Calling all Airbnb Hosts:
This Kitchen Guide Will Save Your Reviews (And Your Guests' Sanity)
Listen up, hosts! We need to talk.
Recently I helped my friends set up their new Airbnb, and watching them thoughtfully curate every kitchen detail reminded me how rare this approach actually is. Over the years I've stayed in dozens of Airbnbs, and as a former kitchenware store owner, I can tell you that 90% of you are setting up your kitchens like you've never actually cooked a meal in your life. Nothing ruins a vacation like a dull chef's knife, a missing bread knife, or an underperforming wine opener. These are the basic items that separate amateur hosts from the pros.
The gap between amateur and professional hosts isn't about throw pillows or colourful appliances. It's about whether your guests can prepare a simple meal without frustration. You don't need a Martha Stewart-level setup, but getting the fundamentals right will transform your guest experience.
THE KITCHEN AUDIT: What I See (And What Your Guests Experience)
Picture this: Your guests arrive after a long travel day, excited to make dinner with ingredients from the local market. They reach for your chef's knife and... it can't cut through a tomato skin. Your can opener is rusty and your wine opener can’t be found.
These aren't small inconveniences—they're the moments that make or break a stay. The difference between a guest who books again and one who leaves a three-star review often comes down to whether they could successfully open a bottle of wine on their first night. Luckily, fixing them doesn't require a massive budget, just strategic thinking.
SPEND THE MONEY HERE(Your Reviews Depend On It)
1. A Decent Chef's Knife or Santoku
Budget: $80 Please stop buying the cheapest knives. That dull, flimsy thing you got in a set is making your guests hate cooking. Get one good 8-inch chef's knife. Your guests feedback will go from this: "Gorgeous property, though we had to buy a sharp knife and a decent cutting board to make cooking feasible." to this: "The kitchen was clearly stocked by someone who actually cooks—sharp knives, proper cutting boards, and a decent bottle opener. Small details that made our stay so much better." Globals are a great knife, try to find one on sale. Made from high carbon stainless steel, the edge isn’t quite as delicate as some of the other forged Japanese steel knives. Here’s a set with a basic Santoku and a paring knife.
2. A Serrated Bread Knife - yes, it is essential.
Budget: $30 I cannot stress this enough—people buy bread on vacation. Crusty sourdough, fresh baguettes, artisan loaves. If you don't have a proper serrated bread knife, they're going to massacre their beautiful bread.
I'm sharing the link to my go-to bread knife below— the Mighty Mac Slicer…. it's the one that's earned permanent counter space in my kitchen. Its too precious for a rental kitchen, but treat yourself to one at home. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
3. A Wine Opener That Actually Works
Budget: $10 Please! Stop buying cheap winged corkscrews that rarely work and break on the second bottle. What we need here is a double hinged waiters corkscrew. (And buy two in case a guest snags one) Your guests packed that nice bottle of wine for a reason—don't make them dig cork bits out of their Barolo. I also love a Pulltap opener, but the one below works equally well.
4. Decent Cutting Boards
Budget: $30-50 for 2 boards
Those tiny plastic boards are insulting. Get one large wooden board and one large plastic one. Wood for bread and cheese, and plastic that can go in the dishwasher. Big enough that people can actually prep food without ingredients falling on the counter.
I’m not a fan of trendy “composite” boards. Yes, they're marketed as lightweight, durable, and beloved by professional kitchens, with all the right buzzwords about FSC-certified materials and knife protection. But in my experience, there is a disagreeable odour and they leave a noticeable taste on food that completely defeats the purpose of having quality ingredients. I’ve tested countless kitchen tools, and I can tell you that no amount of durability matters if it compromises the flavour of what you're preparing. Stick to the classics—good wood that actually does its job without interfering with your food.
5. A Can Opener That Opens Cans
Budget: $15-$18 This seems obvious, but apparently it's not. That cheap can opener you bought from the dollar store doesn't work. Get a proper handheld can opener from OXO. Test it yourself on a can of tomatoes before your guests arrive. The odd can opener malfunctions so testing is imperative.
YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON THESE
Plates and Bowls
Budget: $40 for service for 6 IKEA white plates are perfectly fine. Nobody cares if your dinnerware is fancy—they care if it's clean and there's enough of it. Get simple white dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and mugs. Buy extras because things break.
