The Best Cloth Napkins: 8 Really Nice Sets I Love, From Linen to Retro
I have been a cloth napkin enthusiast for years. This is hardly surprising, as I'm also a devout hanky-lover; whether I'm going to the beach, the ball park, or the club, there is always a soft cotton handkerchief in my purse for colds, spills, or makeup smudges. Similarly, my assortment of cloth napkins — some of which are holiday-themed, most of which are just cute — have been an essential part of my everyday dining routine. This vintage checkered set lives in my coffee table drawer at home for TV dinners, and I'll also throw one of the napkins in my BAGGU carry-on during a flight, because nothing is worse than eating food in turbulence with a flimsy paper napkin, and it helps tremendously to have a tiny tablecloth on the go.
The author's vintage Mary Engelbreit napkins are also for sale on Ebay). Photo by the author
You may be thinking, 'This sounds like some Downton Abbey' buffoonery,' to which I would ask, would you rather wipe your hands on a reusable, soft, planet-friendly terracotta-colored linen napkin at dinner, or rub them on paper towels that feel like sandpaper? If the thought of cloth napkins, to you, only recalls the stuffy, white-tablecloth-restaurant-bound napkins of yore, wake up and celebrate the wide world of linens — they're not only an attractive element of your everyday table setup, but also highly practical and environmentally friendly. Might I add that they make a great host or housewarming gift?
Below, I've selected a handful of my favorite everyday cloth napkin sets that are ready to change your life.
A fringed linen napkin = classy meets casual
There are a few ways to make sure a white/monochromatic napkin doesn't feel like it belongs in a dated red sauce restaurant, and they come down to material and design. In this instance, an ivory-colored napkin set feels chic in a nonchalant way thanks to its rustic linen material and fringed edges. You can find another iteration of this napkin staple at Williams Sonoma, too, but I'm partial to the generous size (22 inches wide and tall) of this Pottery Barn pick.
A subtle yeehaw flex
Denver-based artist Julie Peach hand-carves her block prints, and these linen-cotton blend napkins feature one of her graphics that manages to make a nod to the Wild West without feeling gimmicky.
You have a soft spot for the 1970s
Anthropologie's storied home goods aisles are overflowing with cloth napkins, including tarot-themed cocktail napkins and a cross-hatch set for wrapping around your bagels. But this very Brady set seriously brightens up a table, and offers exactly the kind of napkin that I want floating around my purse: something thick, cheery, and easy to spot in my giant tote bag.
Stripes will never go out of style
Like checkerboard print and houndstooth, stripes will never truly go in or out of style — but I sure have noticed their rise to the top of the trend food chain lately in matters of home decor. Design-forward folks are painting striped statement walls, buying striped shower curtains, or bringing home a set of delightful striped napkins, such as this robust set of 12 with a rust-colored stripe.
Meet your interesting indie designer napkins from the Netherlands
That's exactly what you'll say to your friends as they stare at these linen-cotton blend napkins from the Amsterdam brand Autumn Sonata, which has been making waves in the design world for its contemporary twists on antique prints. Again, the beauty's in the details of this set, and I think my favorite part is the pop of red embroidery in the corner.
These super-affordable linen napkins will become softer with every wash
Ah, Quince. The purveyor of direct-to-consumer goods — think, everything from quilts to caviar — is now home to sets of chic, super affordable linen napkins that come in eight colorway options. I love all the earthy shades, but the charcoal set will be especially gifted at hiding wine or soy sauce stains.
This geometric napkin is a statement-maker — and it's 50% off
In addition to making any dinner table into modern art, this graphic napkin is what I like to call a prime pop-up picnic candidate, because it's almost 20 inches wide and tall, making it ideal to toss over your lap on a plane, park bench, or to serve as wrapping for some croissants on-the-go.
Block-printed floral napkins (that don't feel frilly)
I'm a big fan of Marigold Living's block-printed linens, and already own a tablecloth covered in this hypnotic poppy design. As the site explains, it was 'inspired by Mughal textile fragments from the late 17th century on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.'
Stay tuned: Next up, we'll shop for napkin rings, aka napkin jewelry.
