As a new host, it’s hard to know what’s truly worth investing in in your Airbnb kitchen. Do my guests expect me to provide drinks upon arrival? Snacks? Breakfast staples? The truth is, every guest expects and wants different things; there’s no way to perfectly predict what every single guest wants and provide it before their stay (nor should you–that would be way too expensive!).
Instead, focus on providing what the majority of guests expect and a few things that will pleasantly surprise them (that’s how you consistently bring in 5-star reviews!). Read on for 30+ crucial items that should be stocked in your Airbnb kitchen at all times.
(If you’re looking for a FULL room-by-room checklist with EVERYTHING you need to set up your new Airbnb, check out this blog post: The Best Room-By-Room Airbnb Checklist: 100+ Essential Items.)
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30+ Airbnb Kitchen Must-Have’s For A 5-Star Stay
Instead of greeting your Airbnb guests with a huge welcome basket filled to the brim with snacks, a much more economical way to show your guests you appreciate them staying with you is by leaving 1-3 days’ worth of coffee out in a cute coffee canister when they arrive. When they find this surprise right after checking in, they’ll know you truly care about them having a great stay. Many guests will also love that they don’t have to run to the store right after check-in to make sure they get their coffee fix the next morning.
When it comes to picking your coffee maker, there’s no reason to shell out $100+ for a fancy one. This coffee maker from Black+Decker works very well and is incredibly reliable (unlike the many expensive coffee makers I’ve tried!).
Go the extra mile for your guests by providing a french press for those who prefer it. (Plus, if your coffee pot ever breaks mid-stay, having this backup will surely be appreciated!)
If you provide a coffee maker (and you definitely should!), then providing filters for that coffee maker is an absolute non-negotiable.
Like coffee, many guests appreciate when hosts provide tea, which makes it another non-essential item that really shows guests you care.
After they sit down at the dinner table, most guests will reach for a napkin, so providing these inexpensive disposable napkins is a no-brainer. (If you’re considering providing cloth napkins instead, I would recommend against this–they’ll be more work to clean, keep track of, and will inevitably get stained.)
Similarly, many guests will expect you to have paper towels ready when they realize they’ve spilled something, need to wipe up the floor, or want to take a snack to go. These inexpensive and high-quality paper towels are a great option.
Pro Tip: Don’t be tempted to buy cheap paper towels! The low quality is noticeable and many low quality items throughout your property signal to guests that your Airbnb overall is low quality, which is definitely not the best way to get a high nightly rate in the long run. (Plus, they’ll have to use more cheap paper towels than they otherwise would have, so you’re probably not even saving money overall.)
These small salt and pepper grinders are a great replacement for traditional shakers because they are high-quality and don’t need to be refilled. I also like to provide this bulk salt and bulk pepper for cooking; another very inexpensive way to add a thoughtful touch.
Guests need more than just salt and pepper when it comes time to cook, so supplying a few basic seasonings goes a long way!
Buying in bulk is key to saving money when stocking olive oil and vinegar for your guests, which they’ll really appreciate when they don’t want to buy their own oil for cooking or forget to pick up a salad dressing at the store.
If you do provide cooking supplies that need to be refilled, like olive oil and vinegar, putting them in these inexpensive glass bottles is another great way to signal that your Airbnb is high quality (and, not to mention, beautiful!). Just make sure to label them so guests know what they are right away.
If your Airbnb has a dishwasher, providing dish detergent is a must-do. Big jugs of liquid detergent like this one are much more economical than individual pods.
This is a small detail and not a total necessity, but I like to provide a rinse aid like Jet Dry, which is a small investment that keeps the dishes at my Airbnb in great shape.
Ensuring your guests have more than enough trash bags for their entire stay (I just leave out the entire roll) is another crucial must-do. This is a small, very inexpensive thing to do that prevents your guests from feeling frustrated when they run out of trash bags and prevents you from scrambling last minute to give them more mid-stay.
I highly recommend putting your dish soap in a reusable bottle (with these cute labels) for a thoughtful touch!
Guests also really appreciate hand soap at the kitchen sink.
Sponges get replaced often at Airbnbs, so make sure you keep plenty of these high-quality and inexpensive sponges on hand at all times.
Small details like ziploc bags, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil are rare to find in an Airbnb but an essential for nearly every family! When your guests go searching for one of these essentials, they’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you keep them well stocked. (It’s all in the details!)
Here’s one of the most frustrating things about the vast majority of Airbnbs: they often have super dull, low-quality knives. If you want your guests to love staying with you so much that they leave glowing 5-star reviews, come back over and over, and tell their friends about you–then small details like high-quality knives go a long way. Just be sure to hone/sharpen them when you’re at your Airbnb so that they stay in great shape for guests.
These are hands-down the best cutting boards you can buy. They’re super high-quality, durable, and non-slip. They also come in a 3-pack, which ensures your guests always have what they need and that multiple guests can cook at the same time. Just make sure you choose a darker color to hide any stains.
Your pots, pans, and cooking utensils are going to get used and abused (and thrown in the dishwasher!) so, this set of non-stick cookware is perfect because it’s inexpensive and has thousands of great reviews.
With this bundle, you’ll get tons of essential cooking utensils (like a spatula, measuring cups/spoons, tongs, a whisk, and more.)
Pro Tip: Consider buying additional tongs and spatulas, so guests don’t have to wash them between each use or wait for another guest to be done before they can use them.
Don’t skip this one – oven mitts and pot holders are an absolute necessity for any kitchen. With this bundle, you’ll get high-quality, durable oven mitts and pot holders that’ll last years. (Plus, the potholders double as jar openers, drying mats, and spoon rests.)
I don’t know about you, but, for me, one of the most disappointing things about staying in an Airbnb is that they never seem to have any food storage containers. Prevent your guests from being disappointed after dinner by providing them with these containers. If you think your guests will need large containers, grab these too.
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to get a great, reliable toaster.
For all the garlic lovers out there, this garlic press makes cooking a breeze.
Mixing bowls are essential for making a nice meal with friends. Your guests will love that these mixing bowls come with lids they can just pop on when needed.
When you need a hand mixer, there’s just really no good substitute.
Cookie sheets are a definite must-have for both cooking and baking. Make sure you provide enough for your max occupancy.
This bundle comes with plenty of dishtowels so your guests always have what they need.
Need I say more?
Takeaway
Great work getting everything you need to ensure your guests have a wonderful, 5-star stay and are ecstatic to stay with you again (and again and again)!
Don’t forget to bookmark this post for later, so you can easily access it when you need to buy something.
Once you’ve fully set up your Airbnb kitchen, you’ve gotta check this out: Dining Room Essentials Your Guests Will Love.
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