Listen, we’re clinging to our youth too. But the cold hard truth is if you’re out here looking for dinnerware sets you’re officially an adult. With adulthood comes the expectation to have a few domestic things in order, like a fresh set of bath towels that haven’t followed you around since college, grown-up sheets, or a mattress that doesn’t sit on a box spring on the floor.
And of course every grown-up kitchen should have a full set of matching dinnerware that can be proudly displayed atop some floating shelves.
We’re not talking about that hodgepodge collection of plates you’ve amassed over many moves with many different roommates, a party of scratch-resistant plate sets and platters with more than a few imperfections, the random piece of bone china from a relative, and the drinking glasses that only get brought out for dinner parties.
If you were under the impression that proper dinnerware sets are something you’d receive as a gift for your wedding/first home/30th birthday but you still find yourself with only unchipped plates to call your own, we’re here to help: We’ve scoured the market for truly solid designs for every type of adult and every functionality. And, actually, there is no better time to invest in dinnerware because, like many other corners of the home market, direct-to-consumer companies have modernized the buying process and offer good deals on stylish sets. And don’t worry, we’re not just talking fine china.
From matte, minimalist tableware, and white dinnerware for everyday use to hand-painted dessert plates and porcelain dinnerware sets, check out our picks below.
Five Two
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12-piece Dinnerware Set
Food52’s in-house line of kitchen and dining goods, Five Two, is…well, really good. From a smart collapsible dish rack to hypoallergenic dryer balls, the collections are thoughtful and beautifully designed. Its dinnerware collection features a sunburst design, which brings a subtle flair to the table and looks just as good when stacked on a shelf. This particular set is chip-resistant, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe.
Snowe Home
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The Starter Eat Bundle
Snowe is all about easy ways to outfit your home with bedding, bath, and kitchen essentials through discounted bundles. Its oven-safe porcelain dinnerware is super modern and comes with everything you need, including flatware, making it a no-brainer to buy in a bundle. We’re also big fans of their all-in-one dinner bowls for casual eating.
Leeway Home
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The Full Way
Another brand that’s thought of it all is Leeway Home, founded in March 2021 by Lyle Maltz and Sam Dumas, which offers several packages that’ll set you up for any mealtime situation. The 44-piece Full Way includes four settings with the full stackable monty: flatware, mugs, dinner and salad plates, as well as bowls and—perhaps most importantly—elegant stemmed wine glasses. The stoneware dishes are available in solid earth tones or, for a fun twist, with colorful striped rims.
Fable
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16-Piece Dinnerware Set
Sustainably made in Portugal with recycled clay and shipped in recyclable packaging, the Canada-based outfit is on a mission to become a zero-waste company and is currently pending B Corp certification. To top it off, its high-quality ceramic pieces come in four shades, ranging from light pink to dark blue, and the bundles are mix-and-match if you’d like to change up the coordinating colors.
Material
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The Open Bowl, Set of Four
While they may look delicate, Material’s dining sets, made in partnership with Soil Baker, are solidly crafted with natural Korean soil and feel rugged despite being lightweight. We’ve waxed poetic about Material’s cookware and cutting boards in the past, and we’re pleased to report that the company’s dishes more than live up to expectations.
East Fork
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5-Piece Potter’s Dinner Set
Made in Asheville, North Carolina, East Fork’s earthenware dinnerware has a down-to-earth vibe in refined silhouettes. Choose from a variety of rich neutral tones, including panna cotta and amaro, as well as several set options, from a three-piece set to a seven-piece collection that includes a generous mug.
Made In
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Tabletop Set
Another cookware brand gone tabletop, Made In is preparing for dining domination. Available in a setting for four, the plateware is made in England and Italy and designed to be restaurant-quality. In fact, the brand offers a one-year no-chip guarantee if it doesn’t live up to your dinnertime demands.
Urban Outfitters
Stone Lava Speckled 12-Piece Dining Set
Though it may seem a little questionable to include Urban Outfitters in a piece about adulting, this ceramic set is decidedly grown-up (at a college-kid price). The slightly lipped stoneware will look at home on any tablescape.
Rigby
Breakfast Bowl Set
Another DTC dinnerware company, Rigby, takes the guesswork out of building a collection by offering solid basics in sets of four. Rigby’s designs are made in Portugal and have a substantial weight to them, perfect for the clumsy diner. Prices start from $44 for a set of four mini bowls and top out at $60 for a set of four dinner plates.
