17 Best Flatware Sets for Dinner Parties, Basic Meals, and Everything in Between

By Erika Owen

Finding the best flatware sets can be harder than you’d think. Dessert spoons, serving forks, steak knives, soup spoons—it’s hard to know what to do with it all. Sure, it’s in the name of each piece of cutlery, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re referring to the mountain of silverware that more often than not becomes the dangerous place you dig around for tableware at the risk of coming out with a dinner knife injury. So take a minute and assess the mess of fork tines in your drawer. Chances are that it’s time for an upgrade (and a clean-out).

Whether you’re looking for a versatile cutlery set for everyday use, a gold-finish set that will take your tablescape to the next level, a silver-plated set for guests of honor, or a minimalist sterling silver silverware set that will have dinner party attendees snapping inspiration photos, consider this your official table setting guide.

Ahead, you’ll find our top picks from our favorite retailers for the best flatware that will get you excited about table setting for special occasions. Now you just have to find the perfect cookware, serving utensils, and a dinnerware set to use alongside it.

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Designed by David Mellor, this 5-piece set of flatware is made of stainless steel and features a subtle sculptural design. The polished satin finish offers a beautiful texture that will brighten up any table. This set includes a teaspoon, dessert spoon, dinner fork, salad fork, and a knife.

The black resin handles on the pieces on this flatware set it apart in texture and aesthetic. The five-piece set includes a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, teaspoon, and a tablespoon. Dishwasher safe, it’s sturdy enough to serve as everyday flatware and chic enough to pull out for special guests.

Available in a 14-piece set or as a 16-piece set and in four colors, these brushed stainless steel serving pieces are a bit nostalgic and a bit trendy. Each piece is dishwasher safe, ultra-strong, and best paired with an outdoor bistro table dining situation. Each set includes a dinner fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and a teaspoon.

The resin handles on this flatware set almost look like teak wood, and we’re really into that. Each set comes with two forks, two spoons, and a knife.

If a monochromatic vibe is what you’re after, consider this matte black, budget-friendly flatware set. The silhouettes nod to Scandinavian design and the PVD-coated stainless steel construction is sturdy. Each set has a salad and dinner fork, butter knife, and two spoons.

This flatware set has serious range, and the color options are truly inspiring (there are 19 hues to choose from). Available in sets of 5 or 20, the silver flatware is accentuated with a brightly colored resin handle. Each set comes with a table fork, table knife, soup spoon, teaspoon, and salad fork.

The flatware set introduces something you never knew you wanted: a standing knife. Thanks to a specially designed handle, the knife is easier to grab and more comfortable to hold. All of the pieces in this set are forged from the highest grade of stainless steel (which is also resistant to corrosion). Each set comes with a salad fork, dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, teaspoon, and knife.

By Nicolas Milon

By Valentina Raggi

By Sydney Wasserman

Available in green, blue, pink, black, and white, this 24-piece flatware set is dishwasher-safe and super durable. We love the sculptural handles, which would look right at home on the table of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Each set comes with a knife, fork, spoon, and teaspoon.

If you find yourself a fan of the standing knife, here’s another set that will bring you some joy. Made of a combination of chromium and nickel, you won’t have to worry about corrosion. This is a great option if you’re looking for basic, everyday-use silverware. Each set comes with a teaspoon, knife, dinner fork, and tablespoon.

If you’re looking to stick to a tight budget, you don’t have to skimp on design details. This 20-piece stainless steel flatware set has a subtle ribbed texture on the handle, giving it a touch of style without commanding the attention of the entire table. Despite the set’s mirror finish, these pieces are still dishwasher friendly. Each setting includes a salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, and a teaspoon.

By Nicolas Milon

By Valentina Raggi

By Sydney Wasserman

If you love the look of the bamboo handle but you’re rocking more of a modern tablescape, don’t worry. The handle design on this five-piece place setting pays homage to the original Juliska vibe while adding a touch of modern style with its metal construction. Each set comes with a dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon. The 20-piece set also includes a serving fork and spoon.

If you’re looking for a sturdy backup set of flatware—you know, the utensils you pull out of the drawer when you have a few unexpected plus ones join for dinner—this set will get the job done for far less than other flatware sets. Each set includes a salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, teaspoon, and a dinner spoon.

Oneida is a go-to brand that has filled the silverware drawers in kitchens around the world for generations. This particular set comes with a dinner knife, dinner fork, salad fork, dinner spoon, teaspoon, one sugar spoon, one butter knife, and one serving fork.

By Nicolas Milon

By Valentina Raggi

By Sydney Wasserman

The extra curve at the top of each handle gives this set a kick of personality, the kind of design choice that shows you get it. Dishwasher-safe and rust-resistant, this set comes with a dinner fork, salad fork, teaspoon, tablespoon, and dinner knife.

There is something so summery and picnicky about this set from Irwin Ribera. Available in two colors, each set comes with a knife, table fork, salad fork, tablespoon, and a teaspoon.

This set is a classic piece of midcentury Scandinavian design—but it’s far from stuffy. The elongated cutlery looks like you got a bit too close to a black hole while setting up for dinner (and we mean that in a fun, “this silverware has personality!” kind of way). Each set comes with a large spoon, large fork, knife, small spoon, and a small fork.

By Nicolas Milon

By Valentina Raggi

By Sydney Wasserman

It’s funny how the smallest of curves can completely change the personality of a piece of silverware. That’s the case with this iconic design from Henning Koppel. This design was created in 1957 and would look just as modern on a table today as it did the day it was released. The Caravel set has also won a number of design awards—so it’s really like adding a piece of history to your dinner table. Each set comes with a dinner fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, luncheon fork, and a small teaspoon.

By Audrey Lee

By Erika Owen

By Sarah Madaus

By Angela Wei