15 Hosting Essentials for Throwing an Epic Spring Brunch

Hosting an outdoor brunch is one of our favorite ways to celebrate the start of spring. If you prefer to welcome the warm weather from the comfort of your home, we have some good news: With the right hosting essentials — and the help of our best brunch recipes — you can throw a memorable spring brunch that’s just as delicious as your favorite local restaurant.

Setting yourself up with the proper must-have cooking tools is essential — as are a few pretty tabletop finishes that make entertaining al fresco a breeze. “Brunch will be held during the daylight hours, so while I would usually worry about candles or lighting on a table, I would shift my focus to flowers and decorations,” says Maddy DeVita, a New York-based private chef. "Colorful glassware and dishware are a must for spring, and I always love to stop by a local flower shop to pick up blooms. Alternatively, you could even grab extra produce that you’re using in the menu to decorate the table — think citrus, fruits, or anything that will add some color.”

With DeVita's expertise and helpful tips, we put together this list of 15 beautiful brunch-hosting essentials to help you ring in spring in style. From luxe linens to oven-to-table cookware, these hosting must-haves will help you throw a memorable and oh-so-colorful springtime brunch.

A Dutch Oven: Great Jones x Laura Chautin Dutch Baby

Whether you’re whipping up crispy breakfast potatoes or searing sausage links as a side, having a piece of cookware that can effortlessly transition from oven to tabletop is a great way to make your hosting (and dishwashing) duties so much easier. A Dutch oven is a great pick thanks to its sheer versatility; it can handle stovetop and oven tasks with ease and is large enough to help you portion for a crowd. 

When it comes to a spring-ready Dutch oven, nothing beats this sweet collaboration between Great Jones and ceramicist and illustrator Laura Chautin. The workhorse design made our list of best Dutch ovens thanks to its affordable price point and quality cast iron enamel interior. This piece takes things one step further, with a limited-edition bubblegum pink exterior that’s painted with spring blooms, making it the perfect spring touch to your tabletop. 

An Outdoor Dinnerware Set: Kaloh Melamine Outdoor Dinnerware

Dining outdoors comes with a few inherent risks — namely the idea that a rough breeze or rogue elbow can send a prized platter clattering to the deck below. To eliminate any risk of ruining your favorite plates, it’s always a good idea to invest in some durable (see also: unbreakable) melamine dishware for all your al fresco meals. 

This modern set from West Elm made our list of best outdoor dinnerware. At first glance, you can barely tell the pieces aren’t handmade ceramics, thanks to a shiny cream interior and textured exterior that reads like stoneware. Even better, a single set comes with pretty much everything you need, including four of each dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl, and cereal bowl. Oh, and did we mention they’re dishwasher-safe?

Outdoor Drinking Glasses: Fluted Acrylic Drinking Glasses

“I love a signature drink — for a spring brunch, I think a shrub that can be topped off with prosecco or sparkling water is so refreshing and fun," says DeVita. Brunch can get a bit rowdy, especially as that afternoon sunshine (and third shrub cocktail!) hits. To keep guests safe — and your backyard free of glass shards — trade your traditional glassware for more durable acrylic pieces. And, before you think that also means downgrading on style, take a good look at these West Elm beauties.  

They earned a spot on our list of the best colorful glassware, with two different sizes, four different colors, and large or small sets to suit your specific needs. The unique ribbed shape feels just fancy enough for a special occasion brunch, and the BPA-free acrylic means they’re heavyweight, durable, and dishwasher-safe. Even better, they stack like a dream, so you can keep them neatly in your cabinet until the great outdoors calls.

A Linen Tablecloth: Material The Linen Tablecloth

There’s just something about setting the table with real linens that automatically upgrades any dish. Not only are tablecloths a great way to add color and texture to your tablescape scene, but they’ll also protect your surface from any food stains or spills — and prevent your guests from seeing just how faded your outdoor patio table got over the winter. As DeVita says, they're "totally worth it."

When it comes to a quality linen tablecloth that doesn’t break the bank, you can’t beat this pick from Material Kitchen. Available in four soft shades (including a very springy cloud blue), their 100% stone-washed flax linen tablecloths bottle effortless appeal and easy care (they’re machine-washable), allowing you to entertain worry-free. Go ahead, invite your most accident-prone friend — these tablecloths can handle it. 

Linen Napkins: Chan Luu Linen Napkins, Set of 4

Creating an enviable spring brunch tabletop scene is all about adding color and incorporating playful moments that hint at the invigorating energy of the season to come. One great way to do that? By choosing a funky-fresh linen napkin to add a pop of personality to the table. “I know non-disposable napkins sound like a lot of effort, but you only need to pull them out for special occasions,” says DeVita. “And they help to elevate the scene over paper napkins.”