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The Best Cloth Napkins: 8 Really Nice Sets I Love, From Linen to Retro
is the commerce writer at Eater, and an award-winning writer with bylines in GQ, VICE, The Daily Beast, and other publications. A curious home cook with a deep love of Polish cabbage rolls, her devotion to food service journalism knows no bounds. I have been a cloth napkin enthusiast for years. This is hardly surprising, as I'm also a devout hanky-lover; whether I'm going to the beach, the ball park, or the club, there is always a soft cotton handkerchief in my purse for colds, spills, or makeup smudges. Similarly, my assortment of cloth napkins — some of which are holiday-themed, most of which are just cute — have been an essential part of my everyday dining routine. This vintage checkered set lives in my coffee table drawer at home for TV dinners, and I'll also throw one of the napkins in my BAGGU carry-on during a flight, because nothing is worse than eating food in turbulence with a flimsy paper napkin, and it helps tremendously to have a tiny tablecloth on the go. The author's vintage Mary Engelbreit napkins are also for sale on Ebay). Photo by the author You may be thinking, 'This sounds like some Downton Abbey' buffoonery,' to which I would ask, would you rather wipe your hands on a reusable, soft, planet-friendly terracotta-colored linen napkin at dinner, or rub them on paper towels that feel like sandpaper? If the thought of cloth napkins, to you, only recalls the stuffy, white-tablecloth-restaurant-bound napkins of yore, wake up and celebrate the wide world of linens — they're not only an attractive element of your everyday table setup, but also highly practical and environmentally friendly. Might I add that they make a great host or housewarming gift? Below, I've selected a handful of my favorite everyday cloth napkin sets that are ready to change your life. A fringed linen napkin = classy meets casual There are a few ways to make sure a white/monochromatic napkin doesn't feel like it belongs in a dated red sauce restaurant, and they come down to material and design. In this instance, an ivory-colored napkin set feels chic in a nonchalant way thanks to its rustic linen material and fringed edges. You can find another iteration of this napkin staple at Williams Sonoma, too, but I'm partial to the generous size (22 inches wide and tall) of this Pottery Barn pick. A subtle yeehaw flex Denver-based artist Julie Peach hand-carves her block prints, and these linen-cotton blend napkins feature one of her graphics that manages to make a nod to the Wild West without feeling gimmicky. You have a soft spot for the 1970s Anthropologie's storied home goods aisles are overflowing with cloth napkins, including tarot-themed cocktail napkins and a cross-hatch set for wrapping around your bagels. But this very Brady set seriously brightens up a table, and offers exactly the kind of napkin that I want floating around my purse: something thick, cheery, and easy to spot in my giant tote bag. Stripes will never go out of style Like checkerboard print and houndstooth, stripes will never truly go in or out of style — but I sure have noticed their rise to the top of the trend food chain lately in matters of home decor. Design-forward folks are painting striped statement walls, buying striped shower curtains, or bringing home a set of delightful striped napkins, such as this robust set of 12 with a rust-colored stripe. Meet your interesting indie designer napkins from the Netherlands That's exactly what you'll say to your friends as they stare at these linen-cotton blend napkins from the Amsterdam brand Autumn Sonata, which has been making waves in the design world for its contemporary twists on antique prints. Again, the beauty's in the details of this set, and I think my favorite part is the pop of red embroidery in the corner. These super-affordable linen napkins will become softer with every wash Ah, Quince. The purveyor of direct-to-consumer goods — think, everything from quilts to caviar — is now home to sets of chic, super affordable linen napkins that come in eight colorway options. I love all the earthy shades, but the charcoal set will be especially gifted at hiding wine or soy sauce stains. This geometric napkin is a statement-maker — and it's 50% off In addition to making any dinner table into modern art, this graphic napkin is what I like to call a prime pop-up picnic candidate, because it's almost 20 inches wide and tall, making it ideal to toss over your lap on a plane, park bench, or to serve as wrapping for some croissants on-the-go. Block-printed floral napkins (that don't feel frilly) I'm a big fan of Marigold Living's block-printed linens, and already own a tablecloth covered in this hypnotic poppy design. As the site explains, it was 'inspired by Mughal textile fragments from the late 17th century on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.' Stay tuned: Next up, we'll shop for napkin rings, aka napkin jewelry.
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Yet, the garment has deeply political roots: The babydoll is synonymous with female liberation, as it marked a shift away from corsetry and restrictive hemlines at the turn of the 20th century — a time that marked greater personal freedom for women, particularly in terms of physical movement and social expression. That history, it appears, aligns with Bahnsen's beliefs. She described her clothes as 'hyper-feminine,' but noted that it also makes its wearer feel 'strong' at the same time. Bahnsen's first dedicated bridal edit — a curated selection of new and older styles, which included several baby doll dresses — launched in early 2024. She spotted an opportunity in weddings after seeing women 'coming to us who have saved a catalog of pictures from back in time of our white dresses,' she recalled. 'I always have a lot of white in my collections, so it came very naturally.' Today, the label has become a popular choice for bridalwear, alongside established brands like Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang, and newer contenders such as Simone Rocha and Molly Goddard. The biggest shift in bridalwear, Bahnsen observed, is growing demand from her customers for 'separates' that could also be worn outside of the big day. 'It began around five years ago where people were buying into looks that they could also wear after the wedding and have a second purpose for it.' In addition to dresses, Bahnsen's bridal collections include flowing skirts and bralettes. To mark a decade in business, Bahnsen plans to open her first boutique in Copenhagen and stage a runway as part of the city's fashion week in August. (Over the past few years, she's become a regular at Paris Fashion Week and still plans to show there in the fall). 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It'll feature many of the silhouettes or fabrics shown before, some put together in new ways,' she teased, describing the result as 'a collage of everything we've ever created.' Guests attending the show are also invited to wear their favorite Cecilie Bahnsen pieces, she added. The fact that the label remains independently owned is significant. The current economic climate, rise of fast fashion and shifting retail landscape has made it a tough environment for the survival and growth of many fashion brands. Yet Bahnsen's savvy approach to collaborations has helped to boost her financial lifeline. While industry collaborations have long been used to broaden audiences and build hype, her knack for choosing the right partners has consistently led to commercial and creative success. The designer revealed to CNN that she will team up with Alpha Industries, an American military-style outerwear and bomber jacket specialist, next. 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'It's new to have female voices in the sportswear field, so to come in at Asics and The North Face and add a feminine lens, I think, is what has made it so strong.' That thinking is arguably emblematic of Bahnsen's success to date. 'As a creative, independent founder, you have to grow with the business and learn to be part of a bigger fashion industry than yourself. So, you need to surround yourself with people who can complement your skills and make you grow,' Bahnsen reflected. 'But what I have also learned is that you need to stick to your instincts and hold onto your beliefs, because that is going to be what makes you stand out.'
