25 Amazing Dinner Party Themes for 2024

Whether it’s for a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday or just because you fancy hosting, the best dinner party themes create a fun and inviting ambiance for your guests. Having a dinner party theme can also help with planning factors such as choosing invitations, picking out a menu filled with the best party food, decorating and even deciding on games and entertainment.  

From international cuisine and regional specialties to pop culture and the silver screen, there’s a wide range of amazing dinner party ideas to choose from. But what do you do if you’re at a loss for ideas? That’s the easy part. Simply look over our collection of ideas for a themed dinner party for tips on planning the perfect event for friends, relatives or colleagues.

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• Themed Dinner Party Ideas for Foodies
• Unique Dinner Party Themes
• Other Fun Themed Dinner Party Ideas

Themed Dinner Party Ideas for Foodies

1. Elegant Multi-Course Dinner Party

Hiring a private chef can take the stress out of planning and hosting a themed dinner party. An experienced gourmet chef handles everything from shopping and cooking to serving and cleaning up.

This allows you to enjoy your guests and the experience of a multi-course menu in your own home. Feel free to use your best china, silverware, glassware and antique linens to make your dinner party an extra elegant affair. Check out private chefs near you to book a dinner party today.

2. Mexican-Themed Dinner Party

Gather the pinatas, sombreros and sugar skulls and hang that colorful red, white and green flag. It’s time to plan a dinner party from south of the border. The menu should include staples like burritos, enchiladas, empanadas, quesadillas and crunchy tacos. Add on fajitas, salsa and guacamole for a tasty party food menu. Dessert can include sweet and crunchy churros, creamy caramel flan, sopapillas and conchas. 

Take it into Texas with Tex-Mex favorites like beef tamale pie, cowboy beans, chicken tortilla soup and Tejano red rice. Add margaritas, mezcal, tequila and Jarritos soda to the beverage selections and you’ve got yourself a fun (and filling) dinner party!

3. Italian-Themed Dinner Party

Set your playlist to selections from Sinatra, Dean Martin, Pavarotti and other classics for this dinner party theme focusing on the flavors of Italy. Go with an intimate Italian restaurant scene complete with red and white checkered tablecloths, candlelight and gilded frames filled with family photos.

If your group is more of the casual variety, take the party outside to the patio and dine on wrought iron chairs under the stars (and maybe some twinkling lights). To really bring this dinner party theme to life, write your menu on a blackboard and include recipes such as bruschetta, risotto, lasagna, arancini and bread selections like focaccia, ciabatta and coppia Ferrarese.

Include your favorite Italian wines or cocktails, such as a negroni, an Aperol spritz or a bellini. Finish your meal with gelato, panna cotta, tiramisu, cannoli and rich Italian coffee selections, and cue up an after-dinner movie like “Under the Tuscan Sun” to keep the Italian vibes going.

4. French-Themed Dinner Party

Practice your best French accent for this dinner party idea. Create an authentic French feast with menu items including bouillabaisse, baguettes and beef bourguignon, as well as ratatouille, quiche Lorraine, steak frites, chicken confit and salad nicoise. For dessert, consider sweet options like chocolate soufflé, macarons, clafoutis, profiteroles, tarte tatin and eclairs. After all, France is known for its desserts so you can’t host a themed dinner party without them! 

Decorate with red, white and blue flag-inspired streamers, glittery gold candleholders and mini Eiffel Tower statues. You can even find Eiffel Tower party picks and napkins at places like Party City. Add fun photo props like paper poodles, mustaches, berets and champagne glasses to bring some fun to this dinner party theme. For an added artistic twist, now is the time to bring out all of your favorite French art posters by Monet, Matisse, Renoir and Rodin.

Break down this French dinner party theme into sub-categories, such as movies like “Ratatouille,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Les Misérables” or historical people and events like Marie Antoinette, Versailles and Bastille Day. Bring a glamorous edge to the event with a “Moulin Rouge”-inspired ambiance: black and red decorations, velvet swag curtains and an iconic windmill.

5. Breakfast For Dinner

From Benedicts, Belgian waffles and crispy bacon to spicy sausage, fresh fruit and potato casseroles, you just can’t beat breakfast for dinner. To achieve this dinner party theme, create an egg buffet where guests can make their own scrambled, fried or poached eggs. Mimosas, bellinis and bloody Marys are also a given for this dinner party idea. Make this dinner party idea fun, casual and a little bit quirky by having guests wear their favorite pajamas.

