The Best Dinnerware Sets To Elevate Your Dining Experience

When it comes to dinnerware, you don’t want to lazily pick out just any old set. After all, the plates and bowls that grace your dining table should reflect not only your lifestyle, but your personal style. Out of the best dinnerware sets on the market, we believe the top pick overall is the Vietri Italian Lastra Collection Dinnerware Set. Friendly for everyday use, this white stoneware set can go in the dishwasher, microwave and oven—and it’s stylish to boot. For a more affordable set, we’ve been impressed by the Amazon Basics 18-Piece Kitchen Dinnerware Set, an inexpensive porcelain option that provides a clean canvas for home cooked meals or takeout.

For a stoneware dinner set, we love this colorful option from Hawkins New York.

Depending on your household, though, there might be another even better option out there for you. When shopping for dinnerware sets, consider the material, care instructions, price and pieces. For example, are you looking for a basic, kid-friendly set of plates and bowls for everyday use? You might look into sets made of melamine, an extra durable material that can go in the dishwasher. Or would you rather invest in a collection that you can add onto with additional platters, serving bowls, trays and tumblers? Consider sets that let you build the collection yourself. From outdoor-friendly options to contemporary ceramics, here are the best dinnerware sets for your kitchen.

Amazon

Material: Italian stoneware | Number of settings: One | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: Yes

If you’re in the market for a set you can use everyday, you don’t want something that’s too delicate or precious. But at the same time, you don’t necessarily need to go for the most basic, budget-friendly set either. If you’re using this dinnerware set for most of your meals, you should love really love it. That’s why this Vietri Lastra set is our number-one pick overall—it’s beautiful while still being durable enough for daily use. Handcrafted in Italy, this four-piece stoneware set includes a dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl and cereal bowl, all of which are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. But the best part? Vietri also sells matching serveware so you can add onto your collection with platters, canapé plates, a butter dish and more.

Amazon

Material: Porcelain | Number of settings: Six | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: Yes

Don’t want to drop hundreds of dollars on a dinnerware set? No problem. Consider this durable, wallet-friendly porcelain option from Amazon Basics, which is perfect for college students and new homeowners. Basic enough for everyday use, each set includes six each of salad plates, dinner plates and cereal bowls. Sweetening the deal, everything can go in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven (up to 572 degrees).

Bloomingdales

Material: Limoges porcelain | Number of settings: N/A | Dishwasher safe: No | Microwave safe: Yes

Formal dinnerware doesn’t have to be dated. Case in point: These elegant pieces from renowned French porcelain brand Bernardaud. Each item is sold separately, meaning you get to build your ideal dinnerware collection. Among the pieces you can add: 10.5-inch dinner plates, 8.5-inch salad plates, and 6.5-inch bread and butter plates, as well as tea cups and saucers. Like Vietri, Bernardaud also sells matching serveware like gravy boats, soup tureens and platters. For holiday gatherings or special occasions, this modern set is your best bet.

Food52

Material: Stoneware | Number of settings: Four | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: Yes

If you’re in search of a stylish set of stoneware dinnerware, this bestselling, shockingly affordable collection from Hawkins New York fits the bill. Sold in gorgeous hues like olive green and mustard yellow (as well as bone white), each 16-piece set includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four pasta bowls and four cereal bowls. You can also customize your collection by adding on a set of mugs and pinch bowls, either in the same color or a different pretty hue.

Lenox

Material: Melamine | Number of settings: Four | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: No

Prized for its durability, Melamine dinnerware is ideal for outdoor entertaining or houses with little ones, as the material is nearly unbreakable. Out of all the options on the market, this patterned collection from Lenox is our favorite. Not only does the set come with the standards—four dinner plates, four accent plates and four salad bowls—but also four tumbles, two salad servers, a serving platter and salad bowl. With its striking blue and white pattern, this lightweight is ready for al fresco dining, poolside meals and cookouts. Just know that these pieces can’t go in the microwave, which can damage the material over time.

Bloomingdales

Material: Bone china and 24 karat gold | Number of settings: One | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: No

Despite the materials that go into this set—bone china and 24 karat gold—it’s anything but fussy. Featuring a bold, contemporary appearance, each set includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, cup and saucer. Like many of the premium sets on this list, you can add on accent plates, serving bowls, a teapot and more. And while these pieces doesn’t come cheap, the craftsmanship that goes into them is unmatched; in other words, they’re built to last. And the cherry on top: Everything is dishwasher safe—no hand washing necessary.

Williams Sonoma

Material: Porcelain | Number of settings: One, four or five | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: Yes

Made in France, this versatile porcelain set checks all the boxes: It’s modern, durable and relatively affordable. Sold in 5-, 16- and 20-piece sets (for one, four and five settings, respectively), the smallest option comes a dinner plate, a salad plate, a soup/pasta bowl and a teacup with saucer. Dress them up or dress them down—thanks to their classic coupe design, these pieces are resilient enough for everyday use but elegant enough for special occasions.

East Fork

Material: Stoneware clay | Number of settings: One | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: Yes

East Fork is an Ashville, North Carolina-based pottery company known for their modern, handmade designs that are equally popular among home cooks and restaurants. While you can’t go wrong with any of their pieces, their Shallow collection in particular is perfect for everyday use and entertaining alike. The 5-piece set includes the brand’s signature breakfast bowl, an everyday bowl, a cake plate, a side plate and a dinner plate. Choose between nine different glazes including staple hues like amaro (a brick red color) and eggshell (white with a brown rim, pictured above), as well as seasonal shades like butter and orchard.

Food52

Material: Bamboo and melamine | Number of settings: One or four | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Microwave safe: No

We love this buildable dinnerware set for its bright colorways like coral, light blue, yellow and blush pink. Another reason to love it: The pieces are family-friendly and eco-friendly. Made of bamboo fiber and cornstarch, the plates and bowls equal parts stylish and sustainable. There’s also a little bit of melamine in the mix, making them safe for dishwasher use and outdoor dining. Available in 4- and 16-piece settings, the former includes a dinner plate, salad plate, low bowl and cereal bowl (and the larger option includes four of each).