The Napkin Is the Most Noticeable Upgrade on Any Table

Every entertaining editor from Martha Stewart to Southern Living says the same thing: swap the paper napkin. We agree. We just want to make sure you swap it for the right one.

We have never read a single dinner party guide — not one, in years of reading them — that says "the paper napkins were great." What we have read, from every voice worth listening to, is a clear editorial consensus: upgrade your napkins before you upgrade anything else.

The entertaining blog Southern Home & Hospitality put it perfectly in their hosting 101 guide: "For a sit-down dinner, always use cloth napkins." Always. Not "if you have time." Not "if you're feeling fancy." Always. (Southern Home & Hospitality, 2023.)

And The Party Teacher — a widely-cited entertaining resource — lists "fun cocktail and guest napkins" among their top hostess gift ideas, noting that the key is to "pick up napkins that reflect your hostess's style." (The Party Teacher, April 2025.) Style. Not just color. Not just material. Style.

This is where we live. No Reservations napkins aren't just linen — they're a point of view. They're embroidered with the things you're already thinking, but wouldn't dare embroider yourself. They're the part of your table that starts conversations before the appetizers come out.

The upgrade isn't expensive. It isn't complicated. It's a napkin. Do it every time.

THE NO RES EDIT — NAPKIN STYLING 101

Three ways to make the napkin your statement:

• The Fold: Fold and place in the center, directly on the plate. Effortless and surprisingly chic.

• The Bow: Add a napkin bow for added color or dimension.

• The Drop: Unfold completely and drape casually over the plate edge. Looks thrown together. Isn't.