Our Favorite Outdoor Dinnerware Sets Are So Nice, You’ll Want to Use Them Inside, Too

Eating outside makes a meal feel special (picnic table, gentle breeze, and all that). And when you’re dining al fresco, serving kids, or eating in a place where you might be walking around barefoot, shatter-resistant outdoor dinnerware lends peace of mind.

To find the best outdoor dinnerware, I tested eight sets in a range of prices and materials. Very importantly, I tested how durable the dinnerware was if dropped, but also if it resisted scratches and stains. I also considered the aesthetics of the dinnerware, hoping to find sets that would match a variety of tastes.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Everyday Outdoor Dinner Set

Fable New York Colorful Bamboo Dinnerware

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These lightweight dishes are available in both bright and more muted, chic colors. I loved their clean lines, eco-friendly construction, matte glaze, and practical sizes. I felt equally as likely to reach for them for a sunny weekend lunch, a festive dinner, or a camping trip.

The Best Outdoor Dinnerware Set for Hosting

Made In Outdoor Dining Collection

$328 at Made In Cookware

Made In’s handsome set of melamine dinnerware is my white-tee-and-blue-jeans pick: well made, easy to dress up or down, timeless, and unfussy. A lovely oval tray rounds out the assortment of nicely sized dishware, calling out for a heap of corn on the cob or sliced watermelon.

The Best Outdoor Dinnerware Set for Minimalists

West Elm Kaloh Melamine Outdoor Dinnerware Set

$160 at West Elm

Neutral-hued and mod, this set from West Elm’s Kaloh line looks like actual dinnerware (nothing flimsy or plasticky about it). The plates’ rims have a gentle slope that helped me keep a secure hold on a saucy serving of cookout food.

The Best Fancy Outdoor Dinnerware Set

Tarhong Planta Organic Outdoor Dinnerware Set

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Made from bamboo, cornstarch, and melamine, this set had a pleasing matte texture and handmade shape. It was one of the pricier sets I tested, but the earthy dishes felt and looked truly elegant and like they'd be at home in a nice restaurant.

The Tests

• Unboxing Test: I examined the pieces included in each set, checking for imperfections, scratches, and other unwanted blips. I also reviewed each set’s assortment—what kinds of pieces are included in the set, and how many—then weighed each piece, considering how its size, shape, and weight would affect the experience of trotting back and forth from the grill to a picnic table.
• Drop Test: To see how durable the dinnerware was, I dropped it onto the kitchen floor from hip height, then for any marks, cracks, or dings.
• Staining Test: Would the dishes stand up to condiments? I smeared dinner plates from each set with a dollop of barbecue sauce and a swipe of turmeric mixed with oil, then left them out at room temperature for three hours. After washing with a sponge and dish soap, I checked for staining.
• Hot Foods Test: It’s not a proper picnic without an overloaded plate. I doled out servings of baked beans and macaroni and cheese onto a side plate from each set, then took them for a walk to see what it was like to hold the heavy, hot plates one-handed and in motion. 
• Scratch Test: I ran a steak knife over a plate from each set 10 times, as though slicing through steak or chicken breast, checking for scratches.

What We Learned

Size and Shape Made a Big Difference

Just like any set of dinnerware, the size and shape of the pieces included in the assortment are essential. Across the board, many of the sets had dinner plates that were just too big to be practical (the enamel one from Cinsa was more like a pizza pan or a serving platter). Similarly, the sizes and shapes of the bowls made a difference. Several sets included lower, wider bowls—a.k.a. pasta bowls—as well as smaller, deeper bowls. The best sets, like those from Fable New York and Made In, had pasta bowls that were generously sized but not massive, and smaller bowls that could hold a couple of scoops of ice cream or a serving of soup. 

I preferred plates that had a lip. The ones from Made In and Kaloh by West Elm were especially comfortable to carry during my hot foods test and did a solid job keeping foods from spilling in transit.

The Assortment Was Important

The most versatile outdoor dinnerware sets included four to six settings; most consisted of a dinner plate, side plate, pasta bowl, and cereal-type bowl. (The Tarhong Planta set was the outlier, with six settings of a dinner plate, side plate, and pasta bowl.) Some sets, like the ones Lenox and Teivio, included tumblers, though I didn't feel this was a must-have. Something else to consider: Some sets—like my top pick from Fable—are available in smaller sizes, so you can buy a few more plates or bowls as needed.

