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The Best Gifts for Hosts Who Really Know How to Throw a Party

These top-notch gifts arrive right at your doorstep.

2023-11-28
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*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands. Alcohol delivery and alcohol sales are permitted in certain states and only to people 21+. Please drink responsibly.

Welcome to Block Party’s Gift Guides! You can find the below items on DoorDash. 

So you’ve been invited to a holiday party. Or two. Or four. If finding a superlative gift in a sea of average feels insurmountable this season, you’re not alone. And if running from store to store feels like an exercise in futility: I hear you. Luckily, DoorDash can come in handy not only for dinner, groceries, and household restocking, but also for gift-giving. 

This list is a personally curated gift-giving guide to my favorites, from snacks for food-loving friends to bottles of wine and spirits that I’d drink at my own house (make a note, friends and fam). Make your list, check it twice, and grab your host something extra nice. 

California Olive Ranch Global Blend Extra Virgin Medium Olive Oil

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For the friend who always lands back in the kitchen: a large and good-quality bottle of everyday olive oil, ideal for everything from salads to accompanying crusty breads. Made from a blend of oils sourced in California, Portugal, Argentina, and Chile, this is a medium-bodied, smooth oil that is excellent for all-purpose use. 

Large Acacia Serving Bowl

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Doing double-duty as a set piece and a serving bowl, this gorgeous Acacia wood bowl can dish out a massive salad or lie in wait on display until your giftee is ready to use it. Bring your cold side for the potluck right in this giftable bowl and watch your host brighten at the sight. 

Pinhook 2020 Flagship Bourbon Whiskey

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Ninety five proof with aromas of orange peel, clove, cinnamon, and candied pecans, this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is an aromatic and bespoke gift for any host who also shares an appreciation for craft spirits

Set of 4 White Marble & Brass Inlay Coasters

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A host can never have too many coasters, particularly when company arrives. These white marble and brass inlay coasters offer one added benefit: They help to keep your glass a little cooler on the bottom (and they look good while doing it). 

Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvee with two Laila Ali Modern Living Champagne Smoke Grey Flute Glasses

A bottle (or two) of sparkling wine can be a party upgrade. For my money, the Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvée is as good as it gets at the entry-level price point. Complement it with two smoke gray flutes from Laila Ali Modern Living collection and you have an effervescent holiday gift. 

Chesapeake Bay The Collection Black Jar Candle Vanilla Birch

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Vanilla, smoke, and a hint of baking spice come through in this soy-based candle that smells a little like fresh-baked cookies (what speaks more to the holidays, after all?). A lovely candle in exchange for a lovely evening: This gift wins brownie — or is it cookie? — points. 

19 Crimes Snoop Dogg Cali Red Wine

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A red blend, but make it a little bit 90s. Even my sommelier-trained palate can’t help but appreciate the whimsy of a wine created by the Dogg himself. Made with a blend of Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet grown in Southeastern Australia, this is a bold, spicy wine that will hold up to the richer fare of the holiday season

Game Blanket Twister Board Game, CVS

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Bring the party with you! This iconic game of contortion is a great way to end a holiday soirée. Encourage the whole group to join in on the twistable, turnable fun. 

Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Diffuser

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A bespoke gift for the bespoke host, Jo Malone’s beautiful and aromatic diffusers look (and smell) great in any room of the home. Gift this one to the host with impeccable taste who always knows just what to serve and how to serve it. 

Wolffer Estate Rose Summer In A Bottle

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I like my rosé all year round, which is why I bring Wölffer Estate Vineyard’s Summer In a Bottle wherever I go. This onion skin pink wine from Sagaponack, New York, is a heady blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Vermentino. 

Gourmet Popcorn Large Gift Basket from What’s Poppin (ships nationwide) 

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This New York-based, family-owned business ships their gourmet, popcorn-filled gift baskets nationwide, meaning you can create a customized and delicious gift no matter where you live or where you’re headed. Fill it with your choice of flavors (wasabi, hot wing, caramel, and cheddar are just some of the winning options) and you’ve got a gift that’s fit for a host who loves to snack. 

Hendricks Lunar Gin

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A soft, aromatic, and floral limited-edition gin, this spirit is distilled with Pink Lady apples, roses, black peppercorns, honeysuckle, musky rose, and fresh cucumber. A deep and spice-driven drink that pairs well with the coldest time of year, it’s a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates a flavorful spirit

Blanc de Blanc Square Footed Cake Plate with cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery (ships nationwide)

The cupcakes that made cupcakes famous in the early 2000s are now available on DoorDash for nationwide shipping. Your host can put these pretty pastries on display atop a square-footed cake plate. Warning: They tend to disappear quickly.  

Van Leeuwen French Ice Cream Honeycomb and a Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Scoop, DashMart

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Sweeten up the party with a pint of Van Leeuwen’s artisanal French ice cream (the honeycomb is my go-to, but if praline butter cake is your jam, so be it). Add a little bit of gifting je nais se quoi with a cute ice cream scoop. I’m a fan of the easy-to-grip — and easy-to-look-at — one from Kitchen Aid. 

Boar's Head Genoa Salame Prosciutto Riserva Stradolce and Soppressata Charcuterie Trio, DashMart

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Contribute to the snacking table with some delicious cured meat, delivered straight to your door via Dash Mart. The Boar’s Head Genoa Salame, Prosciutto Riserva Stradolce, and Soppressata are an ideal spicy-savory trio.

A DIY Holiday Baking Basket

Embrace baking season with a DIY baking basket filled with holiday favorites like sugar cookie mix, spice cake, cookie cutters, sprinkles, food coloring, and dish towels — all in a beautiful decorative basket. DoorDash has everything you need for a baking bonanza delivered straight into the hands of your thankful host. 

Tracey Boyd Capiz Decorative Tray

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Sometimes, the perfect gift is something simple and beautiful. This Tracey Body Capiz Decorative Tray is just the thing to make a living room, sitting area, or kitchen look just a little nicer. It’s a host gift with style, and one your giftee won’t soon forget. 

Godiva Goldmark Assorted Cake Inspired Chocolate Creations, CVS

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With flavors like red velvet cake, chocolate lava cake bliss, and birthday cake bliss, these limited-edition Godiva chocolates say: Let’s celebrate! Buy one for your chocolate-loving friend and, if you’re feeling inspired, a second for yourself. It’s the holidays, after all. 

Divina Organic Pitted Castelvetrano Olives and President Brie Soft Ripened Cheese, DashMart

Shower your host with high-quality snacks that can be enjoyed by all. I can’t get enough of Divina’s Organic Pitted Castelvetrano Olives, which are equally delicious for eating and for popping into martinis. Paired with perfectly ripened President Brie cheese, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. 

Sedona House 20 lb Weighted Gray Blanket, CVS

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After a long night of entertaining other people, your host will likely want nothing more than to cozy up on the couch. You can help make this dream a reality with a weighted gray blanket, a 20-pound vehicle to Dreamland that will make even the most exhausted entertainer say: ahhh.

PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Quitoriano