Water Glasses + Wine Glasses
Set of 6 water glasses and 6 wine glasses. Again, stock up. These can come from the local hardware store or Ikea.
Cooking Utensils
Budget: $20-30 A basic set of wooden spoons, a spatula, a ladle, an egg lifter, chefs tongs and a whisk will do just fine. You don’t need anything fancy here.
Mixing Bowls
Budget: $15-25 Nested stainless steel bowls from the restaurant supply store. Cheap, indestructible, and guests can actually use them without worrying about breaking a glass set.
Pots + Pans (Stainless Steel - a saucepan, a non stick frying pan, a larger pot)
Buy from the hardware store or Ikea.
Keep it Simple (Cheap + Cheerful)
Cookie Sheet
Roasting Pan
Casserole Dish with Lid
Toaster
Automatic Drip Coffee Machine
A set of 6 plastic serrated steak knives
4 reusable chopsticks (We live in Vancouver, and sushi is a regular take-out option for locals and visitors).
Measuring Cups + Spoons
Budget: $10-15 A Nesting set of cups and spoons. Basic plastic measuring cups work perfectly.
THE ABSOLUTE BASICS (That You're Probably Forgetting)
Salt and pepper mills
Dish soap(and dishwasher tabs)
Dish cloths + dish towels (at least 4)
Pot holders (cheap and cheerful)
A Cheese Grater (the only one worth buying is a 4 sided box grater)
A X-Large Pot for Boiling Pasta (Buy from the hardware store or Ikea.)
A salad spinner (seriously, people eat vegetables on vacation)
A colander (for draining pasta, vegetables and washing berries)
A vegetable peeler (again, OXO makes a great version)
Basic spices (salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, sugar)
Aluminum Foil + Plastic Wrap
Teapot
Ice Cube Trays (not too small)
THE NON BASICS (that make guests feel at home):
A simple glass vase (guests often buy flowers on vacation). Although I love the current look of hand-built ceramic vessels, these aren’t always waterproof. A solid glass vase will do the trick.
Real cloth napkins (instead of paper towels or paper ones)
A quality olive oil (not overpriced) and flaky sea salt (foodies like to travel, and foodies need olive oil and sea salt)
A salad bowl that doubles as a serving bowl (for market finds, fresh fruit, etc)
A citrus reamer (for fresh cocktails, or making lemon vinaigrette)
A Cheese Board + Cheese Knife (while on vacation, charcuterie is often an easy go-to)
Thoughtful Touches (Not necessary but certainly appreciated):
Local restaurant recommendations (purchase a blank journal and write down your favourite local restaurants, along with phone numbers, and addresses. Don’t forget to list wine bars, various themed restaurants (seafood, Italian, vegetarian), location of food markets, art galleries, etc)
A few magazines or books (something to flip through)
Beach towels (if you're near water)
Champagne Flutes (Many of your guests are celebrating!)
A cooler bag (for market trips or beach days)
Umbrella (because weather happens)
Basic toiletries (travel-size backup options)
A Laundry Steamer
Welcome Long-Term Guests with Thoughtful Touches
There's one hotel I return to often, and here's why: every time I walk into my room, there's a handwritten note welcoming me back, along with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a plate of freshly baked homemade cookies. The moment I open that door and see those thoughtful touches, I feel genuinely appreciated.
Which leads me to think that the same experience should exist for long-term Airbnb guests. When someone commits to weeks or months at your property, they deserve more than your standard check-in routine.
A lovely charcuterie spread, a bottle of wine that doesn't come with a screw cap, and a handwritten note that feels genuinely warm—this simple trio transforms a rental into a retreat and shows you understand the art of gracious hosting.
WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS
Your guests aren't asking for a Williams Sonoma kitchen. They want to slice some bread and open a bottle of wine without feeling frustrated.
So invest in the tools that actually touch food. Skimp on the pretty stuff. Your guests will remember the functional kitchen that let them enjoy their vacation, not the decorative bowl that looked cute but couldn't hold a salad.
Tamara, this is fantastic, and yes, I experience the frustration of buying bottle opener, because of none 😁