We love the playful Ric Rac trim border found on the beauties from design Chan Luu — and the spring-ready lavender shade doesn’t hurt, either. While investing in quality linen napkins can sting up front, you’ll save big in the long term when you consider just how frequently you’d have to buy loads of disposable napkins. Plus, there’s no better way to impress your friends and show them you care than by pulling out the good stuff, right?

A Breakfast Casserole Dish: Made In x Nancy Silverton 9x13" Baking Dish

If there’s one cookware essential you want on hand as you plan and execute your spring brunch, it’s a roomy baking dish. The kitchen classic can tackle pretty much any task on your menu, from a French toast casserole or a savory spring frittata to cheesy hashbrowns or a Western breakfast bake. Your casserole dish can bring visual beauty to your tablescape. 

As for this Made In casserole dish? Well, it brings all that — and more. Designed in collaboration with famed restauranteur and chef Nancy Silverton, the roomy 9 x 13-inch baking dish is made from the brand’s signature porcelain, allowing for a naturally nonstick surface that earned it a spot on our list of the best casserole dishes. The easy-grip tab handles on each end ensure you’ll never lose your grip as you transport your latest breakfast feast from oven to table, while subtle painted waves on the sides offer a touch of decorative charm.  

Colorful Flatware: Merpa Fantasia Italian Color Handled Flatware Sets

Some people host and then some people really lean into hosting. You know the type: Every event is branded down to a T, with each tabletop element contributing to an overall transportive theme. If you identify with the latter category, then splurging on a colorful set of spring flatware may be right up your alley. 

We love this Merpa flatware set not just for its quality design (it’s made in Italy from superior stainless steel) and classic shape, but also for its selection of vibrant color options. Each piece in the collection features a glorious strip of color down the center, with options ranging from classic cream and black to more adventurous picks like lemon yellow or apple green. While this set is certainly worth the investment year-round, we kind of love the idea of splurging on a standout set of flatware to bring bold style to your spring brunch. 

A Serving Tray: Haand 15-inch Oval Platter

“My ideal menu would be cinnamon rolls, which are always impressive and can be made the night before and baked the day of, plus a savory frittata, sausage, bacon, and lots of seasonal fruit that can be prepared and stay out at room temperature,” says DeVita. Give your scones, croissants, or cinnamon rolls the star treatment they deserve by taking them out of their baking tins and placing them on a luxe platter. You can never go wrong with investing in a few quality ceramic serving pieces that elevate even the most mundane sides into something worthy of a crowd.

This handmade 15-inch porcelain serving platter from Haand has a subtle organic oval shape. It’s still big and sturdy enough to serve even the most hefty main course. The dish is also microwave and dishwasher-safe (cheers for easy cleanup) and comes in a few beautiful bespoke glazes — we love the soft celadon for a spring brunch. 

Outdoor-Friendly Goblets: Tarhong Mesa Acrylic Outdoor Drinkware Goblets

If you’re a fan of setting a formal tablescape, chances are good that you’ll want a water glass and a cocktail glass for each of your brunch guests. Our advice? Opt for a goblet. The versatile vintage-inspired glassware piece can handle whatever you pour into it, from spicy margaritas and bloody Marys to mocktails and iced coffee. A goblet will prevent you from having to cater your glassware pick to all of the various drink preferences at the table.  

Like the other options already mentioned on our list, these outdoor-friendly goblets are made of acrylic, ensuring they’re just as durable as the rest of the dishware you’ve selected for your brunch. The fluted walls and thick stem make them feel much fancier than their pricetag, while the soft pastel shades (including green, pink, blue, and clear) are sure to complement your tablescape or outdoor bar cart.   

An Outdoor Pizza Oven: Ooni Koda 12 Pizza Oven

Want to impress during your next spring brunch? Then it’s time to break out your power moves. Your favorite NYC brunch joint may have celebrity sightings and cute individual bottles of hot sauce, but do they have live pizza making? Yeah, we didn’t think so. An outdoor pizza oven is a splurge, but it’s a worthy one if you entertain often or find yourself with frequent hankerings for a Neapolitan-style pie.  

