How To Throw A Successful Dinner Party: Kitchen Set-Up Tips

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One of the reasons why restaurants can push out enough food to feed hundreds of diners every night is their mise-en-place, AKA their kitchen setup.

It turns out that this is also how to throw a successful dinner party!

This guide is designed to give first-time hosts some pointers on how to stay cool, organized, and enjoy the party. We’ve compiled 15+ years of tips for spending less time in the kitchen when your dinner party guests arrive.

From cocktail stations to room setup, you’ll have everything you need to not freak out when that doorbell rings.

Because with the right planning and kitchen setup, anyone can be a gracious host.

Create Strategic Kitchen Zones

If your menu is fairly simple, you probably won’t have to worry about this one. However, if you have 5+ dishes or several courses, take notes!

What are strategic kitchen zones?

By creating distinct zones for prep, cooking, and plating, you can reduce (mental + physical) clutter, making the process smoother and more efficient.

Set up all your tools within reach of their corresponding zones (i.e., spatula and wooden spoon by the stove, whisk near the salad dressing, and tongs near the salad plating station).

If you have the space, we also recommend setting up a staging space for served dishes for plating and garnishes. Think about choosing a spot with good lighting so that you can capture your masterpieces!

Try to avoid using the dining room for prep or storage to preserve the mood and prevent last-minute scrambling or cleanup.

Finally, if a cocktail pairing is on the menu, set up a cocktail station! Make sure it’s far enough from your main cooking area to prevent traffic jams.

Tips For Small Kitchens

Use any vertical space you have for storage, and clear countertops the day of the event to maximize your workspace.

When we used to entertain in our first home, a 600-sq. ft. condo, we would store any unnecessary appliances, like the toaster or Magic Bullet, in the storage closet to maximize our workspace.

Start Your Prep the Night Before

We’ll say it again: prepping everything that can be prepped is the most important thing about throwing a successful dinner party.

It reduces stress and gives you a chance to identify any last-minute missing ingredients.

What should I prep the day before?

Chop vegetables
Marinate proteins
Pre-measure ingredients (i.e., spices, dried herbs, etc.)
Prep salad dressings
Garnishes for drinks

For a more comprehensive list of what to prep the night before, check out our time-stamped checklist for dinner party planning.

Select Your Menu Strategically

If you are still new to the dinner party planning process, choose main course dishes that can easily be started ahead of time. Consider braised or slow-cooker dishes that hold well at room temperature or can be reheated.

If it’s your first dinner party, a roast chicken is usually a safe bet for a main—given you have a meat thermometer to check for doneness, of course!

But if you like the excitement of cooking in front of your guests (like we do), then consider something like a sous vide steak that just needs searing when guests arrive.

Explore our article on different cooking methods and techniques to decide what makes the most sense for you.

Our best advice for emerging home cooks:

Reserve 1-2 dishes for last-minute preparation, choosing simple, prep-ahead plates for the rest.

Pre-Batch Cocktails and Beverages

Batch all the liquor in one bottle for easy serving, alongside the juice, soda, or syrups and garnishes at a designated cocktail station.

If you decide to pre-mix liquors with syrups and juices in a carafe or pitcher, make sure to leave a mixing spoon and remind your guests to mix before serving; liquor and juice tend to separate after a while.

Don’t forget to leave a bowl with ice—nobody likes room temperature cocktails!

If you’re hosting a large group with different tastes, consider setting up a drink station with a second option, such as wine, wine glasses, and water glasses, the night before or the morning of.

Prepping Garnishes (& Other Little Details)

Prepare any finishing touches, like fresh fruit garnishes, herb sprigs, and straws, the morning of, so guests can start enjoying themselves as soon as they arrive while you cook away!

Store fresh cut citrus or herb garnishes as early as 24 hours in advance by storing them in an airtight container with a moist paper towel to prevent them from drying out.

Alternatively, store fresh herb sprigs in a glass of water or in a glass jar, like a mini bouquet of herbs.

Use small ramekins to organize garnishes by dish or drink. Feel free to leave these out at the cocktail station, especially at large dinner parties with self-serve cocktail stations.

If buying fresh flowers for the dinner table, make sure to buy them the night before or the morning of.

Time Management for the Main Event

We’ve found that the best way to manage cook times without losing your mind (or burning things) is to use timers and stagger dishes.

In general, we like to keep the first hour of guests arriving light on cooking tasks so that we can focus on welcoming guests.

A lot of people will have everything perfect and ready for when guests arrive, but that’s not really our style. Our hosting style is a bit more in-the-action.

And since we have an open-concept kitchen, we have the opportunity to put the finishing touches on all our dishes while still interacting with guests.

Sometimes, guests actually like to step in and help out, so we aren’t too rigid about having everything perfectly done upon arrival.

At the end of the day, being a good host is more about spending time with people than perfect timing and IG-worthy plates.

Still, having the right kitchen setup does play a role in fostering connections.

Good Hosting Setup Creates a Good Atmosphere

As we mentioned in our dinner party ambience article, yummy food is just one part of the sensory experience.

We know it sounds silly, but setting your kitchen, living room, and dining areas up for optimal flow actually encourages good conversation. It gives your guests the room to relax instead of feeling like they need to help you tame the kitchen chaos or rummage through a messy fridge to find the soda for their drink.

Little things like lighting, a good Spotify playlist, and clean, comfortable seating are always a good idea. They instantly make your kitchen look less like a mad scientist’s laboratory and more like a moody, intimate restaurant.

Plus, once you know where everything is and that your guests have everything they need to enjoy themselves, you can actually grab a glass of wine and enjoy yourself with them!

Cookware As Setup & Ambience

Another understated aspect of your hosting ambience is your cookware. Several cookware essentials can double as kitchen setup tools.

For example, you can use a rimmed baking sheet for hors dourves or a cast-iron pan or Le Creuset Dutch oven for a classy, yet rustic serving dish.

What’s Your Signature Hosting Setup?

Now that you have the inside scoop on how to throw a successful dinner party, it’s time to start experimenting!

Because, to be honest, there is no one way to throw a good dinner party. Everything depends on your space, style, menu, and friend circle.

And if some part of the setup doesn’t work out this time, don’t lose faith—trust that you will find a better approach for your next dinner party.

One of the best ways to prep ahead is to build a solid repertoire of different cooking methods and techniques. This way, you can choose dishes that you know can be easily prepared the day of or ahead of time.

If you prefer a customized kitchen setup and prep tips based on your menu, check out The Gourmet Host App. It’s basically like a digital co-host that gives you an hour-by-hour task list to ensure your dinner party runs smoothly. It also adjusts your menu and grocery list based on the number of people on your guest list—yes, really.

Join the waitlist today!