In 2025, we think it’s high time oyster plates get their flowers. After all, what better way to make a splash at the next dinner soiree than a mini raw bar? Characterized by their shell-shaped wells and indents for sauces and condiments, oyster plates are a Victorian-era invention that—in our eyes—have been seemingly overshadowed by its dinner party compatriots (we’re looking at you, charcuterie boards).

And while their practical use may seem limited, we’re here to tell you that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to these unassuming platters. From their potential to house smaller portions of your snacking faves to a surprising medium to incorporate some of our favorite (and celebrity-approved) design motifs, we’re here to tell you exactly why you should be incorporating an oyster plate to your regular hosting rotation. So shuck away your skepticism and check out some of our top picks for the best oyster plates to grab for the next happy hour.

Our top picks:

This plate-and-utensil set oozes charm. The hand-painted mollusks are outlined with just a touch of gold paint to make the dishware feel elevated enough to serve at your swankiest shindigs.

It’s an unexpected delight that so many oyster plates—like this design with a pop of color—happen to create a floral motif. Abigails is a brand founded in Louisiana (a.k.a. oyster country), so we trust that they know how to supply a superior oyster dish.

This kitschy, cool platter has enough charm to liven up any drab tablescape. And if this dish really speaks to you, just know it’s part of a larger oyster-themed collection

On the other hand, you could opt for this classic, streamlined porcelain option. While its design is optically understated, the fluted sides were designed to resemble a paper plate, giving it an inherent cool factor.

Attractive enough to be left out even when it’s not in use, Rex Design’s platter is sure to become an outdoor dinner party favorite.

If it’s all chrome, all the time, we’re sure you’ll get lots of use from this well-priced set that’ll also offer easy cleanup.

Collecting vintage oyster plates sounds like a very stylish hobby in our book. We can’t think of a better place to start than with this set of six French-made plates that each pack a ton of personality.

We’d be remiss not to feature at least one Majolica pick on our list. Made by Longchamp with a minty lattice backdrop, it’s pretty enough to put on the wall.

While many of the picks on this list are rather bold, we also found this cottagecore-esque platter with a delicate-looking floral design for more traditional design enthusiasts.

Did someone say fisherman aesthetic? If you’re looking to embody one of our current favorite design trends, look no further than this dish that’s really personifying the movement to its fullest.

Here’s a splatter platter that we think Jackson Pollack would approve of. If you’re a fan of splatterware, you’ll definitely want to add this to your collection.

Oyster plates aren’t just a one-trick pony. The most attractive ones even make fantastic wall decor for your kitchen or dining room. In fact, here’s a blue-and-white oyster plate that looks like we plucked it right off of Gwyneth Paltrow’s kitchen wall.

Another vintage pick from Etsy (which means limited availability, FYI!) this platter features delicately painted scenes of sea life that look like they’ve been plucked from a children’s book.

The rich teal glaze on this dish has an almost tie-dye effect that makes it one-of-a-kind. We also appreciate the seashell-shaped indents that make this option perfect for your beach house.

Okay–technically this is just a plate that looks like it’s always holding an array of oysters–but it will ensure that mollusks are never missing from your spread.

Also not an oyster plate but very much on theme, this vintage Majolica platter with a crabby design (in a good way) is the perfect centerpiece for your next function. We’d pair it with some matching plates in a coordinating color palette (similar to the set we spotted in Dakota Johnson’s house tour a while back).

Sure, you could use this design to house your empty half shells, but we think it’s actually better used for serving fixings like fresh lemon slices, mignonette sauce, and horse radish.