One of the best parts about staying in an Airbnb instead of a hotel is having access to a full kitchen.
Guests often choose Airbnbs specifically because they want the option to cook meals during their stay. But imagine starting to prepare breakfast or dinner and realizing there’s no salt, pepper, cooking oil, or coffee filters anywhere in sight.
Keeping a few pantry items stocked helps to make your guests’ stay feel more effortless, and makes you look like a prepared host worthy of a 5-star review!
Here are the pantry staples I recommend keeping stocked in every Airbnb kitchen.
Essential Pantry Items:
- Coffee
- Coffee filters (if applicable)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oil or cooking spray
If you have a coffee machine (which, if you don’t, you definitely should), supplying coffee is a must.
The other items are things guests need when cooking simple meals. No one wants to run to the store to buy salt, pepper, or oil just for a short stay.
Host Tip:
Add personality to your Airbnb by purchasing a local coffee for guests to try. It’s a simple touch that can make the stay feel more memorable.
Highly Recommended Pantry Items:
These items aren’t always expected, but guests really appreciate having them available.
- Sugar packets
- Coffee creamer packets
- Honey
- Tea (a mix of black tea and herbal tea)
You may also want to include a few common spices:
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Cinnamon
Especially for guests staying only one or two nights, having these items available saves them from needing to buy full containers at the store.
Providing these small extras shows guests that you’re a thoughtful and well-prepared host.
Nice To Have Pantry Items:
These aren’t necessary, but they can make your Airbnb feel even more welcoming:
- Snacks
- Bags of chips
- Granola bars
- Fruit snacks
- Small chocolate
- Bottled water
- Individual oatmeal packets
- Individual mac-n-cheese cups
For snacks, I typically stock Sun Chips, Kirkland chocolate chip granola bars, Mott’s fruit snacks, a Nabisco snack variety pack, and Lindt Lindor chocolates. I typically leave out one of each thing for guests.
Some stays the snacks don’t get touched at all, which means they’re still there for the next guests. Because of that, snacks usually last much longer than you might expect.
Optional: Baking Essentials
If your Airbnb attracts longer stays or families who cook frequently, you might also consider including:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda or baking powder
- Vanilla Extract
These items aren’t necessary for every property, but they can be a nice bonus for guests who enjoy cooking.
Final Thoughts:
There are certain things that you can include in your Airbnb that put you a step ahead of the competition. A well-stocked kitchen pantry is one of them.
Small touches like coffee, basic spices, and a few snacks make your Airbnb feel thoughtful and welcoming, the kind of place guests remember when they leave a 5-star review.
If you’re looking for a complete Airbnb Kitchen Essentials checklist, download my free version here. It includes not just consumable pantry staples, but everything you should have in your kitchen.
Happy hosting!
