Host and Hostess Gifts Under $100
Hostess Gifts Under $100 to Ensure You Never Show Up Empty-Handed
You've been invited to a friend's house for dinner or a cocktail party, and now you just need a little something to bring. Luckily, it's easy to surprise and delight your host if you think beyond a bottle of red or a regifted candle.
We've searched the internet and found some incredible hidden-gem hostess gifts that check all the boxes: they ring in at a comfortable price point (under $100), will slide neatly into a small gift bag, and hit that sweet spot of something your host might not think to buy themself but will find an immediate use for.
From a sushi-making kit to a charcuterie cookbook, scroll through and find the hostess gift you low-key want to keep for yourself.
Sushi-Making Kit
Cowin Sushi-Making Kit ($27)
If you know that your host likes sushi, you can almost guarantee that they'll love the idea of making their own handrolls at home. With this kit, you've not only delighted your host with a new solo or date-night activity, but you've also planted the seed for a make-your-own sushi night — another gathering you'll definitely be invited to.
Ornate Picture Frame
Philip Whitney Ginger Crystal Bubble Picture Frame ($70)
Your host, like most people, probably buys their picture frames in bulk, which automatically makes this ornate frame feel special. Don't be surprised if the next day they text you a picture of their new home decor (the best kind of "thank you" note).
Espresso Martini Ornament
Holiday Lane Foodie Collection Espresso Martini Ornament ($18)
The best gifts come in the teeniest packages. This ornament is the definition of "oh, it's just something silly," but to an espresso martini person, it feels special and considered. They'll think of you every year when they hang their favorite cocktail on the tree. Bonus: if martinis are on the evening's menu, you're perfectly on theme.
Trinket Dish
Dear Keaton Blue and White Lotus Trinket Dish ($24)
This trinket dish has the look of a vintage keepsake and a reasonable price tag. The uses for an artful ramekin-sized dish are endless: a catchall for keys or rings, an olive pit dish, a bowl for dipping sauce. You can trust that your host will immediately find a good use for it in their bedroom, bathroom, foyer, or kitchen.
Kitchen Canister
MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Small Canister ($100)
If you're looking for a gift at a slightly higher price point, consider a MacKenzie-Childs canister. The black and white checkerboard is a classic pattern that looks great in every kitchen and can stand alone or be paired with a two- or three-piece set. Warning: after seeing it on display in your host's kitchen, you might want one for yourself.
Cookbook
"Boards and Spreads: Shareable, Simple Arrangements for Every Meal" by Yasmin Fahr ($24)
A good cookbook is a practical host gift, but a snacks and charcuterie cookbook is unexpected and fun. It's useful, too, because in this book, the author offers 65 different recipes, from a "two-minute feta dip" to a "charred salad platter" that work for a crowd or a work-from-home lunch.
Needlepoint Pillow
Furbish Studio Not my Circus Needlepoint Pillow ($98)
This throw pillow is kitschy in the best way. Your host can display it on their couch or a chair. The saying is evergreen — not holiday-specific — which means the needlepoint can stay out all year long, sparking conversations and a chorus of "cute pillow!" every time someone sits on the couch.
Small Serving Bowls
Lenox Wildflowers All-Purpose Bowls, Set of 4 ($72)
Who couldn't use a new set of dinner bowls? These bowls are deep and structurally ideal, whether they're serving ramen or a personal serving of popcorn. The dainty wildflower motif (dishwasher safe) is evergreen, which means your host won't feel the need to store these away after the first of the year, which they'll also appreciate.
Cream and Sugar Set
Coton Colors by Laura Johnson Signature White Ruffle Cream & Sugar Set ($53)
Filed under things no one buys for themselves but always appreciates having when someone comes over for coffee or tea: a cream and sugar set. This one feels especially thoughtful if you know your host enjoys their morning coffee ritual. They'll almost definitely describe these as "so adorable."
Beauty Box
Prada Beauty 3-Pc. Mini Lipsticks and Lip Balm Set ($55)
If homeware feels uncomfortable to gift — because you don't know your host's taste at all — you can always go with a classically good beauty gift. This set is a winner; it comes with a tinted balm that looks blue but adjusts to your lips' pH to create your perfect shade, and two lightweight matte lipsticks. Plus, a notebook-sized Prada box is very chic to hand to a new friend.
Bow Glasses
Thirstystone Bow Icon Glasses, Set of 2 ($50)
How sweet are these glasses? They work for a holiday cocktail as well as a morning smoothie or a simple glass of water. Your host will love them and probably put them to use immediately. Note: you'll have to mention that these glasses should be hand-washed to protect the red bows from chipping off. But sometimes a special glass is worth a little extra effort.
Peanut Butter Cups
R.H. Macy & Co. Holiday Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Gift Tin ($37)
If your impulse is to gift a box of chocolates, try something sweet that's a bit more creative in presentation — like a big tin of peanut butter cups. One reviewer calls these, "The best peanut butter cups I've ever eaten." Sounds like a crowd-pleaser to us.