Melamine Was Nice, But Bamboo Might Be Better

Melamine has been the go-to for outdoor dinnerware for decades, and for good reason: It’s lightweight, fairly inexpensive, easy to clean (and dishwasher-safe), and sturdy enough for pool-side dining. Most of the sets I tested were melamine, and I really liked two of them. Both the Kaloh and Made In sets were thoughtfully designed, looked like actual dishes, and performed well. Of note, all of the dishes I tested for this review made it through the stain and drop tests totally unscathed. But I was really impressed with the two bamboo-blend options from Fable New York and Tarhong, which were just as colorful and sturdy as the melamine options and appealing in other ways. Made from fast-growing bamboo with a little melamine added to make the pieces dishwasher-safe, these had lovely matte textures that looked and felt luxe. Also, they weighed less than the melamine options and weren’t as noisy when stacking them or setting them down.

Don’t Go for the Cheapest Option

Some of the sets, like the under $50 one from Teivio, were flimsy and plasticky. The scratch test made me think I might be able to saw right through a plate with the steak knife. The second-least expensive set from Cinsa had a fun, campy look but a couple of downfalls: They got too hot during the hot foods test, and the flat rim meant that saucy foods threatened to jump overboard. Higher quality materials were almost instantly noticeable just by feel and were more resistant to scratching.  

The Criteria: What to Look for in Outdoor Dinnerware

The best outdoor dinnerware sets had a practical assortment of pieces in a range of sizes and styles (nothing too big or too small). They were lightweight but sturdy, resistant to chips and scratches, heat-resistant, and dishwasher-safe. Plus, they were nice to look at and comfortable to hold. 

Our Favorite Outdoor Dinnerware Sets

The Best Everyday Outdoor Dinner Set

Fable New York Colorful Bamboo Dinnerware

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What we liked: There’s so much to love about this set from Fable: the eco-friendly composition of the plates (mostly fast-growing bamboo with a wink of melamine); how lightweight and low-profile they are, which makes them easy to stack, carry, and store; and their papery-smooth texture. Not to mention their mix of colors, which covers those who want something peppy and those who prefer something more muted. They were also a good price, right in the middle of the range of dinnerware sets I tested (from $40 to $229): At the time of publication, the set was $148 for 16 pieces ($9.25 per piece).   

What we didn’t like: Some folks might find a few of the pieces (particularly the pasta bowl) on the small side.

Key Specs

• Number of pieces: 16
• Types of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 pasta bowls, 4 cereal bowls
• Materials: Organic bamboo fiber, non-GMO corn starch, and a food-grade BPA-free melamine binding
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe (top rack only). Not microwave-safe.

The Best Outdoor Dinnerware Set for Hosting

Made In Outdoor Dining Collection

$328 at Made In Cookware

What we liked: The set from Made In has a classic style—the pieces look like ceramic dishware, about as far from a paper plate as it gets. I loved the subtle ridging around the rims of each piece, which added to the “real deal” look and feel. I also dug the serving tray. Slightly more formal-feeling than the set from Fable, this set is suited to any time hosting.

What we didn’t like: This set performed well in my tests and looked beautiful. It did feel more plasticky than I expected. The side bowls were narrow and too deep. It was also the most expensive set I tested, at $229 ($13.47 per piece).

Key Specs

• Number of pieces: 17
• Kinds of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 appetizer plates, 4 entrée bowls, 4 side bowls, 1 serving tray
• Materials: Melamine
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe. Do not heat above 150˚F.

The Best Outdoor Dinnerware Set for Minimalists

West Elm Kaloh Melamine Outdoor Dinnerware Set

$160 at West Elm

What we liked: Into neutrals? It was easy to imagine reaching for this set daily and for more formal occasions. The slight lip on the dinner and side plates kept saucy dishes from spilling and made the plates especially comfortable to hold. The pebbly exterior glaze was also grippy and resistant to scratching, with barely visible marks after my steak knife test. And like the set from Fable New York, you can order additional pieces as needed in sets of four. 

