I Have Dinnerware From All Over the World—Here Are My Favorites Sets

My Top Pick

Fables Ceramic Dinnerware Set

View on Fable.com

For more than a decade, I was a devotee of cheap and cheerful dinnerware from a certain big box Scandinavian home goods store. After my $20 set of plates and bowls started to look a bit worse for wear, I thought it might be a great time to invest in dishes of better quality with a bit more style. I fell in love with Fable’s minimalist, organic aesthetic: white stoneware with little dark speckles that add an artisanal feel—and they’re as pretty in person as they are on the site. I purchased this bundle, which includes four dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls, and breakfast bowls.

When I received the set, I noticed they looked just like the handmade pieces I’d eyed at a famous San Francisco ceramics store (but the entire Fable set cost less than one of their large serving platters). The contemporary silhouette and semi-matte finish could fit right in at a trendy restaurant, making them a fantastic backdrop for fancy plating when I wanted to take photos or impress guests. 

I was skeptical of how much I’d like them since they were significantly heavier than anything I’d ever owned. But after a while, I got used to their heft and really appreciated how durable these dishes are. They’re dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and can also be used in the oven up to 450°F. They also stack nicely, somehow making even my kitchen cabinet look more organized and chic. I’ve had them for over a year now, and they still look nearly new with zero chips or cracks, only the slightest superficial scrapes from use with flatware. I like them so much, I’m planning on ordering another set to expand my collection!

The Details: Stoneware; 4 each of dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl, and breakfast bowl; dishwasher, microwave, and oven-safe

Best Budget

Mainstays Glazed White Stoneware Dinnerware Set

$11 at Walmart

When Allstar Angela Sackett wanted the look of more expensive porcelain dishes without the hefty price tag, this simple set fit the bill. These dishes are so affordable that I had to double-check that the price on this set wasn’t a typo. With a simple design and neutral color scheme, Sackett uses this for everyday dining, but it also comes in handy during big family dinners like her Thanksgiving feast for 20+ people.

The set includes four each of a 10-inch dinner plate, 7.5-inch salad plate, and 6-inch bowl—all the basics you need, and at this price point, you can buy multiple sets to accommodate larger families or bigger dinner parties. One issue, though, is that since there are no open-stock options, you can’t buy individual pieces should one break or if your household just needs more bowls. All the pieces are dishwasher and microwave-safe, making them easy to care for. 

The Details: Stoneware; 4 dinner plates, 4 bowls, and 4 salad plates; dishwasher and microwave safe

Best for Large Families

Corelle Winter Frost White 16-piece Mugless Dinnerware Set

$38 $35 at Target $41 at Walmart View on Corelle.com

Corelle dinnerware seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid—my mom liked these dishes because of how lightweight they are. Made of triple-layered glass, the surface is nonporous and tough enough to resist any major damage from utensils. These are very durable, as Allstar Rosanne Robinson can attest. “I bought them 50 years ago and they are as good today as they were the first day we used them,” she says. That durability is perfect for larger families with kids, though you’ll have to buy more than one set.

This set includes four each of the 10.25-inch dinner plates, 6.75-inch appetizer plates, 6.25-inch cereal bowls, and 5.5-inch dip and condiment bowls. Each piece is still made in Corning, New York, and comes with a limited 3-year warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. And yes, Corelle’s updated its materials to align with today’s consumer standards, allowing for peace of mind when it comes to concerns about lead. 

The Details: Vitrelle glass; 4 dinner plates, 4 appetizer plates, 4 cereal bowls, and 4 dip and condiment bowls; dishwasher and microwave safe

Best Stoneware

Sango Stoneware Dinnerware Set

$72 at Amazon $73 at Target $142 $71 at Macys

If stark white dinner plates feel a little blasé, this colorful stoneware set from Sango might be a more lively option. A recommendation from Allstar Lisa Altmiller, she can’t say enough about them. “They are different shades of eggshell (whites, blues and greens) and I love them!” sums up her thoughts.

A stylish choice for casual dining, it features a grooved surface and speckled glaze (very similar to my white Fable dinnerware) that gives it a handmade pottery feel. The light-colored palette will add a zen-like touch to your table setting. Each place setting includes a 10.75-inch dinner plate, 8-inch salad plate, 6-inch soup bowl, and 5-inch cereal bowl. All the pieces are microwave and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

The Details: Stoneware; 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 soup bowls, and 4 cereal bowls; microwave and dishwasher safe

Best for Entertaining

Gibson Home Everyday Round 40-Piece Expanded Dinnerware Set

$12 at Walmart

I love a fine china set for entertaining, but they’re often very expensive and don’t always have the right pieces for a full, formal meal. But not this set from Gibson Home, which comes recommended by Allstar Kim Shupe. She’s had her set for over seven years, and it’s still going strong.

