Hosts know that there’s no such thing as having too many plates.
There’s always something else to arrange artfully and send around the party or present on the table in a flourish for all your guests to admire.
Whether you’re hosting drinks, a dinner party or have a houseful to feed, a good platter can save you from running back and forth to the kitchen or serving things on individual plates.
They’re great for carrying mountains of sides to the table - think Sunday roasties and heaped green salads for weekend BBQs - or piling a grazing feast for yourself when you’re parked in front of Netflix or sunbathing in the garden.
Serving platters come in all shapes, sizes and styles meaning it’s easy to find a look that will work for you. They’re also easy to store so you don’t have to limit yourself to just one. A couple of coordinating styles will allow you to extend or minimise the feast depending on the guestlist you’re catering for.
When shopping for a platter do consider not only what you’ll be using it for but where as well. A hardwearing design made from melamine is more likely to survive an accidental tumble onto the garden patio than a ceramic or stoneware version.
As well as traditional platters, the category covers serving boards of all types from turntable Lazy Susan designs to novelty chips ‘n’ dips sectional trays. Cheeseboards are a type of serving platter too and although we have a dedicated list of the best, we’ve included a few in this list to give you an idea of what’s out there.
Shop the best serving platters below
Nathalie Lété Titania Serving Platter
Serving as a centrepiece and a piece of tableware this whimsical platter comes from the design genius of Nathalie Lété. Crafted from stoneware, the handpainted design brings a playful edge to the 22cm long platter and there’s about enough space to keep fruit or serve a small pastry dessert.
Buy now £28.00, Anthropologie
Abigail Ahern Adra Marble Serving Board
Call on the luxury of marble to elevate aperitivo hour in your garden. Abigail Ahern's red and white veined design has us reaching for our plastic, the oval shape is perfect for arranging charcuterie, cheeses and select fruit.
Buy now £32.00, Abigail Ahern
Truly Lifestyle Pom-Pom Stoneware Oval Serving Platter
If the choice is a table with pom-poms or one without pom-poms, we know which side of the fence we’re on. The trend is all over the interiors world and now you can find the joyful little balls edging serving platters from Truly too. The vintage-style dish is finished in a neutral off-white hue and will serve beautifully as a setting for everything from roast chicken to hot melty nachos.
Buy now £38.00, John Lewis
Anthropologie Old Havana Serving Platter
This beautiful tea-coloured platter follows a traditional oval style and is finished with a reactive glaze on stoneware, creating a crackle effect. It’s easy to care for too being dishwasher, microwave and oven safe to 250d. Handmade in Portugal we love it for lavish family-style get-togethers.
Buy now £68.00, Anthropologie
Soho Home Balfern wooden serving board
Make like the members club and serve your VIPs in style with a 32cm platter by Soho Home. The arty piece is crafted from 100 per cent wood. But not just any wood: this is fossilised timber from Indonesia, believed to be around 20 million years old (which rather explains the price). We'd keep this for a really special party when no stops are left unpulled.
Buy now £190.00, Soho Home
Bordallo Pinheiro Geranium Serving Platter
What table couldn’t benefit from the presence of extra greens? Make your setting feel wholesome - even if you’re tucking into guilty pleasures like fried chicken - with Bordallo Pinheiro’s plates. The iconic look riffs off geranium leaves (one of Portugal’s national flowers, where the piece was made) manifested in earthenware.
Buy now £75.00, Fortnums
Marble Rotating Lazy Susan Cheeseboard Turntable 35cm White/ Light Grey
There’ll be no need to reach over to your guests or ask for anyone to pass the Camembert with this rotating Lazy Susan board. Simply load it up and swivel until you can reach the nibbles you’re after. The marble look is ideal for charcuterie as well as cheeses, measuring 35cm across and 3cm deep.
Buy now £29.98, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Cena Blue Terracotta Chip & Dip Bowl
Need simple snacks to go with happy hour? This sombrero-style platter is shaped to arrange crisps or tortilla chips around the edges with a small integrated bowl to hold dip or salsa. If it means less washing up, we're on board!
Buy now £39.50, Oliver Bonas
M&S Daisy Large Stoneware Serving Platter
Flowers on the table that won't wilt or die and are as functional as they are pretty; M&S delivers all this with its daisy-themed design. Rendered from stoneware to look like the flower, it's just over 30cm wide and is ideal for serving small canapes or petit fours.
Buy now £18.00, M&S
Oliver Bonas Bon Appétit Ceramic Octopus Platter
Planning seafood on the menu? Have your serving platter stick to the script with this aquatic-inspired platter, made for lighthearted summer dining. Made from resilient stoneware, the piece is dishwasher and microwave-safe with the octopus artwork hand-printed onto the surface. Matching tableware is available for those who want to go the whole hog.
Buy now £15.00, Oliver Bonas
