Wishlist 2016: Festive Gift Ideas for Holiday Entertaining

This convertible set features a large autumn-red bowl that conveniently nests a trio of smaller bamboo-­fiber dishes. Serve chips alongside three dips, or create a bed of ice beneath crudités. Triple dipping is encouraged. SFMOMA Four-Piece Party Server | $26

Surprise your guests with one of the 85 illustrated drink recipes from this book by Sasha Petraske, the owner of the famous New York speakeasy Milk & Honey. Sorry, but your frozen margarita can’t beat a mezcal-and-cayenne Saladito. Regarding Cocktails | $30

This burly robot maid is the post-party cleanup droid you’re looking for. Equipped with a 360-degree camera, Dyson’s autonomous floor-sweeper can chart the best path around a room, dodging obstacles as it goes. A 78,000-rpm digital motor provides serious suction. It’s connected too, so you can schedule sorties from your phone. Dyson 360 Eye Robot Vacuum | $1,000

What’s crackin’? Oysters, of course! This ergonomic knife’s varnished bubinga handle affords excellent blade dexterity, so you’ll never slip before you slurp. The blade folds too, so it can be safely tucked away for a picnic. Opinel No. 9 Oyster and Shellfish Folding Knife | $20

This colorful little box packs way more audio punch than its looks suggest. An acrylic shell hides five speakers motivated by 300 watts of power, and the touchscreen-and-knob controller will run virtually any streaming service. It’s also wireless, and at about 8 inches a side, it’s small enough to stash in a corner—but who would do that? Mu-so Qb Speaker | $1,000

The team behind the instructional cooking videos at ChefSteps designed this smartphone-controlled immersion circulator for sous vide cooking, a technique in which food is sealed in a plastic bag and submerged in a bath of water. It’s powerful enough for a pro chef, and at 11 inches, it’s small enough to squeeze into a kitchen drawer. ChefSteps Joule | $199

Spice up poker night by dealing cards that boast a midcentury casino vibe with a minimalist spin. Serious cardists will notice the sharp, crisp edges, which allow for advanced moves. Just don’t be tricked by the joker’s faceless design. Art of Play Saturn Cards | $15

Before you rip up half your backyard to construct that pizza oven you’ve always dreamed of, check out this miniature version. It weighs a comparatively scant 24 pounds, comes with a baking stone, and runs on wood pellets, so you can get that wood-fired flavor without the major construction project. Uuni 2S Wood-Fired Oven With Stone Baking Board | $299

Revel in the design of these smart chopsticks. The weighted silver base lifts the sticks’ tips off the table, so they stay sanitary without a separate chopstick rest. More important, the buttery feel of the walnut makes them a pleasure to use. Gravity Chopsticks | $40

The diverse textural surfaces of these hand-sanded brass coasters highlight the balance between the delicate geometric patterns and the brushed metal. Nothing will make your brown liquor on the rocks look more enticing. Kiel Mead Brass Coasters | $30 each

If you’re sick of babying your cast iron, switch to something stronger and better-­looking. This oven-safe casserole is made of recycled iron and covered in vitreous enamel and sand casting, so it can take just about anything you throw in it without getting scratched. Crane Cookware C1 Casserole 23cm | $165

Give your dinner party some gravitas by placing this stunning centerpiece among the sides and sauces. A scoop in the middle creates playful reflections. Hermès Centerpiece in Lacquer | $1,100

This cozy woven fabric bench adds a dash of color to your next mixer. Get a few of them and create a modular lounge area that can be manipulated to accommodate an impromptu party of any size. Poppin Pool Blue Block Party Bench | $549

If your Sonos system could use some low-end fortification, pair it with the company’s wireless subwoofer—now available in white. Dual force-canceling speakers face each other to eliminate unwanted vibrations and supply clear, powerful bass. Boom! Instant EDM party. Sonos SUB | $699

Step away from oversize cocktail glasses and try these elegant 1930s-inspired Nick and Nora glasses. This 5-ounce cross between a wineglass and a martini glass will make it easy for you to get across a dance floor without spilling a drop of precious gin. Well, easier. $42 for six

After one sip of this American take on an aperitivo, you'll develop a deep love for the bitter stuff—what the Italians call amari. Its closely guarded botanical formulation creates a distinctive flavor that reminds us of woodsy outdoors with a hint of spice and incense. Just don’t Google the reason for its stunning red color (cochineal) midgulp. $30

Outdoor furniture is hard to maintain, but with a porcelain enamel top, this bar cart can tolerate everything nature—and you—can spill on it. Built to endure corrosive ocean air, it’s the perfect accessory for the pool at your vacation home. Now all you need is a vacation. $2,851

The solid feel of this hand-cast iron bottle opener suggests something passed down for generations. Seasoned in organic flaxseed
oil to seal the metal, Borough’s 100-percent-recycled piece is ideal for even the most boisterous beerfest. $30

Bring professional mixology to your home with a bar set we could see in a scene from the next Bond flick. With a precision-­engineered shaker, jigger, bar spoon, strainer, and crystal mixing glass like these, your cocktail will be dashing—shaken or stirred. $178