Whether you're hosting BBQs or Easter brunch in the garden, the best outdoor tableware set for your garden furniture will see you through it all. Come rain or shine, these plates and bowls are here to help you serve your delicious meals and snacks.
Get ready to host the best dinner (or day) party your guests have ever seen. If you're one for entertaining friends and family around a fire pit, then the best outdoor tableware sets are what you need. The sustainable solution to your classic paper, plastic plates, and old regulars at garden festivities is outdoor dinnerware – it is much more durable than paper and more than your precious indoor china.
Best outdoor tableware sets at a glance
• Best for subtle design: Orangery Melamine Dinner Plate, Set of 4 - View at John Lewis
• Best budget outdoor tableware set: Set of 4 Elements Picnic Plates - View at Dunelm
• Best overall set: Set of 4 Summer Resort Picnic Dinner Plates - View at Marks & Spencer
Perfect if you're anxious about bringing your prized indoor dinnerware outdoors, these sets can be just as charming. With monotone colours and gorgeous designs, they can help shape the best dinner or breakfast table. Check out our round-up of the best outdoor tableware sets perfect for hosting your next gathering. They'll look perfect on your garden dining sets - for outdoor parties and get-togethers.
The best garden tableware for dining outdoors
Best for subtle design
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Description
Bring a little sunny yellow to your outdoor crockery collection with this cute Orangery Melamine Dinner Plate, Set of 4. Thanks to John Lewis. the fruity design will freshen up your table and will look extra sweet paired with natural table decor and glasses of lemonade.
Pros
- Lightweight for picnics and parties
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
Best outdoor dinnerware set for breakfast
Wayfairwww.wayfair.co.uk
Description
We can picture it already, sun shining and an 'Instagrammable' breakfast on deck, dining in style outdoors with this gorgeous melamine tableware. This House of Hampton Huerta 12 Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set comes with bowls and plates, ready to be filled with cereal, porridge and a full English!
Customer review: "I fell very much in love with these online. They resembled some expensive ceramic plates that I bought in Glastonbury a few years ago, I couldn't believe that there was a melamine version out there. When they arrived they we more vibrant than the picture (I was hoping they would be) and their irregular shape is just charming! They will look amazing in my dresser in my new campervan! I can't wait to see them up!"
Pros
- Scratch, chip-resistant and dishwasher-friendly
- With an attractive and vibrant finish
Cons
- Some customers found these plates not up to their standard
Best outdoor dinnerware set for afternoon tea
M&Swww.marksandspencer.com
Description
How sweet are these M&S Set of 4 Scallop Side Plates? Ideal for al fresco dining in the Spring, this country-chic set is a must for afternoon tea and cake. Plus, if you're a fan of the aesthetic, you can get matching dinner plates, cereal bowls, and cereal bowls separately - or as a set.
Pros
- Quirky and eye-catching design
- Dishwasher-safe for an easy clean
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
Best outdoor dinnerware set for serving snacks
www.wayfair.co.uk
Description
Serve the night's dishes in these ridiculously gorgeous and perfect-for-summer serving platters. Whether you're a proud plant parent or love a splash of green, these Bay Isle Home Jeane Melamine Dinnerware 10 Piece Set would complement any tableware; think a tasty spread with Greek salad.
Customer review: "Great outdoor serving combination."
Pros
- Easy to clean in the dishwasher
- Lightweight and vibrant for picnics
Cons
- May not be everyone's taste
Budget outdoor tableware set
Dunelmwww.dunelm.com
Description
Whether you're at a picnic or a BBQ, this Set of 4 Elements Picnic Plates is calling your name. Thanks to Dunelm, these summery plates are dishwasher-safe and fridge-friendly for cool, clean tableware. Plus, they're perfect for either indoor or outdoor use - and are designed with a subtle ribbed effect.
Customer review: "Great little picnic plates, good value for money and they are exactly as described."
Pros
- Dishwasher and fridge safe
- Great for indoors or outdoors
Cons
- The design is a little simple
Best overall set
M&Swww.marksandspencer.com
Description
Elevate your outdoor dining experience with this charming Set of 4 Summer Resort Picnic Dinner Plates. This convenient set includes four plates, each boasting a stain-resistant finish and dishwasher-safe design, ensuring both style and practicality for your al fresco dinners.
