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Besides the obvious — curated menu, drinks (including nonalcoholic), and a robust guest list — it can be hard to discern what you need to host a successful party or dinner party. What if there’s a lull in the conversation? What if the playlist sucks? What if you don’t know which drinks to serve? There are a lot of questions, and luckily we’ve consulted the experts.
We’ve tapped Dani Bao, the founder of Chevere Means Cool, and Alexandra Winbush founder Brittney Winbush, who both regularly host dinner parties, for details and ideas we’ve bookmarked and screenshotted, like Bao’s seashell glassware. We asked them to share all their favorites, including drinks to serve and the best glasses to impress your guests. Read on to shop their picks.
Engage your guests
“Moments of interaction (especially upon arrival) are important,” Winbush explains. One of her favorite ways to engage guests is wineglass markers; guests can write their names or draw a little picture on their glasses. “It’s a perfect way to initiate conversation and sometimes collaboration, depending on the task,” she says.
Keep the conversation going with a game that will deepen your connections with new and old friends. Bao’s favorite deck of conversation cards features questions that include sharing stories and new facts — no more awkward icebreakers.
Set the mood
“Other than food, of course, I would say my absolute favorite kind of night is when the dinner party turns into a dance party, so a good playlist is key,” Bao says. “My friend Sebastián Granda made a great one for a summer-inspired dinner we co-hosted, but I also love a good Latin throwback mix to get everyone dancing.”
There are very few occasions that candlelight doesn’t improve. Accent your table with a few of these colorful and cool candles in your favorite candleholders.
Senior shopping editor Bianca Nieves swears by the Philips Hue smart lightbulbs for setting the mood. You can change the colors and dim the lights via app; her go-to is a low-lit orange.
If you’re cooking and don’t want your home to smell like food, Nieves recommends a candle as a quick fix. This one from Costa Brazil has notes of vetiver and cypress root.
Nieves’s favorite candle from Nette has notes of palo santo, sandalwood, and cardamom.
Serve up something creative
“Creating an attractive wine station is always a hit in any season,” Winbush says. Her go-to drinks include an Aperol spritz or Prosecco-and-St-Germain. She suggests leaning into the color theme or season with colorful garnishes like citrus or flowers.
For nonalcoholic options, Bao loves Ghia with sparkling water and a splash of lemon.
Glasses should be just as good as the drinks. Winbush keeps these colorful glasses on hand but also love vintage glassware and mixing and matching pieces from Glass Studio.
Fferrone’s glasses are a standout option for your espresso martinis and your bar cart.
Etsy is another good resource for affordable and unique vintage. Bao loves the little floral detailing on these goblets, and she also loves DIY options to house her favorite Pisco Torrentera cocktails.
Nieves likes to keep interesting cups on hand for guests. “Cleaning up after hosting is the most tedious part, but I like to make sure all my friends have a special cup/glass in their hands,” she explains. “I’ve been collecting wine cups from Fazeek, Danny D’s, Our Place, and even ones from Studio Ghibli. They serve as great conversation starters, too.”
Nieves go-to glassware from Fazeek is the clear Wave wineglass with the brand’s signature wavy silhouette.
These unique wine cups adorned with little cacti are Nieves’s favorites and bound to start a few conversations.
Another favorite of Nieves’s, this is bound to start a conversation among Studio Ghibli lovers.
Include a few conversation pieces
If the cards don’t get people talking, your serveware will. Winbush loves this unique oyster plate from Chell Fish that you can customize with little details like cherries and flowers.
This stainless-steel Alessi tray features compartments for four different appetizers.
One of Bao’s pregaming destinations is Mellow for ceramics like this Sun Bowl and Marlow & Daughters for fresh produce.
Keep your favorites on hand
“I love when my coffee table is looking almost too full from all the little bowls and boards prior to the main event,” Bao says. Her favorites from Le Creuset are the perfect size for a variety of nuts, olives, chips, and her favorite gluten-free crackers. Plus they’re stackable for easy storage after the party.
“Big Night is one of my favorites right now,” Winbush says. “Whether you love hosting or you’re just starting to test the waters, this place is a dream. From décor to tableware and even specialty food items, it has it all.” She recommends going in with an idea of exactly what you want in order to save you some time and money. One of her favorites is this honey duo you can drizzle on fruits and cheeses.
Our experts:
- Dani Bao, Chevere Means Cool
- Brittney Winbush, founder of Alexandra Winbush
- Bianca Nieves, the Cut’s senior shopping editor
