The salad bowl: a functional item that can also transform a tablescape. To make sure you’re getting the most out of yours, we’ve collected recommendations from our most trusted designers and home-goods experts (note: We also did the same with flatware and drinking glasses). Below, the best salad bowls on the market.
“I love the pretty Cambridge Rose blue-and-white serving bowl from Q Squared. The biggest surprise — it’s not hand-painted porcelain, it’s hand-illustrated melamine. You will rethink the elegance of melamine when you see, touch, and feel the weight and quality of this bowl. Made for everyday wear and tear, it’s especially wonderful for outdoor entertaining and boats. At $37, you can’t beat the price. Also, the bowl is dishwasher-safe, unlike most wood bowls.” — Young Huh, interior designer
“I love everything about this salad bowl: the ash wood, the servers, and the matching stand. It’s one of my favorite gifts to give a client when I’ve finished renovating their apartment.” — Ray Romano, Ray Romano Contracting
“When it comes to salad bowls, it’s all about keeping it classic. This Bernardaud salad bowl is both playful and beautiful, perfect for a casual or formal affair.” — Charles Nafie, Charles J. Nafie Design
“This salad serving bowl is an iconic design classic. It was created by Bordallo Pinheiro, who is considered to be the first Portuguese comics creator, and it’s infused with his charm and whimsy. We love using it in a wide array of interiors — from traditional to transitional. Available in white and the classic green, it brings a wink of familiarity to the table.” — Thad Thomas, interior designer, Foley & Cox
[Note: Pinheiro also makes a large cabbage salad bowl that’s actually cheaper. Available on Amazon, here.]
“We love the beauties made by Andrew Pearce. As a classicist, my partner Matthew prefers the simple beauty of the Champlain, and as modernist, I’m drawn to the contemporary, organic feel of the Live Edge and Echo designs.” — Frank Webb, interior designer, White Webb
“My go-to bowl for casual dinnerware, it’s hand-antiqued at the rim by Portuguese artisans, and the deep Mediterranean blue reminds me of seaside holidays.” — Craig de Groot, Pantone Light
“For a cheeky way to get your greens (or fruit), trade in standard bowls for this pearled, glass, footed option from Iittala.” — Olivia Rassow, style editor, AllModern
“There’s this one bowl from Les Ateliers Courbet that I love because it’s like a functional sculpture. It’s clearly a handmade piece that adds interest to any tablescape, and it’s simple enough to complement nearly any place setting. The problem is, you can’t just buy it online, you either have to go to the store or call to order. I love this pictured Royal Copenhagen bowl for similar reasons. It’s simple and beautifully detailed and easy to buy.” — Wesley Moon, interior designer, Wesley Moon, Inc.
“You can’t go wrong with Heath Ceramics, their salad bowls are beautiful and durable. But I especially love the story behind it, Heath Ceramics is a local, homegrown brand, still owned by the same two families since the ’40s.” — Rob Polacek, interior designer, Puccini Group
“I love the beautiful simplicity of these bowls. They are hand-turned, which is also known as free-formed, referring to the absence of a template, so it relies on the hand of a trained turner. Each one is a unique piece of art. They’re also in maple, which is the ideal wood for kitchen products because its close grain structure provides less opportunities for bacteria to hide and multiply.” — Asher Dunn, furniture designer, Studio Dunn
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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