Our Favorite Dishes for Eating and Drinking Outdoors

Aug 28, 2023

After a new round of testing, we will soon be adding the following new picks: Meri Meri's Floral Bamboo Plates, Red Co.'s Enamelware Plates, and Williams Sonoma's Sicily Melamine Plates and Soleil Melamine Plates.

For many people, summer means eating outside. It’s the time to dig shatterproof cups and dishes out of storage and put them to use, whether at a beach picnic or a poolside barbecue.

Good outdoor tableware should be lightweight and durable enough to toss into a tote and bring to the park and safe to use wherever bare feet may be in the picture (ahem, no glass or ceramics).

When we asked our staff for their favorites, they vouched for an array of cute yet sturdy enamelware, bamboo and melamine plates, and plastic cups. All are excellent alternatives to disposable dishes and add personality to your table (or blanket).

Xenia Taler Bamboo Dinner Plates (about $50 for four at the time of publication)Xenia Taler Bamboo Bowls ($45 for four at the time of publication)

During the summer, I take my dinner to a park near my apartment in Brooklyn at least once a week, and after years of eating my picnics out of reused takeout containers, I upgraded to a set of light, bright bamboo plates and bowls from Xenia Taler. The plates are slim, and the bowls stack neatly, so they’re easy to toss in a picnic bag. There’s a huge array of fun plate patterns to choose from, and I love that you don’t have to stick to just one. Although you can get a matching set of plates if you want, you can also choose your own mix of patterns in a set of either four or six dinner plates, four or six side plates, or a combination of side and dinner plates—it’s the perfect option for the indecisive. Keep in mind that if you want a matching full set, the bowl pattern options are limited to just two prints: Lido and Studio. Like most bamboo ware, it can’t be microwaved, but it is top-rack dishwasher safe.

—Marguerite Preston, senior editor

Falcon Enamelware 3-Pint Jug (about $55 at the time of publication)Falcon Enamelware Tumbler ($11 at the time of publication)

The item that started my obsession with Falcon Enamelware was its simple yet versatile dinner plate—it’s deep enough to nestle unruly pasta without attaining soup bowl status, and it looks great. Which led me to the rest of the line. That’s when I fell for the statuesque 3-Pint Jug, which comes in a variety of colors (I ended up getting the rich mustard-yellow version, though now I’m also drawn to the fiery pillar-box red and sophisticated burgundy). I use mine to bring ice water or batched cocktails to the porch, and I love it as a decorative item—I display it in my kitchen when it’s not in use, and I sometimes fill it with cut flowers, whose beauty it manages to enhance. And I wasn’t able to resist getting the pitcher without some tumblers. I aspire to collect them in a range of colors, so guests will know which cup is theirs once they’re a few drinks in.

—Gabriella Gershenson, editor

GSI Outdoors Pioneer Enamelware Plate ($11 at the time of publication)GSI Outdoors Pioneer Enamelware Mixing Bowl ($4.50 at the time of publication)

These classic blue and white-speckled enamelware plates and bowls from GSI Outdoors remind me of the dishes my mom served us meals on during our yearly camping trips to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, or some other great national park west of the Mississippi. Though I haven’t yet braved camping with my own four kids, I use the plates and bowls for summer dinners on the stoop in front of our Philadelphia row house or for picnics in the park. They’re comfortable to balance on your lap and nicer to eat from than disposables. (I regularly use them indoors with my younger kids, too; the plates have survived many tosses and falls.) GSI has a range of plates, bowls, mugs, coffee pots, and other wares, available in blue, cream, black, and green (we also recommend the table set in our picnic guide). They add a touch of the great outdoors even in the center of the city.

—Courtney Schley, supervising editor

Glitterville Studios Harlem Toile de Jouy Plates ($55 for a set of six at the time of publication)

I live in the high desert in Southern California, where winters can be cold and windy. Now that the weather is warm again, I’ve been using these brightly colored melamine plates for outdoor meals almost daily since I got them. They make even an after-work cheese plate feel special and put together. I love the Harlem Toile pattern created by interior designer Sheila Bridges, a unique and beautiful take on traditional French toile de Jouy designs from the 1700s that showcases everyday scenes celebrating African American culture and history. The plates have a soft, matte finish and a raised, scalloped edge that plays on the traditional paper plate design—and keeps our food from falling off the side, even if we stroll around with them. I wash these dishes by hand, but they are dishwasher safe. There are also matching cups and platters, which I hope to add to my collection soon.

—Daniela Gorny, supervising editor

Hudson Essentials 7-Ounce Stainless Steel Cups ($15 for six at the time of publication)Hudson Essentials 12-Ounce Stainless Steel Cups ($20 for six at the time of publication)

My philosophy with outdoor drinkware is that less is more. Larger cups are heavy, take up too much space, and are easy to knock over, and your tall, cool drink warms up before you finish it. These petite stainless steel tumblers are lightweight, look pretty, and hold enough to quench your thirst. Best of all, they stack snugly together, taking up little room in a cupboard or backpack. The 7-ounce size works great for kids (a smaller cup means less liquid to spill). I find the slightly larger 12-ounce tumbler is a good adult-size cup, whether for ice water, wine, or splitting a beer. Of course, if you like a more capacious cup, you can find similar versions in bigger sizes.