Ooni is the name in at-home pizza ovens, so it’s no surprise they shot to the top of our list of the best outdoor pizza ovens. Their Koda model is reliable and user-friendly, with a gas fuel source and roomy diameter that makes rotating your pizza (and thus, getting the perfect char) a cinch. Even better, the relatively lightweight design can be moved easily throughout your space, so you can set it aside once cooking is over to ensure there’s plenty of space for mixing and mingling during your bash. If you’re stumped for a way to work pizza into your brunch menu, then give our smoky breakfast pizza recipe a try.    

A Great Pitcher: Artichoke Pitcher by Ichendorf Milano

When devising a tried-and-true recipe for a memorable party, there’s one ingredient you simply cannot miss: a little cheeky fun. None of your guests will be able to let loose if they catch wind that you’re taking things too seriously, so make sure your vibe — and your tabletop — come with a little irreverent attitude. One way to channel that playful energy is with a few tongue-in-cheek accessories, like a fun drink pitcher that can double as a cocktail mixing glass.

This artichoke pitcher is perfectly playful while also serving a functional purpose, allowing you to batch up large portions of iced coffee, cucumber water, or your signature bellinis and serve it to your friends with ease. Dreamed up by Milanese designer Alessandra Baldereschi and handmade by glass artisans, this 52-ounce pitcher — with an adorable (and highly seasonally appropriate) artichoke handle — is made using durable borosilicate glass, so it can hold beverages in a wide range of temperatures (translation: you can use it for hot or iced tea). 

A Big Serving Bowl: East Fork Weeknight Serving Bowl

Just like a serving platter, a big ol’ bowl can add both function and fun to your next brunch scene. The breakfast-coded foods that you could serve up are practical and endless — think family-sized chia pudding loaded with fruit, a zesty citrus salad, or even some hearty breakfast potatoes. Needless to say, finding something to fill your serving bowl with won’t be a problem. 

Neither will hunting down the ideal piece of serveware. For that, we turn to East Fork, the North Carolina B-Corp pottery brand that creates beautiful yet functional pottery that will carry you through the next year of entertaining (and beyond). Their newest glaze launch, Lamb’s Ear, is a verdant yet soft green. It’s the perfect hue for adding a calming dose of color to your Easter brunch table. Their weeknight serving bowl holds a whopping nine cups of food, making it the ideal size for a bevy of brunch dishes, yet not too cumbersome to pass around the table family-style. 

Serving Spoons: Guzzini Dolcevita Outdoor Salad Servers, 2-Piece Set

As a host, there are few things more embarrassing than cobbling together serving utensils from the crock next to your stove — only for them to work so sub-par that you end up dropping a wet piece of lox on your friend’s lap. Hint hint: It’s time to invest in some quality serving utensils and take your rightful place as host with the most. 

There’s not much we’ll need to say to convince you about these serving utensils from Guzzini once you see how cute they are. Available in four vibrant, sunny shades (plus an ever-classic white), the Italian-made pieces are designed using a bio-based plastic that puts plant waste to work as a renewable material. Given their tender roots, you’d think they’d be fragile, but this duo is lightweight, durable, and dishwasher-safe. Even better, the generic shape helps them pick up practically anything on your menu, from tender leafy greens to chunks of fruit salad.  

Dessert Plates: Faye Dessert Plate

When you think of dessert in the context of brunch, you’re almost always referring to some form of pastry. From cream-filled napoleons to petite fruit tartlets, there’s no better punctuation to an indulgent brunch than a little sweet treat. That being said, the last thing your guests probably want to do is pile those delectable desserts onto a plate touting the remains of a runny BEC or a schmear of cream cheese, right?

Enter these darling dessert plates from Anthropologie. Sized to an approachable 8.5 inches, they’re the perfect spot to stash a few sweets for a post-Easter brunch treat. Each pastel-colored plate comes emblazoned with ceramic figurines that perfectly represent the bounty of spring, from delicate cherry blossoms to ladybugs and clovers. Simply put, they’re kind of delightful.

A Vase: Blomus Colora Matte Porcelain Vase

What is a spring brunch without a bounty of blooms to accompany it? Just another Sunday, if you ask us. A few fresh buds are essential to creating a celebratory spring atmosphere, whether you pick them up from your local farmer’s market or snip them from your backyard garden. And of course, you’ll want an equally standout vase to display them in. 

This vessel from Blomus is the perfect balance between spring sunshine and a goes-with-anything design. The matte exterior strikes a modern note, while the non-scratch padding on the base ensures that you won’t damage your countertop or table when moving it around. At almost 8 inches tall, it’s the perfect size for spring blooms like tulips or lilacs, but it won’t prevent guests from seeing each other or conversing across the table.  

Our Expertise 

• Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York. When she's not diving into the latest in food and home decor, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her family.