6. Soup for Supper

A more unique dinner party theme is serving soup for dinner. From gazpacho and crab bisque to chili, butternut squash and hearty beef, there’s a soup for any season. While soup is often considered a cozy fall or winter item, there are plenty of light summer and spring soups to add to the menu. Choose soups like cucumber with yogurt, chilled avocado, borscht, chicken vegetable, tomato and ratatouille soup. Serve with crunchy bread and rolls, fresh salads or grilled cheese sandwiches for a casual and tasty evening.

7. Sushi Selections

Share a love of Asian cuisine with your guests by hosting a themed dinner party all about the vibrant food scene from the continent. From California, uramaki and maki to nigiri and temaki, guests will gain an understanding of the distinct types of sushi while enjoying time with friends or family. Gather ingredients like nori, sushi rice and fresh seafood such as shrimp, tuna and salmon.

For this dinner party theme, guests can practice rolling, wrapping and forming their own sushi creations. You can also purchase sushi from a local restaurant or market. Even if you don’t use them, bamboo rolling mats make terrific décor. Pair with other bamboo-inspired accessories and Japanese-style bowls for sauces and condiments to really bring this dinner party theme to life.

8. German-Themed Dinner Party

Schnitzel, strudel, schnapps and wursts of all sorts are the perfect accompaniments to this German dinner party theme. Offer beverages such as mulled wine, Riesling, cider or Bavarian coffee. Don’t forget sweets like schwarzwalder kirschtorte (black forest cake), Linzer cookies, apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and lebkuchen (gingerbread).

For this dinner party theme, decorate the table with the blue and white diamond pattern of Oktoberfest celebrations (which represents Bavaria, where the festival originated), along with tablecloths, banners, napkins and more. Red, yellow and black (the colors of the German flag) can also be used as accents.

Use heavy-handled steins for craft beer as well as German alpine hats and photo booth props like paper cutouts of beer barrels, pretzels, gingerbread heart cookies and German phrases like “prost,” “guten tag” and “Ich bin Deutsche.”

For entertainment ideas, put on some traditional Oktoberfest music of polka, oompah and waltzes or go with the pop sound of “99 Luft Ballons” by Nena or the heavy metal of German bands like the Scorpions and Rammstein. Invite guests to wear dirndls and lederhosen for a super fun and engaging dinner party.

9. Trip Around the World

Can’t decide on one global cuisine for your dinner party theme? Try all of them! Assign guests a country (or make it their choice) and have them bring a potluck dish. You’ll end up with a smorgasbord of selections like crêpes, empanadas, fish and chips, pierogis, spanakopita, lasagna and Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. You can also narrow it down by choosing a specific continent (like Europe, Asia, Africa or Australia) for culinary choices.

Decorate the dining room with flags, landmarks and famous icons from every country. Bring out the old-school globe for a centerpiece. Sprinkle confetti and paper cut-out suitcases, globes and more on the tabletop for this eclectic dinner party theme.

Unique Dinner Party Themes

10. Dress-Up Dinner Party

Go glamorous with this dinner party theme. Encourage guests to don their best attire — tuxes, dinner gowns and even a tiara if they so choose. This is an excellent idea to go alongside an Oscars-themed party. Plan a menu of elegant hors d’oeuvres or a sit-down menu with filet mignon and lobster. Decorate with your best tablecloths, silverware and candlesticks for a dinner party of high refinement.

11. Halloween-Themed Dinner Party

Everybody loves Halloween, even if it’s not strictly, well, Halloween! Be it October, March or even August, invite your spooky season-loving friends for a fun and delicious dinner party theme. Chances are you’ve got Halloween decorations to use. You can keep this dinner party theme simple with a black tablecloth, tall candlesticks and a witch hat or two.

Practice making some on-theme ghost-shaped and skeleton cookies and experimenting with beverage concoctions like zombies, bloody Marys and a “witch’s brew” sangria.  

There are almost endless options when it comes to planning the menu for this dinner party theme. One option is to make a “haunted house” menu of spaghetti (brains), grapes (eyeballs) and Jell-O brain molds. Bake a batch of “graveyard” brownies with candy headstones and icing ghosts. 

For a lighter dish that will still bring the scares, make a charcuterie board filled with apple slices with raisin eyes, crescent roll “mummies” and deviled egg “eyeballs.” Caramel apples, pumpkin pie and candy corn complete the menu.

12. Harry Potter Banquet

With this dinner party theme, celebrate your favorite wizard’s birthday (July 31st) by decorating with house colors and serving a feast reminiscent of the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Plan a variety of traditional English dishes like shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, Cornish pasties and stew accompanied by butterbeer and pumpkin juice.

