie Grecian Bust Pot

Add a Grecian-inspired touch to your host’s home with the Anthropologie Grecian Bust Pot that comes in two size options, both of which are less than $50. Accentuating indoor and outdoor plantings alike, it’ll add some sophistication, classic style and grandeur to any space.

For more options, check out our guide to the best Anthropologie gifts.

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Best Thanksgiving hostess gift basket: Harry & David “So Very Thankful” Gift Basket

As one of the best places to order gift baskets online, Harry & David has a Rolodex of well-bundled options to present to your hostess on your next occasion together. Fitting for any celebration, the brand’s “So Very Thankful” Gift Basket is a wonderful way to show your appreciation for less than $100.

Inside, you’ll find Moose Munch Premium Popcorn, Three-seed crackers, Pepper & Onion Relish, sesame sticks, a Chocolate Decadence Cake, raspberry galettes, double chocolate chunk cookies and Paradise dried fruit mix [raisins, golden raisins, apricots, cranberries, pineapple, papaya and banana chips].

Check out more great holiday gift baskets.

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Best gift for cooks: “Jerusalem: A Cookbook,” by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

Looking for a great Hanukkah gifting idea? Celebrate someone special in your life by giving them one of the most celebrated cookbooks to come out in recent memory, Yotam Ottolenghi’s “Jerusalem: A Cookbook,” available for under $20 this season from Amazon.

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Best hostess gift for campers: High Camp Flasks Firelight Flask

If their idea of a vacation is sitting outside and sipping a glass of chardonnay, then you just found the perfect gift. The Post Wanted team adores High Camp Flasks for this very reason. Each premium-grade stainless steel flask fits an entire bottle of wine and has two integrated tumblers that magnetically attach to both ends. We’ve dubbed these a “glamping essential.”

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Best hostess splurge moment: Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Robe

Cozy Earth has “cozy” in its name for a reason. Simply put, the brand’s offerings — from loungewear to bed sheets — are the softest you’ll experience. Once they fall in love with this waffle bathrobe made with viscose bamboo, maybe they’ll take the hint to keep them on hand for guests next year.

For more options, check out our guide to the best robes.

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Best gift for meat lovers: TRUFF Hot Sauce Bundle Pack

If the host you’re seeing is obsessed with hot sauce, look no further than TRUFF. The brand’s top-rated Hot Sauce Bundle Pack is just shy of $35 and contains its signature flavor of the brand’s original black truffle formula paired with its hotter offering designed for those who enjoy kicking things up a notch. It’s a must-try brand, for sure.

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Best Last-Minute Hostess Gift Ideas

Best for coffee lovers: Nespresso Vertuo Coffee & Espresso Machine

If they’re letting you stay at their home during the holidays, they deserve an extra nice gift. Ideal for the person who loves coffee and making barista-style brews at home, this last-minute gift (for more than $50 off!) is ideal. We have one, and it’s truly worth every penny.

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Best for a sweet-tooth hostess: Junior’s Cheesecake Junior’s Favorites Mini Cheesecake Sampler (18-Pack)

We’ve tried Junior’s Cheesecake via Goldbelly (aka, one of the best food delivery services), and it truly, ahem, takes the cake. For the hostess who loves trying new sweet treats, try the top-rated Junior’s Favorites Mini Cheesecake Sampler (18-Pack).

Upon purchase, you’ll receive raspberry swirl cheesecake, red velvet cheesecake and devil’s food cheesecake. You can also schedule your delivery date — and, the best part – each sampler is individually sized so you don’t have to cut a cake and make a mess.

For more made-to-order options, check out our guide to the best cake and cupcake delivery services.

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Best last-minute hostess gift: 1-800-Flowers Vibrant Floral Medley

When it comes to ordering fresh flowers online, 1-800-Flowers is one of the best services we have reviewed and consistently turn to for all events, from baby shower hostess gifts to “just because we like you” gifts. Brighten up your hostess’ day with any of the brand’s blossoming options, one of our favorites being the Vibrant Floral Medley.

Making a stunning last-minute gift, keep in mind that 1-800-Flowers can typically deliver your bouquet on the same day that you ordered from Monday through Friday, so long as you order by 2:00 p.m. in the recipient’s time zone. It doesn’t get much better than that!

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Best gift for fireside hosts: Rotating Marshmallow Roasting Sticks

Good hostess gifts? Nothing beats warm and gooey campfire s’mores. To elevate their camping dessert experience, we suggest snatching up this best-selling stainless steel roasting set from Amazon. It even comes with a heat-resistant carry bag, which also makes a fabulous addition to your camping equipment.

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Best for home bartenders: The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions

For the hostess who loves to show off their cocktail skills, present to them “The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails & Curious Concoctions.” Serving as a bar cart decor piece and an inspiration flip-through, it also pairs well with one of the best cocktail shaker sets we rounded up.

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Best for Christmas hostess gift to keep them cozy: Hari Mari Casita Slippers

Made from premium nubuck leather that protects against moisture and weather, these cozy, shearing-lined slippers are like a hug for your feet. They’ll love slipping these on all winter long, especially with the cushioned memory foam to embrace their feet. Hari Mari makes cozy slippers for men and women.

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Best gift for music lovers: Amazon Music Unlimited

For the hostess who loves a good jam and wants some tunes on the fly, Amazon Music Unlimited has one of their best offers yet. Since a subscription is free for the first three months, you can gift someone six months for just $30.

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Best for wine lovers: D’Eco Wine Tasting Flight Sampler Set

Grab an easy-to-order Amazon hostess gift — and one that’s super on trend, too — with the D’Eco Wine Tasting Flight Sampler Set. We’ve been seeing flights everywhere, from brunch spots in Scottsdale to wineries in New Jersey — and this affordable option even comes with a chalkboard section (with chalk sold separately) for your hostess to use at her dinner party for a unique addition to the day.

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Best gift for those with patios: Solo Stove Ranger Fire Pit 2.0

As one of the best outdoor fire pits, Solo Stove is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts. The Solo Stove stainless steel Ranger Fire Pit 2.0 is compact, lightweight, and built to travel. Compact enough for smaller spaces or adventurous getaways, it’s the fire pit that transforms any evening into one to remember.

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Best wedding shower hostess gift: Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe

Elegant and designed with a modern flair, the Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe is affordable and great for gifts for bridal shower hostesses or newlyweds starting a home. It’s simplistic yet useful, and it is applauded by nearly 3,000 satisfied reviewers, too.

Not to mention, decanters are some of our favorite and most recommended gifts for any host.

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