The era of the stuffy dinner party is decidedly over, and 2025 has been the whimsical dinner party comeback we all needed, with unique themes, very specific cuisines, over-the-top table décor, and additional activities such as games and crafts. Boring is out, and group-friendly fun—with delicious dinner included—is in.
As we’re getting into autumn, there’s one retro dinner party theme that fits the bill of the modern-day desire for food, fun, and style to merge. It’s time to break out the melting pot, because we’re having a fondue fall.
Credit:
Getty Images/Tom Kelley Archive
Let’s Bring Back Fondue Night
When fondue pots were at the height of their popularity in the 1970s, everyone would gather around the table in their house clogs and bell bottoms with skewers ready to dip into melty cheese, smooth chocolate, and even piping-hot oil (for cooking small hunks of meat). Friendly for grazing and a crowd, it was meant to be a way to host at home without the mundane feel of a coursed-out dinner and cocktail attire.
Dinner parties in general have seemed to slowly overtake the concept of merely “going out” with friends to restaurants, because hosting at home allows for more conversation between everyone (not just who you are sat next to), quality time, and a more casual atmosphere. It also allows the hosts to put their own spin on a theme and menu. For all of those reasons combined, fondue night makes the perfect fall dinner party.
Credit:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Fondue Night Hosting Tips
Do Both Sweet and Savory
Melted cheese fondue pairs easily with accouterments that you can prep ahead (torn baguette pieces, crudité, bratwurst), and melted chocolate fondue goes perfectly with fruit, marshmallows, and pound cake cubes.
Credit:
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Make a Big-Batch Beverage
Keep along with the easy-going, group-friendly theme with a big-batch beverage, whether a party punch, mulled wine, or spiked cider. Plus, a punch bowl goes with the retro feel.
Decorate for Casual and Cozy
The best thing about fondue is that it can be set up anywhere: the dining room, kitchen island, coffee table, or outside. You can place different fondue types in separate areas to encourage mingling and moving around. If hosting partly in the living room, place cushions around the coffee table for easy dipping—or a game night following the food. Bonfires are also an ideal fondue accouterment.
Skip the usual fall potluck by choosing something a bit more unique and fun for a group. Fondue night is always a nostalgic hit.
Dining and Cooking