Don’t forget lots of pudding (dessert), including pumpkin pasties, chocolate cake or Harry’s favorite, a treacle tart. Treats like Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, chocolate snitches, chocolate frogs and other magical sweets can be found on Amazon to add some extra fun and surprises.

13. Murder Mystery Dinner Party

Pick up a Murder Mystery game or get creative and think up your own for this dinner party theme. Choose a specific time frame for your murder mystery dinner party, such as the 1920s or the Victorian era, or plan your décor around the Cluedo game. Decorate with plastic daggers, swords, candlesticks, magnifying glasses and dim lighting to set a mysterious mood for this dinner party theme.

If you’re playing the game while eating, you’ll want to choose food that can be easily picked up and eaten. Think stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, mini quiches, chicken satay, deviled eggs and ham and cheese biscuits.

14. Celebrity Chefs

It’s time to kick it up a notch and head to Flavortown with this dinner party theme. Whether you’re a fan of “Top Chef,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The Great British Bake Off” and “The Bear”, or simply addicted to the Food Network, celebrity chefs make a super fun dinner party theme.

Prepare recipes yourself or ask guests to bring their favorite concoction. Ideas include Julia Child’s coq au vin, Gordon Ramsay’s beef tenderloin, Giada de Laurentiis’ Roman-style chicken or any of Paula Deen’s butter-infused Southern recipes. Consider the Aussie-style herbed sausage rolls of Curtis Stone, a selection of José Andrés’ authentic Spanish tapas recipes or “Man Fire Food’s” Roger Mook’s spicy carnitas del horno. For dessert, bake Guy Fieri’s cin-ful peach cobbler or Emeril Lagasse’s coconut cream pie.

Make this dinner party theme even more fun by having guests dress as their favorite celebrity chef. You can also bring out people’s competitive side and add a real challenge to this dinner party idea by hosting a cook-off between your wanna-be celebrity chef friends.

15. Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

Make like Alice and the Mad Hatter with this dinner party theme. Pull out the teacups, silver sets and lacy doilies for a lovely setting that’s a perfect birthday party theme for ladies, for a baby or bridal shower.

More than tea and crumpets, this dinner party idea calls for delicate finger sandwiches such as cucumber, watercress, smoked salmon, ham and chicken salad. Use tiered serving trays and lacy doilies to serve biscotti, macarons and fruit tarts. Decorate with cards (the queen of hearts, specifically), red roses, pocket watches, printed quotes and flower centerpieces to bring this dinner party theme to life.

16. Fondue Dinner Party

Plan a fondue dinner party for a delicious and creative culinary event. A fondue dinner party theme is the perfect occasion to explore food and wine pairings by sipping samples of French, Italian and Napa Valley wines with your chocolate, cheese and fruit. For this dinner party theme, offer meltable cheeses like Swiss, Gruyère, gouda, Emmental or fontina.

Place fruit, vegetables, croutons, pretzels and breadsticks on a tray as well so people can take a break from the cheese. Keep the fondue theme going for dessert with milk, dark and white chocolate fondue. Serve marshmallows, strawberries and other fruit slices to round off this dinner party idea with a sweet treat.

Other Fun Themed Dinner Party Ideas

17. Medieval Menu

Whether you go with a “Game of Thrones,” a “Lord of the Rings” or a simple knights and princesses theme, a medieval dinner party theme is a wonderful way to get creative with food and décor. The menu can include rustic selections such as Cornish hens, roasted vegetables, turkey legs, soda bread rolls and mashed potatoes.

Be authentic and skip the utensils. Serve cider and mead in hefty steins. For dessert, plan a variety of handheld pies and tarts and fruit trays overflowing with grapes, plums and apple slices. Decorate for this dinner party theme with shields, gauntlets, coats of armor, chainmail, rustic wood and pewter accessories and plenty of dragons. Instead of one large table, consider a couple of round tables for a knights-of-the-round-table theme.

If you’ve ever been to the “Tournament of Kings” dinner show in Las Vegas at the Excalibur, this dinner party theme is right up your alley. Adding jousting, flame-throwing and prancing horses to this dinner party idea is entirely up to you.

18. Vegetarian/Vegan Dinner Party

Share and show off your favorite vegetarian and vegan recipes and discover some new ones from your guests through this dinner party-themed idea. A veggie-based meal can include delicious options like vegetarian enchiladas, lentil curry, black bean vegetarian chili, fresh green salads with colorful berries, roasted asparagus, stuffed peppers, vegan mac and cheese, falafels and vegan meatballs. 

