How to Choose the Right Music for Your Dinner Party

Create the perfect atmosphere with a well-curated playlist

Hosting a dinner party? Discover how to choose the right background music to enhance the mood, match your menu, and make your evening unforgettable.

How to Choose the Right Music for Your Dinner Party

Planning the perfect dinner party isn’t just about food and drink—though we’ll never downplay the importance of a well-balanced menu and an expertly paired wine. 

But there’s another element that plays a quietly powerful role in shaping the evening: music.

Get it right, and your soundtrack will lift the energy, soothe nerves, and make conversations flow as easily as the wine. Get it wrong, and you might unintentionally derail the relaxed, inviting atmosphere you're aiming for.

Here’s our guide to choosing music that will complement your dinner party just as well as the dessert complements the starter.

1. Set the Role: Music as a Background Guest

Dinner party music isn’t meant to take centre stage—it’s there to enhance, not distract. Think of it as a guest who knows how to stay just involved enough to keep the atmosphere warm and sociable, without dominating the conversation.

A good rule of thumb? If people are leaning in to hear one another, it’s too loud.

2. Pair Music with Your Menu

Just as you’d pair wine with your main course, try pairing your playlist with your cuisine. Serving Italian? Opt for soft classical guitar or elegant opera arias. Mediterranean mezze? Go for upbeat Greek or Spanish instrumentals. Hosting a modern British supper? Some indie folk or lo-fi jazz might hit the right note.

Your food and music should complement each other—never clash.

3. Time the Tempo

Start the evening with slower, softer tracks that create a welcoming ambience. As dinner progresses, especially once the main course is over, feel free to subtly lift the tempo to keep energy levels up.

Avoid anything too dramatic or sudden. Think progression, not party playlist.

4. Keep It (Mostly) Instrumental

Lyrics can compete with conversation, especially in smaller dining spaces. While a few well-chosen vocal tracks can work, instrumentals are generally your best bet.

Top dinner-friendly genres include:

Jazz (Miles Davis, Chet Baker)

Acoustic guitar

Chillhop/lo-fi

Classical or minimalist piano (Ludovico Einaudi is a crowd-pleaser)

5. Curate or Stream with Care

If you’re a music enthusiast, create your own playlist to match your vibe—just make sure it’s long enough to last the evening (around 2–3 hours minimum). Avoid abrupt tempo shifts or playlist gaps.

Not in the mood to DJ? Streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music have excellent themed playlists:

“Dinner Party Jazz”

“Evening Acoustic”

“Classy Dinner”

Tip: Always test your playlist before the event. The last thing you want is a surprise drum and bass drop in the middle of the soup course.

6. Volume Matters

Whether you’re using a Bluetooth speaker or a whole-home sound system, volume is key. Set it just loud enough to notice, but not so much that it interferes with conversation. Place speakers in corners for a warm, even spread—avoid blasting music from one direction.

7. Genres to Use Sparingly (or Not at All)

Unless your party is themed or your guests expect it, try to steer clear of:

Heavy rock or metal

High-BPM dance tracks

Distracting novelty songs

Anything lyrically intense or emotionally heavy

Dinner parties are all about connection, comfort, and creating an easy-going flow. Save the rave for another night.

Final Thought

The right playlist helps bring your dinner party together, adding personality and polish to an already thoughtfully planned evening. Just like the food on the table and the drinks in hand, the music should feel intentional—even if it’s subtly in the background.

Try it out at your next gathering and let us know what worked. And if you’ve already got a go-to dinner party playlist, we’d love to hear it! Tag us @thatsfoodanddrink or leave a comment below.

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Food & Lifestyle Hashtags

#FoodAndDrinkBlog

#FoodLoversUK

#ThatsFoodAndDrink

#HomeEntertaining

#DinnerPartySeason

#FoodieUK

#UKFoodBloggers

#HomeDining

#TableTalk