Pros
- Attractive striped design
- Dishwasher safe for easy clean
Cons
- Unsure if chip-resistant
Best picnic platter
M&Swww.marksandspencer.com
Description
Add a playful touch to your picnic with this vibrant Summer Resort Shell Picnic Platter. Crafted from durable yet lightweight melamine, it's dishwasher-safe for effortless cleaning.
Pros
- Durable yet lightweight melamine
- Dishwasher-safe for easy care
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
Best outdoor drinkware set
M&Swww.marksandspencer.com
Description
Whether you're treating yourself to some champagne or a glass of Pinto Grigio, M&S have got you covered! From large highball glasses to tumblers, this collection of two-tone drinkware has you covered for late-night dinner parties outdoors, so you don't have to worry about any broken glasses the morning after. The Set of 4 Ikat Brights Two-Tone Wine Glasses are chic and fabulous.
What's the other available options?
Set of 4 Picnic Tumblers
Set of 4 Picnic Highball
Pros
- Create a colourful tablescape
- An eye-catching contrast rim
Cons
- Handwash only
Best budget glassware set
Dunelmwww.dunelm.com
Description
Super affordable, this Riviera Set of 4 Stacking Tumblers proves that plastic cups don't need to be boring and ugly. These stacking tumblers are bold in colour and perfect for outdoor use during the summer. Say goodbye to broken glass and hello to this colourful plastic alternative.
Pros
- Lightweight, stacking design
- Summer colourway
Cons
- Handwash only
Best drinkware for a cocktail
Anthropologiewww.anthropologie.com
Description
Vibrant vessels for toasting to life. We love this Lucia Acrylic Coupe Cocktail Glass, Set of 4 from Anthropologie. They appear in colourful acrylic with a vintage-inspired long-stalk silhouette. Gorgeous.
Customer review: "Lovely to drunk from no taste to them like some have and colours are so vibrant and pretty easily tones with blues greys greens etc so nice well worth the money and arrived quickly in good condition all pristine!"
Pros
- Dishwasher safe for easy clean
- Made from shatterproof acrylic
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
FAQs
How to make the perfect tablescape for Easter
Porcelain experts Villeroy & Boch have shared their top tips on how to dress the perfect table for Easter to make this bank holiday weekend the most special yet. Renowned for beautiful glassware and tableware fit for every occasion, they've shared five top tips to help you style the best outdoor tableware sets for Easter - whether you're hosting Easter lunch or simply looking to up your Sunday lunch game.
Add some texture to your table with a tablecloth or table runner
Instantly elevate your garden dining table by dressing it with a tablecloth or runner. If you're looking for something Easter-themed, opt for a pastel-coloured fabric, or choose a simple white cloth to make your outdoor tableware pop. You'll find runners, glassware and more in our garden party gift guide.
We love the Oranges Table Runner from Furn.
Forget a big centrepiece, flowers are as efficient and add a touch of colour
Flowers can bring a touch of elegance to your table and if you're looking for the perfect springtime flower, we'd recommend tulips. They come in bright colours, and you can place them or the flower of your choice in a stylish vase. We don't recommend bringing your potted flowers to the table, though.
We love these very on-trend Mushroom Shape Bud Vases from The Giftologist.
Candles are essential for creating an ambience
If you're choosing to dine outdoors don't forget to stock up on some garden candles to finish off your table - it adds ambience and keeps those pesky flies away. Choose a colour that complements your table setting and opt for a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
The most important... the tableware!
The tableware you choose can bring the feeling of Spring onto your plates. We've shared our pick of the best tableware for dining al fresco. Or, if you're just planning to enjoy a few botanical drinks in the garden, we've found some great outdoor break-resistant glasses and tumblers.
How we chose the best outdoor tableware
All of these outdoor tableware sets have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered material, features and personal style in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching the best outdoor tableware sets to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And, with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
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Description
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace, tending to her houseplants and chilling in her jungle garden with her sausage dog Waffle.