Don’t skip dessert with this theme as these dishes can be just as delicious. Dessert can include vegan peanut butter pie and black bean brownies. Decorate with garlands of bright veggies and colorful flowers for a fresh dinner party theme.

19. Charcuterie Dinner Party

Fun and creative, the charcuterie tray has evolved from cheese cubes and salami slices to a meal-worthy event. For this dinner party theme, fill trays, boards and platters with salty prosciutto, spicy pepperoni, country ham and serrano ham. Include a variety of cheeses like burrata, Parmesan, gouda and cheddar.

Add a bread tray with several types of crunchy slices, and include cups of olives, pickles, jams and jellies. For dessert, keep the dinner party theme going with tiers of cupcakes, cookies, tarts and cake pops.

20. Big Easy Bash

Are you looking for ideas for a themed dinner party featuring the flavors of New Orleans? From jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish etouffee to po boys, muffalettas and oysters, you have a wide range of recipes to choose from. Serve with hurricanes, sazeracs, daiquiris and Pimm’s cups (all invented in the Big Easy). Beignets, bananas Foster, pralines and king cakes are a sweet way to round out this dinner party theme. Make it a Mardi Gras event with colorful beads, masks and fleur-de-lis symbols.

21. Pasta Bar

Besides being delicious, pasta is just plain fun to make and eat, so why not make it the start of the show with this dinner party theme? Set up a buffet table topped with platters of strings of spaghetti, pockets of ravioli, spirals of fusilli and any number of other kinds of pasta for this dinner party theme — rigatoni, farfalle, orecchiette and linguine, to name just a few. Offer various sauces like bolognese, marinara, Alfredo or vodka. Include a selection of cheeses such as mozzarella, asiago, Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino romano.

22. Hawaiian Luau BBQ

Are you searching for pool party ideas? Escape to the tropics with this dinner party theme that’s perfectly suited for the outdoors. Plan a menu with poke, poi, roasted pork, fish tacos and huli huli chicken and kalua puja. Set up a tiki bar with brightly colored cut-outs of hibiscus, tiki faces, surfboards and coconuts and offer beverages like blue Hawaiians and mai tais topped with colorful twirly umbrellas. Bring this dinner party theme to life by decorating the table with leis, grass skirts, bamboo accessories and pineapples. Add some hula dancing music for a fun and festive touch.

23. Christmas in July

Break out the twinkling lights, fake snow and holiday tunes for this themed dinner party idea focusing on everyone’s favorite holiday. Christmas in July — or March or September, for that matter — makes for a festive dinner party theme. Go all out with a glazed ham or golden roasted turkey and all the trimmings.

Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing are all wonderful ideas for a Christmas-themed dinner party. Consider dessert options like plum pudding, pecan pie and gingerbread cookies, along with eggnog, mulled cider and hot chocolate.

24. Back to the ‘50s

Don poodle skirts, penny loafers and leather jackets for this 1950s dinner party theme. Set up a ‘50s diner at your kitchen counter with jukeboxes and counter service stools. Serve burgers, fries and frosty milkshakes. You could also go with comfort food and family time around the table. Serve casseroles, deviled eggs, pineapple upside-down cake, beef stroganoff, bundt cakes or Salisbury steak. 

For a unique twist on this dinner party theme, serve meals on divided plates like a TV dinner (invented in the ‘50s) while watching TV shows and movies like “Grease,” “Happy Days,” “Leave it to Beaver" and “Back to the Future.” Music selections can include classics from Elvis, Bobby Darin, the Everley Brothers and Ritchie Valens.

25. Casino Night

You don’t have to hire a fancy casino company or visit Vegas to pull off a fun casino night dinner party theme. Break out the card tables and poker chips and play games like blackjack, poker and gin rummy. Plan finger foods like pretzels, appetizers and even pizza so guests can eat and play.

Make it a Vegas dinner party theme with décor like paper money, a Vegas-inspired welcome sign and lots of giant balloons. Go all-out glamor with a Monte Carlo dinner party theme, including sparkling gowns, elegant tuxedos and a red carpet. Serve martinis and vespers worthy of James Bond.

Sure, you can throw a dinner party without a specific theme, but how fun do these dinner party theme ideas sound? Whether it’s European specialties, regional American favorites, time periods or retro dinner party themes, your guests will have a fun time and enjoy a delicious meal with these themed dinner party ideas. Make it as formal or as casual as you like and host a party that your friends and family will be talking about for years to come.

For even more entertaining and special occasion ideas, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.