great gifts for the holiday host

Even a hostess with the mostest deserves (just a little) more. Here are sweet ways to prove that you can please everyone, from your next door neighbor to a high-maintenance (yet lovable!) mother-in-law.

Need gift ideas for everyone on your holiday list? We’ve got picks for men, women, and the kids. Plus, great presents under $50 and stocking stuffers under $25.

This flaky salt is collected by hand on the coast of France—just the right touch for finishing everything from winter salads to fudgy brownies. ‘Tis the seasoning to spoil your favorite cook.

A perfect gift for the friend who is still using select-a-size paper towels as napkins. Neutral linen goes with any decor, and the calligraphy is printed in a timeless, deep navy.

In lieu of another bottle of wine, bring something to spice up the cocktails. Call us old-fashioned—make us one, too, by the way—but these bitters, a blend of cinnamon, clove, and allspice, feel like holiday nostalgia in a bottle. Also available in a Citrus blend.

The eight special-occasion chocolates may not make it past the first day of Chanukkah, but the modern lucite menorah will be a keepsake for years.

Chocolate and literary lovers will adore this decadent set. Each 72 percent cacao bar, shelved in a box like a collection of novels, is paired with a different super food, from acai berries to walnuts. So, basically, they’re health food.

The pom pom edges will look charming hanging over the arm of her husband’s “I-can’t-part-with-this” leather recliner. Proving that some gifts only a good friend can give.

A version of those day-of-the-week file folders for the kitchen: colorful and cheeky dishcloths that will perk up the daily cleaning routine. 

Got a hostess you don’t know very well? These neutral linen coasters with a please-all message work for any decor and occasion.

Fill this cheerful caddy with an assortment of the host’s favorite beers, soda, or even fancy condiments.

A genius way to remember whose Manhattan is whose. Guests can write their names on the chalkboard strip of these sleek wooden coasters.

Those lemons aren’t going to juice themselves. Fortunately, this tiny hummingbird’s sharp beak stands ready to help prep the whiskey sours (or lemon vinaigrette on his nights off). Even the smallest kitchen has room for this cutie.

Owls are supposed to be wise, right? This one certainly is. And the pun gets better as the night goes on.
Also available in penguin and bee. 

Shake things up at the table with a sophisticated and unexpected pair. 

You can’t go wrong with a sleek white ceramic pitcher. Especially one with a golden rim that sets this one apart from the rest of her pretty serving pieces. 

She’s begging for that photo from your Instagram feed. Present it with a little (brass) flair. BTW: Real photos will never go out of style.

For the friend who isn’t into everything matching: eight plates perfectly sized for the fried chickpeas, olives, or her favorite Tzatziki dip. 

Even a well-stocked bar will make room for a new opener with a cool shape and fancy solid brass finish. 

Cocktail-lover on your list? You’re covered with a book that’s filled with spirits she can whip up all through the year.

Design aficionados will be down with this simple structure that supports two-dozen pencils standing tall. 

A warm, herbal fragrance with notes of patchouli, vanilla, and lime. File under: a gift idea that will never ever get old. 

Your old college roomie (aka “the bookworm”) will make room on her shelves for this set of six unique used tomes.  

This just in for the holiday table: Turquoise teams up with chocolate for a poppy set of napkins. 

Frequent entertainers know the most valuable tools work double-duty. Meet cutting board in the kitchen, serving platter on the holiday table. 

This is peppermint with a twist: the nostalgic scent has partnered up with warm, woody bourbon for an exhilarating combination that goes straight to your head. Talk about getting fresh!