Luckily, this guest-ready set still comes at an easy price for a 40-piece lineup—eight place settings that include a dinner plate, salad plate, soup bowl, salad bowl, and mug (perfect for a post-dinner coffee). Available in pristine white ceramic, they go with every theme and decor and can make even the most casual food feel a little more elevated. They’re also microwave and dishwasher-safe, which is ideal for when you want hassle-free cleanup after an evening of hosting.

The Details: Ceramic; 8 dinner plates, 8 salad plates, 8 soup bowls, 8 salad bowls, and 8 mugs; dishwasher and microwave safe

Best Glass

Fortessa Los Cabos Dinnerware Set

$160 at Target $112 at Wayfair $149 at Pottery Barn

I remember one specific design of glass dinnerware as being quite common in the 1990s, but today’s choices are so much more chic. If you’re on the hunt for sophisticated glass dinnerware, this set from Fortessa comes in an array of colors—cobalt, pink, amber, turquoise, and dark gray—as well as clear for a “goes-with-everything” option. Each piece has a slight texture, giving them just a little more sparkle than plain glass dishes. They’re also fairly substantial, making them pretty durable for everyday use.

This set includes 16 pieces, four place settings of a 10.5-inch dinner plate, 8-inch salad plate, 8.6-inch pasta bowl, and 6-inch cereal bowl. Should one break or you simply want everything on the table to match, there are a lot of open stock options available including side bowls and tumblers. All pieces are dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleaning, just don’t put them in the microwave or oven.

The Details: Glass; 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 pasta bowls, and 4 cereal bowls; dishwasher safe

Best Porcelain

West Elm Organic Porcelain Dinner Plate Sets

$11 at West Elm

For fans of porcelain, there are many traditional options available, but this set of plates from West Elm is made with intentionally asymmetrical shapes for a more organic, contemporary feel. They’re another favorite of Allstar Angela Sackett, who brings these plates out for special occasions. Since the 11-inch dinner plates are made from 100% porcelain and are hand-glazed in white, they’re the perfect backdrop to make food pop during presentation.  

You can get a four- or eight-piece setting of plates, and also build your dinnerware collection a la carte. This line offers a really wide array of options, from pasta bowls to salad plates, serving platters, ramen bowls, mugs, gravy boats, and pitchers. While the set is technically dishwasher safe, it’s recommended to stick to handwashing to preserve the life of your dinnerware.

The Details: Porcelain; 4 dinner plates; hand-wash recommended

Best Traditional

Pillivuyt Porcelain 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

$485 at Amazon $444 at Williams Sonoma

Full disclosure, I worked at Williams Sonoma HQ for a couple of years, so I got to handle many different dinnerware samples over the years. By far, my favorites always came from Pillivuyt, a brand specializing in fine porcelain since 1818. This set comes from the Plisse line, which features delicate fluting that adds a certain je ne sais quoi to these otherwise simple dishes. 

Made of high-fired porcelain, these dishes are tougher than you’d think—they’re meant to last for generations. This 16-piece set includes four place settings of an 11-inch dinner plate, an 8.75-inch salad plate, a 9-ounce mug, and your choice of either a 9-inch pasta bowl or a 6-inch cereal bowl. These are freezer, microwave, and dishwasher-safe and can even be placed in the oven up to 660°F, making them worth the spendy price tag.

The Details: Porcelain; 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 mugs, and your choice of either a pasta bowl or cereal bowl; freezer, microwave, and dishwasher-safe

Best Holiday

The Pioneer Woman Cowgirl Lace 12-Piece Dinnerware Set

$50 at Walmart

Allstar Kristin Flowers loves this festive—but not overly kitschy—option for her holiday table. Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, is behind the “Cowgirl Lace” pattern, which features a scalloped rim and a delicate beaded motif that can extend beyond Christmas and New Year's (I think it would work nicely for Mother’s Day and Easter too). 

Made of stoneware, this set comes in light blue, linen, plum, red, or teal (I prefer the linen color as it goes with everything). The four place settings include a 10.75-inch dinner plate, an 8.5-inch salad plate, and a 6.25-inch cereal bowl. They can also be mixed and matched with other pieces from The Pioneer Woman collection, which includes printed platters and country-chic flatware.

The Details: Stoneware; 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, and 4 cereal bowls; microwave and dishwasher-safe