What we didn’t like: As with Made In, the Kaloh side bowl skews narrow and deep. 

Key Specs

• Number of pieces: 16
• Kinds of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 pasta bowls, 4 cereal bowls
• Materials: Melamine
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe.

The Best Fancy Outdoor Dinnerware Set

Tarhong Planta Organic Outdoor Dinnerware Set

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What we liked: This chic set was fancypants, with its earthy shapes, tones, and textures. Like my overall winner, the Tarhong set is bamboo-based with a melamine binder. It's also super lightweight. Despite its delicate look, its pieces stood up well to my durability and drop tests, passing them with flying colors.

What we didn’t like: This set has settings for six, but only three kinds of dishes. I missed the smaller cereal (or, if I’m being honest, ice cream) bowl that other sets had, and the pasta bowls were too big, both deep and wide. This set also was at the higher end of the price range, at $198 ($11 per piece).

Key Specs

• Number of pieces: 18
• Kinds of pieces: 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 pasta bowls
• Materials: “Planta is plant-based material (majority bamboo powder and cornstarch) with melamine binder.”
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe.

The Competition

• Sicily Red Outdoor Melamine 12-Piece Dinnerware Set: Although pretty, intricately patterned, and satisfyingly solid-feeling, this set of 12 pieces had a lackluster assortment (dinner plates, side plates, pasta bowls) and was the most expensive set per piece ($14.17!). 
• Lenox Blue Bay 16-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set: This collection was glossy and friendly looking, and performed well in testing, but felt plasticky. The set also included tumblers, which wasn’t as practical a choice as smaller bowls.
• Cinsa 16-Piece Enameled Outdoor Dinnerware Set: Camp vibes are always in, but these enamel dishes weren’t quite right—sizing that didn’t make sense, bumpy glazing, and uncomfortable to hold when full of hot food.
• Teivio 32-Piece Plastic Dinnerware Set: This was the least pricey set I tested, and while I love a deal, these dishes were cheap and flimsy. Even though they passed all of my tests, I doubted their longevity and still can’t recommend them wholeheartedly.

FAQs

Are outdoor dinnerware sets shatter-proof?

Most outdoor dinnerware sets won’t promise that they’re shatter-proof, but they are generally shatter-resistant. After all, they’re designed to be used poolside and on patios! This also makes them a good choice for regular use, inside and out, with kids. None of the pieces I tested for this review were at all impacted by being dropped from hip height onto a laminate kitchen floor, but it’s possible that a big fall could lead to chips or scratches.

What is outdoor dinnerware made from?

Outdoor dinnerware has most often been made from plastic or melamine, a kind of plastic (more on that below). But as more brands think about sustainability, outdoor dinnerware is becoming available in other materials, like bamboo, corn, wheat, and other kinds of plant starches (like two of my top picks, from Fable New York and Tarhong). But even most of the “eco” dishes have a little bit of plastic or melamine in them, which helps bind the starches and makes the dishes dishwasher-safe. 

What is melamine?

Melamine is a kind of plastic (C₃H₆N₆, if you really want to know). It’s approved by the FDA for use in lots of food-adjacent functions and formats, like cooking utensils, plastic products, and paper. Keep in mind that not all melamine is BPA-free; many brands indicate if they are using BPA-free melamine. (Fable New York, Made In, and Tarhong all specify that they use BPA-free melamine.)

Can you reuse bamboo dinnerware?

You sure can! As long as it’s bamboo dinnerware that is made to be reused, like my top picks from Fable New York and Tarhong. There are other styles of bamboo dinnerware often used by caterers that are explicitly single-use and less expensive than reusable sets.

Can you put outdoor dinnerware in the microwave?

Nope. As noted above, even most plant starch-based dishes contain some plastic, which could warp, melt, or leach chemicals if microwaved or exposed to extreme heat. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Caroline Lange is a writer who has spent more than 10 years working in food media.
• Caroline has tested recipes for acclaimed and award-winning cookbooks and has also worked as a recipe tester for a variety of publications, including the New York Times.
• For this review, among other tests, Caroline dropped nearly 30 pieces of dinnerware on the floor of her New York City apartment. She sends her apologies to her neighbors.