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Dec 09, 2023

The 10 Best Serving Trays, According to Design and Entertaining Pros

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By Betsy Goldberg

Everything looks better on a pretty platter, whether it's homemade hors d’oeuvres or takeout dumplings—and that's not the only reason to invest in some stylish serving trays. Beyond their party-presentation uses, they’re helpful to have on hand for corralling any odds and ends, from cosmetics to desk accessories. Whether you’re looking for a warm wood version, a round one or a serving tray with handles, you’ll find the ideal options in these top picks from design pros.

$129 at Shopbop

Tina Frey's resin pieces are a favorite of design pros for their smooth feel and elegant matte surface, and this white tray, in particular, is a popular pick. "It has a beautiful, clean simplicity, and the special material keeps it elevated and not boring," says New York City-based prop stylist Randi Brookman Harris. "It's a perfect backdrop to put the focus on the food and drinks."

$585 at St. Frank

When it comes to elegant serveware, it's hard to beat a handmade, fabric-wrapped wood tray. This one's geometric print resembles Kuba cloth, a textile with a design made from raffia pieces stitched to a raffia background, the company says. "It's a conversation starter," says Elaine Griffin, interior designer and founder of Elaine Griffin At Home in Brunswick, Ga.—and endlessly versatile. "It's a polished touch in any style of space, from super traditional to effusively eclectic."

$26 at Food52

$32 Save $6

Sustainably made of recycled bamboo, this lightweight option is equally useful for happy hours and breakfasts in bed, according to Will Taylor, New York City-based stylist, design blogger and creator of Bright Bazaar. With their "modern, minimalist look" the servers bring an updated aesthetic to a tablescape, Taylor says. They also make a great gift "for someone who's just moved into their first apartment or any Scandi-style lover in your life."

$195 at Amanda Lindroth

Not only is the wicker revival here to stay, says Griffin, but the material is also seasonless—designers are using it both indoors and out, year-round. And because this leather-handled option comes with a glass insert to level the woven surface, it's useful as a serving tray, food-and-drinks holder on a bar cart and beyond. "It looks great styled atop a bedroom dresser," says Griffin, "or you can pair it with books and objects to anchor a coffee table."

$24 at Wayfair

$37 Save $13

When you want to add warmth to a get-together, this natural Acacia wood option is a winner for its "organic shape and feel of the wood," says Boston-based design and entertaining expert Taniya Nayak, judge of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" on ABC. She's known in her family as the "charcuterie queen" because it's her job to bring one to every gathering, and this moderately priced board is her go-to base. "I buy a few at a time," she says. "I like to leave the tray behind as a host gift."

$295 at Jayson Home

An eye-catching print gives a gathering an instant party vibe, and this high-end tray made of palm wood, natural bone and black resin brings a festive feel to any surface: sideboard, home bar, coffee table or upholstered ottoman. "The tumbling-block design is like the cool, college-age sibling to a simpler, junior high-like checkered pattern," says Brookman Harris. "It's interesting and makes you want to stop and stare at it."

$63 at Wayfair

$84 Save $21

Though it's not actually artisan-crafted, this aluminum tray with a deep gold finish "looks hand-molded, with small dimples and imperfections," says Nayak—and because it's slim, it lends an artful vibe without taking up a lot of space. When you’re not using it for parties, she adds, you can try it topped with candles of different heights on a console table, next to a stack of books and a table lamp.

$48 at Food52

This stylish set made of aluminum, plastic and wood gives you three curvy surfaces at an under-$50 price, to set out nuts, olives, charcuterie, crackers and more. And while Los Angeles-based designer and TV host Sabrina Soto loves the trio for hosting, she says, the nesting trays are also great for organizing odds and ends on a countertop, desk or nightstand.

$50 at Amazon

You can't go wrong with an acrylic tray because it blends with any style of décor, Soto says. This 16-by-16-inch version from a brand known for balancing form and function is a worthy buy, thanks to its built-in handles and seams that, according to the company, are designed to be leakproof.