When Zoë François said, “I wrote down page after page of songs,” I knew I had found the right person for the job of curating the ultimate dinner party playlist for Simply Recipes. Zoë is the host of Zoē Bakes and author of Zoë Bakes Cakes—I know her best via Instagram for her dazzling desserts, fierce energy, and her excellent taste in tunes, which she picks for her Reels.
I asked Zoë to narrow down her list to 15 songs—that’s about an hour of music to calm the nerves before guests arrive, inspire discussion and pad out quieter moments at the dinner table, and rouse impromptu dancing in the living room. As the evening winds down, “I tell them through the music to leave—there’s one song that’s kind of subtle, then there’s a more direct one, like ‘get the hell outta my house!'”
Here are Zoë’s song picks to accompany your dreamiest, most fun dinner party.
LISTEN NOW: Zoë François’ Dinner Party Playlist on Spotify