Stocked with thoughtful staples and layered with cultural treasures, it’s equal parts practical and poetic — the kind of place where olive oil is chosen as carefully as perfume, and where even a simple glass of wine feels elevated. Think everyday luxuries within reach, flavors that transport you, and a few hosting essentials that make any gathering feel intentional without trying too hard. Below, our edit of what every cool girl should have on hand for evenings that unfold naturally.

A true cool-girl pantry begins with the basics — but the good kind.

• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – Bright, peppery, and endlessly versatile. Our recs: Wonder Valley, Lucesca Olive Oil, or Flamingo Estate’s Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

• Sea Salt Flakes – Maldon, always. Serve in a small Esas Mesas Chicken Salt Holder for instant elevation.

• Good Wine on Hand – Keep one crisp white (Albariño or Sancerre) and one light red (like a chilled Gamay). Bonus points for serving it in our Esas Mesas Handblown Wine Decanter paired with our Condesa Collection Crystal Wine Glasses.

• Ceramic Serving Bowl – The centerpiece that draws the eye – weather filled with fresh fruit or wildflowers. Shop: Esas Mesas Creme Pedestal Vase.

Flavors that transport you without leaving home 

• Mexican Drinking Chocolate – For cozy nights or spontaneous dessert. Shop: Ora Oaxacan Spice Cacao, melted in milk and poured into Esas Mesas Crema Minimalist Mug.

• Mezcal – Earthy and complex. Keep one bottle for sipping (400 Conejos Espadin Tobala) and one for cocktails like (Madre Mezcal). Serve in our vibrant Mezcal Glass Slim.

• Chili Oil – Because heat is a love language. Try: Salsa Macha from Xilli or Fly by Jing.

• Imported Anchovies – The secret to every “accidentally perfect” pasta or a salty pairing for a crusty baguette. Shop: Fish Wife Cantabrian Anchovies or Siesta Anchovies.

When dinner shifts into gathering.

• Tablecloth as Foundation – Start with a great tablecloth — it’s the canvas that sets the mood. We love the Esas Mesas Otomí Tablecloth for its intricate embroidery and joyful nod to Mexican heritage. It transforms any table into something layered, textural, and full of story.

• Linen Napkins – Soft, organic, and beautiful. Shop: Esas Mesas Servilleta Escalera Napkins.

• Serving Board – For bread, cheese, or mezze moments. Shop: Casa Zuma Vintage Wood Board.

• Taper Candles & Holders – Because atmosphere is everything. Shop: Esas Mesas Casa Viviana Candles.

• Playlist & Incense – Bonus recs: a little bossa nova and Copal incense for a warm, grounded finish.

An effortless dinner isn’t really about ease — it’s about instinct. Knowing that a drizzle of good olive oil, a worn linen napkin, or a pour of mezcal can shift the energy entirely.

It’s the art of layering what you already love — the bottle from your last trip to Oaxaca, the handmade bowl that turns fruit into sculpture, the candle that lingers long after guests have gone.

The cool girl’s pantry isn’t about what’s stocked inside, but how it makes people feel: welcomed, inspired, and a little in awe of how simple things can feel so intentional.

Because in the end, the table is only the beginning — it’s what happens around it that truly matters.