How to Keep Guests Cool During a Summer Dinner Party (Even in a Small Apartment)
Don't let the heat ruin a great party!
As mid-June arrives, we are hitting peak dinner party hosting season! To kick off the official start of Summer, we are celebrating by throwing The Hostess in the Studio Apartment’s First Ever Dinner Party Workshop on June 25th in NYC, and hope you can join!
With the official start of summer approaching, the days are longer, you have more free time and you finally feel like hosting again… only to realize that your apartment’s single wall unit is no match for a room full of guests, a hard-working oven, and the heat from a group of people.
If you’ve ever thrown a summer dinner party in a small apartment, you know exactly what I mean. That dream menu you planned can start to feel like a tactical error once the kitchen heats up and you start sweating.
Whether you’re hosting four or fourteen, here are my go-to strategies for keeping your space—and your guests—comfortable when the AC is struggling to keep up:
1. Start with a Cool Menu
The easiest way to reduce the heat? Skip the stove. Or at least give it a break. Serve dishes that can be made ahead and served cold or room temperature: chilled soups, composed salads, cold poached salmon, or a cheese and charcuterie spread with summer fruits.
If you must use the oven, do your baking or roasting early in the morning (or late at night the evening before) and reheat minimally (or not at all).
Here’s a sample menu I love for this kind of evening — it’s elegant, refreshing, and all about keeping things breezy:
Sample Summer Dinner Party Menu
Designed to be made ahead, served cool, and enjoyed even when your AC is working overtime.
Appetizer
Heirloom tomato salad with peaches, burrata, and basil oil
Watermelon salad with mint, lime, and crumbled feta
Cantaloupe & Prosciutto Skewers
Summer Crudité Board
Main Course
Salmon with lemon-dill yogurt sauce
Pesto pasta salad with arugula, pine nuts, and shaved parmesan
Shrimp & Avocado Salad with mango salsa and cherry tomatoes
Grilled Veggie and Ricotta Flatbreads
Grilled Flank Steak (served room temp)
Dessert
DIY ice cream sandwiches: chocolate chip cookies + vanilla or chocolate ice cream
Berries with cream
2. Pre-Cool Your Space
Blast the AC on high an hour or two before guests arrive — even if it feels excessive. Close blinds to block the afternoon sun, and shut doors to trap the cool air where you need it most. Once people arrive, the temperature will rise quickly, and you'll be glad you built in a head start.
3. Bring in Backup Fans
A well-placed fan does more than circulate air — it’s your secret weapon for making a small room feel breezier. Position one near the kitchen to help offset the oven’s heat, and another by the seating area to keep guests comfortable. A small tabletop fan near the bar cart? Even better.
If you're feeling festive, you can even gift everyone a small handheld fan that doubles as table decor or a place card. Bonus: it's charming, practical, and a built-in conversation starter.
4. Cool Touches at the Table
Keep pitchers of ice water within arm’s reach (bonus points for slices of citrus or cucumber), and serve a welcome cocktail that’s light, fizzy, and served over plenty of ice. A bubbly aperitif over crushed ice with a splash of something herbal or citrusy sets the tone before dinner even begins.
5. Dress the Part, Set the Mood
Let your guests know it’s a “summer casual” vibe — no one should be sweating through a button-up at your dinner party.
Dim the lights, skip the candles (heat and flame — no thanks), and let the sun do the work if it’s still shining. If you want some ambiance, opt for fairy lights or battery-powered lanterns that glow without turning up the temperature.
Set out an ice bucket for wine, a fan near the drinks station, and maybe even a chilled towel or two for effect (just roll and refrigerate them for a quick cooling moment your guests won’t forget).
