They say the best Father’s Day gift is one that comes from the heart season tickets to the Nets. But if your dad is less of a sports guy and more of a food guy, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up 12 gift ideas that go beyond an Apple watch or a novelty tie, so whether the father figure in your life loves to cook (check out the box of sushi-grade sustainable fish) or just wants to look like someone who does (perhaps a masc leather apron?), we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best Father’s Day gifts for 2023.
For the dad who went through his Instant Pot phase, then his air-fryer phase
If Dad lusts after the latest trends in kitchen gadgets and appliances, he needs a pizza oven. We like the options from Ooni, which range from the portable wood-pellet-fueled Fyra 12 to the best-selling Karu 16, which is compatible with wood, charcoal, or gas. Made of powder-coated carbon and stainless steel, both ovens achieve rip-roaring hot temperatures, turning out pro-quality leopard-spotted pizzas in just minutes. Read our full review of the Ooni Fyra 12.
For the dad who can’t resist a rib eye (or cauliflower steak)
For years the best gift anyone could give my grandfather was a steak knife pilfered from Outback Steakhouse. By the time he died, he had place settings for 12. If your dad also prizes a hefty steak knife but you shy away from petty theft, grab him a set from Misen. The Kickstarter-funded, direct-to-consumer kitchenware brand makes one of our favorite bread knives, and its serrated steak knives are equally sleek, sharp, and reasonably priced. The handles come in a variety of colors, from dusky blue to sage green. They’re the ideal accompaniment to these Father’s Day dinner ideas.
For the dad who’s a lifelong learner
MasterClass offers hundreds of videos for the dad who’s always picking up a new hobby or keeping you up to speed on the latest documentaries. Each is taught by an expert in his or her field, from primatologist Jane Goodall discussing primate intelligence and conservation to Serena Williams teaching tennis. All MasterClass videos are included in the monthly subscription fee, but we’re here for the food—specifically the 23 classes taught by the likes of Yotam Ottolenghi, Alice Waters, and Madhur Jaffrey. Sign up Dad for Roy Choi’s 21-lesson primer on intuitive cooking, and you’ll be eating Kogi tacos in no time.
For the dad who won’t let anyone else start the fire
Parenthood is all about adaptability (we see you, dads making it work in men’s bathrooms without changing tables), as is the BioLite FirePit+, which converts from wood to charcoal and from firepit to BBQ grill. Toast marshmallows over its open flames or pop on the grate, load it up with sambal chicken skewers, and you’ve got yourself a backyard hibachi. While other fire pits will keep you warmer (that’s the Solo Stove), we love the FirePit+ for its portability. At under 20 pounds and featuring handles and foldable legs, it’s perfect for car camping, tailgating, or parking lot après-ski.
Get him started on natural wine too. With MYSA’s natural wine club, you can gift Dad either three, six, or a dozen bottles of low-intervention wine either monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly. Previous months’ subscription boxes have included selections from producers like Swick, Meinklang, and The Marigny, and if you use code CLUB15, you can score 15% off your first order. It’s the ideal gift for dads who love natty wine and value.
For the dad who’d rather be fishing (but never catches anything)
Give your dad the gift of not having to hover in the fish aisle, trying to figure out if the sustainably farm-raised salmon is a more responsible choice than the ethically caught wild cod. PureFish’s Rainbow Box contains 16 servings of sushi-grade salmon, tuna, scallops, shrimp, and more, all shock frozen to retain peak freshness and texture. Each portion is fully traceable; just scan the QR code to learn more about the fisherman or farmer behind fish.
For the dad who loves his ’shrooms
This Disco Fungi cabana shirt from Brooklyn-based clothing brand Tombolo screams “I may be a dad, but I still fuck with psychedelics.” Made of 100% organic cotton terry cloth, this long-sleeve number is the perfect weight for summer evenings around the campfire or when the breeze picks up at the beach.
For the dad who needs help Marie Kondo-ing
If your dad’s kitchen cabinets are cluttered with scratched nonstick pans, rusty cast iron, and lids that have long since lost their pots, help him streamline with this four-piece stackable set from Staub. Made of enameled cast iron, each set includes a 5.25-quart cocotte (which you may also know as a Dutch oven), a 3.5-quart braiser, a 10-inch grill pan, and a single lid that can be used with all three vessels. Best of all, they stack. The small footprint means it’s a great gift for dads in tiny New York apartments or who are downsizing from a 5-bedroom home to a condo. Staub’s quality is beyond reproach—we use its cocottes in the Bon Appétit test kitchen—and this gift set, while an investment, will last a lifetime. Now good luck getting Dad to throw away that pressure cooker from 1982.
For the leather dad(dy)
Whether Dad is a legit grill master or just likes to butch it up in the kitchen, consider a leather apron from French Canadian brand Simons. These buttery fawn-colored aprons are outfitted with plenty of pockets to stash your phone and a Thermapen meat thermometer. Complete the leather-on-leather look with a fetching oven mitt.
For the dad who needs a spa day
If your dad can’t get to Japan for a full-blown onsen experience, these Jinen Japanese hot spring bath salts are the next best thing. Fragranced with hinoki wood essential oils, this blend of baking soda and minerals from Mount Yakedake, an active volcano in the Northern Japanese Alps, will leave his dad bod feeling silky smooth and refreshed.
For the dad with the corniest jokes
Even if the dad figure in your life has a full set of barware and his own “ice program,” there’s little chance that he has a bottle of corn liqueur on his bar cart. Nixta licor de elote is made from nixtamalized heirloom cacahuazintle corn grown northwest of Mexico City. It tastes like August’s sweetest corn with a finish that can only be described as tortillas right off the comal. Combine a splash with whiskey and a few dashes of bitters for a summery, corny take on an old-fashioned—dad jokes not included.
For the dad who composts and bikes everywhere and would like to tell you all about the podcast he listened to on solar panels
For a Father’s Day gift idea that eco-Dad will love, consider this set of two drinking glasses by Siafu Home. The tumblers are made from recycled glass bottles and hand-etched with a botanical motif by artisans in Kenya. The brand places an emphasis on sourcing all its materials sustainably, upcycling whenever possible, while preserving traditional East African handicrafts like basket weaving, beading, and horn carving. Head right this way if you’re looking for more sustainable gift ideas.
