The Best Gifts for Weekend Hosts, According to ‘New York’ Editors

“A round cotton-terry towel is a fun gift. Also thisFisher’s Finery blanketis a bit expensive, but who doesn’t want a cashmere blanket?”—Wendy Goodman, design editor

“I love getting my hosts a rare book or a first edition that relates to their specific interests.Vintage cookbooksfor amateur chefs, out-of-print monographs for friends who are photographers, or signed copies of novels for literary types, for example. If I know I’ll be staying with someone well in advance, I look oneBayor Amazon’srare books. If it’s last minute I’ll run over tothe Strandor even grab one off my own shelf. I like to leave them unwrapped, so it feels more casual, or tie them with agrosgrain ribbonand tuck anice noteinto the front, for a more personal touch. That and abottle of wine, and we’re in for a great weekend.”—Stella Bugbee, editor-in-chief and president, the Cut

“I think Areaware coasters are the best — cool and kind of expensive-looking without actually being crazy expensive. The cube-looking ones are a bit tired to me now, but these stripey ones feel surprising and unique. They come inblackandwhite.”—Jason Chen, senior editor, the Strategist

“Cire Trudon’s Abd el Kader candlewould make a great host gift. Unique in the world of candle scents where everything smells either orangey, smoky, or figgy, this smells like an aromatic cup of freshly brewed mint tea, the kind made using real mint leaves and not that tea-bag nonsense. It’s a rich scent without being cloying, and notes of jasmine and vanilla make it smell unlike anything you might get a whiff of in the dentist chair. You’ll never have smelled a candle like this before, trust me — and in the best way possible. It does run a little expensive, so for a thriftier alternative I also like the candles fromBoy Smells.”—Kathleen Hou, beauty editor, the Cut

“My go-to gift is abottle of wine, but if not that I like giving things that make rooms smell good, like Aesop’s room spray.”—Diana Tsui, senior market editor

“I usually bring Prosecco, because it’s so cheerful and nearly everyone likes it. I like a cheapie likeMionetto. It doesn’t taste tremendously different from the more expensive ones, and it is so inexpensive that you can show up at someone’s house with two or three or four bottles, which appears extravagant and lets everyone start throwing it back.” —Chris Bonanos, senior editor

“Since we know almost no one outside the art world we tend to rely on bringinga can of Campbell’s Tomato Soupwhich I sign Andy Warhol. Otherwise I tend to bring two or three big bottles ofCanada Dry seltzer waterbecause that’s pretty much all I drink. I always bring a $20 bill for the kids; works wonders.”—Jerry Saltz, art critic

“My best gift these days is old Saul Steinberg books, two in particular:The Art of LivingandMasquerade.”—David Haskell, editor for business and strategy

“I’m going away this weekend and my gift to the host is that I’m paying someone to clean the house after we leave. It’s best gift you could ever give.”—Miranda Dempster, art director

“If your host is intogardening, go forFrances Palmer pottery, like avaseto show off freshly cut flowers.Beautiful cook booksare also always welcome—in the country there’s time for cooking, and hopefully fresh produce, too.”–Amy Larocca, fashion director-at-large

“A Max Lamb Crockery carafe is very sculptural and very beautiful in either white or black. It’s the type of thing they’ll have forever.”–Jody Quon, Photography Director