Dinner Party Playlist

Updated October 2026 · 34 songs · Titles and artists only

Dinner party music should support conversation, not compete with it. This list uses jazz, bossa nova, soul and soft folk. It starts light, stays steady during dinner and warms up afterward.

The playlist

Arrival

Light jazz while guests settle.

1. Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra
2. The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
3. Night and Day — Frank Sinatra
4. L-O-V-E — Nat King Cole
5. The Girl from Ipanema — Stan Getz and João Gilberto
6. Corcovado — Stan Getz and João Gilberto
7. Take Five — The Dave Brubeck Quartet
8. So What — Miles Davis
9. Blue in Green — Miles Davis

Dinner

Low, steady songs that stay in the background.

10. Come Away with Me — Norah Jones
11. Don't Know Why — Norah Jones
12. Summertime — Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
13. Cheek to Cheek — Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
14. Dream a Little Dream of Me — Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
15. Moondance — Van Morrison
16. Tupelo Honey — Van Morrison
17. Georgia on My Mind — Ray Charles
18. Feeling Good — Nina Simone
19. At Last — Etta James
20. Fields of Gold — Sting
21. Blackbird — The Beatles

After dinner

A little more groove for dessert and drinks.

22. Let's Stay Together — Al Green
23. What's Going On — Marvin Gaye
24. Lovely Day — Bill Withers
25. Ain't No Sunshine — Bill Withers
26. Dreams — Fleetwood Mac
27. Landslide — Fleetwood Mac
28. Harvest Moon — Neil Young
29. Back to Black — Amy Winehouse
30. Mrs. Robinson — Simon & Garfunkel
31. Bridge over Troubled Water — Simon & Garfunkel
32. Father and Son — Cat Stevens
33. Wild World — Cat Stevens
34. Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles

Tips for your dinner party music

• Set the volume so a person at the far end of the table can hear you without effort.
• Avoid songs with long solos or loud vocals during dinner.
• Put the speaker away from the table so no one sits next to it.
• Do not skip songs often. Fewer interruptions keep the mood calm.
• Ask guests for a favorite song when they arrive, then play it after dinner.

Let guests vote instead of playing DJ

A dinner party is small, so Jukebox is easy to run. Guests join by code or QR, vote for the songs they like and request a favorite. You enjoy the meal instead of managing the queue.

Here is how it works. The host starts a session from Apple Music. Guests join by 6-digit code, QR code or by being nearby. They vote on songs, request their own and vote to skip. The most-voted song plays next. Guests need no account, and only the host needs Apple Music.

Frequently asked questions