‘The classiest gift I’ve heard of’: what to bring to a dinner party (that isn’t wine or chocolates)

From fancy olive oil to jazzy tea towels, skip the obvious and surprise your host with one of these creative dinner party gifts. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I’m convinced that the same bottle of Whispering Angel and box of Lindor chocolates have been doing the rounds among my friends for two or three years now. It’s not that we don’t like them (what’s not to like?); it’s that they are such easy gifts. Every host saves them for when they’re next a guest, in an unspoken game of Pass the Provençal Rose.

Yet the reason wine and chocolates are such popular dinner party gifts is the same reason they get passed around: they’re often generic. They’re not thoughtless per se, but they rarely suggest a huge amount of thought for the personality or taste of the host. With many people drinking less and putting more effort into entertaining, the best guests are those who bring something thoughtful to the table, something that’s either clearly intended for the host to enjoy after the party or more helpful than a bottle of generic red could ever be. That could be nibbles, nice napkins, candles – anything your host may not have had the time or inclination to cover, on top of catering. These are some of the best I’ve heard of, given or received.

Truffle nuts. £16.50 for 250g at Daylesford Organic. Perelló gordal picante olives. £3.20 for 350g at Sainsbury’s. £3.95 for 350g at Fine Food Specialist. Delicious as they are, crisps are not a gift. They’re an offering, to be torn open and shared. No matter how bougie the brand is – looking at you, Torres – a bag of crisps implies it should be instantly cracked open. A nice pot of nuts or a can of quality olives, however, could go both ways. They could be nibbles on the night, but they could also be stowed away for the host to enjoy. Opt for those with classy packaging – Perelló, Mevalco, Espinaler for olives; Brindisa, Daylesford, Honey & Co for nuts – that can be repurposed once their contents have been gobbled up. If you know the sorts they like, so much the better.

There are all sorts of reasons one might want a seating plan for a dinner party: mixing friends, setting up prospective couples, separating bickering couples. Yet, on top of cooking, cleaning and everything else, writing out name cards can feel like a chore too far. If only a calligraphy-loving friend, or simply a friend with good handwriting, could do the honours? If that’s you, invest in some quality card and offer up your skills.

Ueshima house blend ground coffee. £3.75 for 250g at Morrisons. £4 for 250g at Ocado. Ueshima house blend whole beans. There aren’t many smells better than when you open a fresh bag of coffee for the first time – and it’s in your power to bestow that on your host for the morning after their dinner. Now in its sixth (or is it seventh?) wave, Britain’s coffee is better than ever – and so too are the packets. Seek out your local artisan roaster and buy from them or, if there isn’t one near you, go for Japanese brand Ueshima, which is available in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado. The coffee house’s sustainably sourced, Japanese-roasted range comes with a string of Great Taste Awards, and in classy, calligraphy-adorned packaging.

Need a little more help on picking the best beans? Our expert tells all in our guide to essential coffee kit. Tomate linen tea towel. £16.95 at Graham and Green. For once, a TikTok trend I can get on board with: a wine bottle wrapped in a jazzy new tea towel. Everyone always needs new tea towels – they’re often on show, and they never stay white for long. As for the wine, well, to those crying “loophole”, I’d point out that by wrapping it in something more substantial than tissue from the wine shop, you’re implying it’s a special bottle for the host to enjoy at a later date. The Royal Academy of Arts has beautiful tea towels, as do Graham and Green and Maison Flâneur.

For a low-alcohol alternative to wine, read our guide to the best alcohol-free drinks. Yiayia garlic extra virgin olive oil. £22.99 for 200ml at Selfridges. £25 for 200ml at Harvey Nichols. Citizens of Soil extra virgin olive oil. £23 for 500ml at Ocado. £24.50 for 500ml at Abel and Cole. The dinner party gift du jour, and with good reason: a bottle of quality extra virgin olive oil is at least as expensive and as beautifully presented as a bottle of quality wine – and far more useful, particularly for non-drinkers. It’s also more likely to be on permanent display. For my money, Citizens of Soil, Galantino, Yiayia and Honest Toil offer maximum value when it comes to aesthetics and taste.

Recycled paper wildflower napkins. £4.75 for 20 at Talking Tables. Saluti cocktail cotton napkins. £26 for four at Anthropologie. Another finishing touch your host may not have time, money or patience for, but which they – and your fellow guests – will appreciate. Nothing kills a well-laid table quite like a fat roll of kitchen towel, but all too often that’s all I’ve had to offer. Spare your host the shame, and buy a pack of recyclable paper napkins (Talking Tables) or better still, treat them to a set of linen napkins. Summerill & Bishop has a beautiful selection, as does Anthropologie.