Hay
Rainbow Plate
There are few things that make us smile more than Hay’s signature Danish-inspired hues. Its Rainbow series of dinnerware comes in yellow, pink, and brown, so you can assemble a kaleidoscopic set to jazz up your dining table. (See? Being an adult can be fun.) Rainbow plates and bowls by Hay are available from $10 each.
Studio Ro Smit
Dinnerware Set
Studio Ro Smit works with artisans in the Kathmandu Valley to build their dinnerware sets. The four-piece earthenware collection, available in white or cream (pictured), is handcrafted with clay indigenous to Nepal, and the brand works to support the use of traditional techniques in the region.
Mud Australia
4 Piece Setting, Style 2
For the modern decorator who likes variety, Mud Australia’s dinnerware offers both a clear glaze and natural finish on each sculptural piece. We also love the variety of subdued, neutral hues available in the range for a more eye-catching table setting.
March SF
Blue on Blue Splatterware Dinnerware
Splatterware is a centuries-old tradition in ceramics and enamelware, but we love this vibrant modern take from March SF. Handmade and painted in Puglia, Italy, this set is a fun investment that will feed your soul for a lifetime. Prices start at $35 for a soup bowl or fruit plate.
Mosser Glass
Tinted Glass Dinnerware
Retro glassware is back in a big way. Mosser has been producing its signature tinted glass pieces in Cambridge, Ohio, since 1970 but, for most of us, the look is totally fresh. A set of four medium shallow bowls and a set of four plates starts at $110.
Felt+Fat
3-Piece Set
Felt+Fat began making dinnerware for local Philly chefs, and now its handmade designs are available to the public. With smaller spaces in mind, it created its 3-Piece Set, which fits in more compact cabinets and comes in a wide range of colors. Included in the set are a salad plate, snack plate, soup bowl, and dessert bowl.
Hawkins New York
Hawkins New York Ceramic Dinnerware
For those who embrace imperfection, there’s this organic-inspired dinnerware collection, which features a slightly asymmetric design for that made-by-hand look. The price listed is for a 12-piece set with pasta bowls, but other configurations are available.
CB2
Swoon Reactive Denim Dinnerware Set
Decorated with a dusty blue reactive glaze, this stoneware dinnerware set was designed by New York–based ceramicist Tracie Hervy and inspired by prehistoric vessels. The matte finish adds a bit of style, but the focus is on function. Dishwasher- and microwave-safe, this four-piece set is also oven-safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Amazon
Gibson Elite Rhinebeck 16-Piece Set
This set comes with a full setting for four people: dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, and fruit bowls. The whimsical, slightly wavy edge of these pieces will give your table a pop of personality.
Our Place
Our Place Dinner for 4
Our Place is known for its bold color palettes and trendy, minimalist designs. Now you can get an entire matching set in one go. The Dinner for 4 set includes the original nonstick pan, glasses, plates, and bowls. If you’re stuck on color choice, we recommend the bright blue for an instant jolt of energy in your space.
West Elm
West Elm La Jolla Cereal Bowl Set
The texture on these cereal bowls from West Elm is surprising—in a fantastic way. The swirls give off an elevated stoneware vibe despite being made of glass. The set of four bowls is available in six colors: ink blue, pink, white, amethyst, gray, and sage. Plus you can build a full set as there are also dinner plates, salad plates, salad bowls, and chargers available from the same collection.
Wayfair
Crackle 12-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set
There’s a fine line between rustic and…too rustic. We love this melamine dinnerware set for a few reasons, but the first is its subtle nod to the rustic vibe with its crackled edges. The vibrant red color gives it a special pop, and the melamine construction means this set is incredibly durable. Consisting of four three-piece place settings (dinner plates, salad plates, and soup bowls), each piece is stackable, chip-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and BPA-free.
Williams Sonoma
Luna Dinnerware
Each piece in the Luna dinnerware set is a little bit different thanks to the reactive glaze process that gives the plates and bowls a crystal effect as the light changes. You have the choice of buying individual plates, bowls, and mugs, or an entire set for four people.
Crate & Barrel
Mercer Blue Rim Bowls
If subtle pops of color are your thing, this set from Crate & Barrel should catch your eye. A delicate ribbon of color tops every bowl, anchored with a rich, creamy porcelain. Also available with a black strip, these bowls are dishwasher-, oven-, and microwave-safe and can be purchased alongside other dinnerware essentials with the same design.