—Courtney Schley, supervising editor

Brümate Winesulator + 2 Uncork’d XL Wine Tumblers ($75 at the time of publication)

Equal parts festive and functional, this sparkly ombre tumbler and carafe set instantly elevates whatever outdoor fete it accompanies—in my case, usually a picnic at Griffith Park or an afternoon at the beach. The insulated carafe holds a full bottle of wine (or 25 ounces of lemonade, iced tea, or seltzer, if that’s what the occasion calls for), and it keeps contents chilled for over 24 hours (though I’m always too thirsty to push it to this limit). The tumblers and carafe come with locking lids to prevent spills, and the durable stainless steel makes them safe to enjoy poolside or wherever else glass is ill-advised. Should your carafe leak, rust, or fail to properly insulate, Brümate offers a lifetime warranty; my set has held up just fine for the three years I’ve had it. The set comes in several other color options (some sparkly, some more understated) as well as other drinking shapes (growlers, Champagne flutes, and the like).

—Dorie Chevlen, staff writer

U-Konserve Steel Food Containers (starting at $20 at the time of publication)

These stainless steel containers appear unassuming and utilitarian, but that allows their contents to be the main event (and they look especially nice lined with parchment paper, as I’ve learned from a foraging educator I follow on Instagram). The lids stay on securely, the tough metal body and thick plastic lid can survive falls or getting banged around, and the containers pack easily into a backpack, tote, or picnic basket. We take them on hikes and have used them for kids’ school lunches: They can do it all. Though they’re technically intended for food storage, the stainless steel vessels do excellent double duty as serving dishes when we’re eating on the go—all you have to do is remove the lid.

—Winnie Yang, supervising editor

Poketo Bamboo Dinner Plates in Grid Set (about $50 for four at the time of publication)Poketo Bamboo Serving Bowl in Pebbles (about $30 at the time of publication)

I got these plates from Poketo’s line of bamboo tableware for eating outside and packing for picnics because they’re reusable and lightweight (we also keep some in our bug-out box with emergency supplies). They add a festive graphic element to my picnics and tablescapes, but they also just brighten up a regular weekday meal. The dishes are all printed with food-grade ink, and they come in an assortment of bold patterns and geometric prints, which you can find on bowls, dinner and salad plates, serving bowls, and cups. Even though they’re technically dishwasher safe, I rinse and dry them like normal plates (though I avoid leaving them soaking in water).

—Gregory Han, Wirecutter contributor

Le Creuset Everyday Enamelware Serving Bowl Set ($65 at the time of publication)

I’m a total Francophile and couldn’t resist the retro, nautical style of Le Creuset’s Everyday Enamelware. It makes sense that the company that defined enamel-coated pots and pans would excel at enameled dishes and serveware, too. The lightweight metal pieces are perfect for outdoor eating: They don’t break, and the orange, white, and blue color scheme and clean, crisp stripes telegraph breezy summer vibes. I’m especially fond of the serving pieces. I like to use the set of three deep nesting bowls for salads and cut fruit, and when I’m entertaining, I grab the oversized serving tray, with its high sides and easy-to-grip handles, to carry platters of food from my kitchen to the porch. (I use it again to clear the table—it’s amazing how much I can fit on it.) Le Creuset also has a set of floral serving bowls if that’s more your style.

—Gabriella Gershenson, editor

Pillowfort 7.3-inch Plastic Kids Plate (50¢ at the time of publication)Pillowfort 10-inch Plastic Kids Square Divided Plate ($1 at the time of publication)Target’s Pillowfort kids line makes fantastic, durable, and cheap tableware—our family has used Pillowfort’s round plates for my daughter for years. We’ve put them through countless runs in the dishwasher and never had to replace any of them, plus the colors are cheerful without being garish. We recently got some of the larger divided plates to use for outdoor meals, and while they’re perfect for kids, they’ve got a casual, camp-canteen vibe that works for adults, too. The animal prints are subtle, and the plates are a roomy 10 inches square (dinner-plate size and larger than many paper plates). At a recent cookout we piled them with sausages, burgers, salad, and potatoes. They’re sturdy enough to hold a mountain of food at any potluck, and so far they’ve survived the dishwasher just as well as Pillowfort’s smaller plates, with no warping (they’re also microwave safe). Plus, they’re only a dollar a plate!

—Jackie Reeve, senior staff writer

Vermont Bowl ($225 for a large walnut bowl at the time of publication)

Mixing and serving a crisp salad out of a big, wooden bowl is so satisfying—the larger the bowl, the better. (I recently got an entire recipe book on salads, and I’m so excited to try it out this summer.) Unlike glass, plastic, or metal, a wood bowl won’t break or blow away, and the “soft” surface doesn’t clang against utensils or tables. And wood bowls aren’t just for salads or outdoor meals—they work for just about everything else year-round like a fresh batch of popcorn or a side dish for dinner. I found mine at an estate sale years ago—a thorough scrubbing and a new coat of sealant did the trick—but good wood salad bowls abound. You can find reasonably affordable acacia ones, like this Williams Sonoma salad bowl, or beautiful heirloom walnut pieces like the Vermont Bowl we recommend in one of our gift guides.

—Daniela Gorny, supervising editor

This article was edited by Gabriella Gershenson and Daniela Gorny.

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