Chrome Dishware Is the Must-Have Fall Dishware Trend

A new breed of Very Hip Dishware has been taking over the tables at some of my favorite restaurants, and it’s a far cry from the long handle ceramic cottagecore mugs of yesteryear, or even the color popping, bulbous dishware of Gustaf Westman that has been trending on TikTok. The new order of the day is a little bit moodier, minimalist, and always metallic:

The metallic and chrome-inspired dishware trend kicked off last year with metallic coupe glasses, which Eater’s senior reporter Bettina Makalintal’s clocked in this article as the first wave of “simple silver vessels” becoming a fixture at “aesthetically minded Instagram tablescapes.” Were you even eating ice cream with olive oil and Maldon salt last summer, or sipping on an extra dirty martini, if it wasn’t in a sophisticated stainless steel coupe?

CB2 Emporia stainless steel coupe

Prices taken at time of publishing.

CB2 has rightly dubbed this regal, 6-inch tall stainless steel coupe the “Emporia.” Note the thicker, tapered stem that makes this scepter — sorry, coupe — even more comfortable to hold.

The chrome-like coupes were also filled with increasingly un-serious contents on my own Instagram feed; there were candied nuts, Flaming Hot Cheetos, and Fantasia Nat Sherman cigarettes (Mary-Kate Olsen’s ears are burning). There was an air of irreverence about it all, but the enjoyment also felt sincere.

Historically, metal does the absolute most with the absolute least in the home space. It was at the heart of the International Style design movement, which ran from the 1920s to the 1970s and favored tubular steel as a way of uplifting elegant, yet simple and affordable materials for the masses. Marcel Breuer’s iconic Wassily chair, for example, was inspired by his bike frame. It was the democratization of effortless cool — a marriage of style and functionality — and it continues today on the tablescape.

Last weekend, I was eating breakfast at La Cantine in Bushwick, and my espresso was served in what appeared to be the square-shaped cousin of these retro 1970s Italian Casalinghi espresso cups. “I love them because they look like they’re smarter than me,” I told my partner, who later remarked on the durable appeal of metallic plates, cups, and trays. And I have to say, it is nice to know that I could whip out some stainless steel espresso cups and play tea party with my nephew without having to worry about chipping a mug.

Vintage stainless steel coffee cup

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Complete with its own tray and spoon, this 1980s stainless steel coffee cup feels like the dishware equivalent of a Marcel Breuer chair.

Zenfun stainless steel espresso cups

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Amazon was also hiding a sleek set of stainless steel espresso cups for under $30 (which sure would make for a nice holiday present).

Arttdinox Utensils stainless steel cups

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This set of cups is made out of 304-grade stainless steel, which is sought after for its corrosion-resistant nature, and sure would make for a nice departure from the classic silver highball glass for your mint juleps. 

These Euro-maxing espresso cups are just one point of entry into mastering the chrome aesthetic for your kitchen. There are plenty of chic stainless steel dishes and bowls that look like they belong in Rick Owens’s Brutalist Italian apartment:

Aarke stainless steel kettle

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Aarke’s painfully beautiful stainless steel kettle has a lofty price tag, but plenty of bells and whistles: expect 360 degree rotation, a heat-retaining double-walled interior, a heat-safe handle, and temperature settings that range from 104 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit for the coffees and teas and instant noodles of your choice. It’s certainly a splurge, but one that will look stunning on your countertop for years to come. 

Yves cast metal dish

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This Schoolhouse collaboration with the Los Angeles lifestyle brand Clare V. has given us a flying saucer-shaped dish that is perfect for holding everything from limes to aperitivo snacks.

Gianfranco Frattini polished stainless steel serving bowl

Prices taken at time of publishing.

For a larger centerpiece or serving bowl, may I suggest this beauty by Italian design master Gianfranco Frattini? According to one CB2 reviewer, it’s also pretty perfect as a front-and-center wine chiller.