2024's best advent calendars for food and drink lovers

If there’s one good thing about the nights getting darker and the days getting shorter it’s that the festive season is creeping near. And the best thing about December? An excuse to tuck into a great foodie advent calendar of course.

Cast your mind back to when you were a young child and it was the run up to Christmas. What motivated your younger self to jump out of bed every morning? Was it the promise of a delicious piece of chocolate from your advent calendar? Of course it was. We might be all grown up now, but the allure of an advent calendar at Christmas is still strong, especially when it’s concealing gourmet adult snacks or alcoholic miniatures. Yes, there is nothing wrong with a traditional chocolate advent calendar and they are a rightful staple of the Yuletide season, but we have to admit that in 2024, simply having chocolate behind each calendar door seems a little, well…boring.

These days, there are all sorts of foodie and drink advent calendars that you can purchase for the countdown to Christmas. If you enjoy a tipple at Christmastime, pick a gin advent calendar. Partial to a Jacob’s cracker during winter? Get yourself a cheese advent calendar. Or maybe you are more of a gourmet snack kind of person – a popcorn advent calendar it is, or perhaps one of the artisanal marshmallow variety? What we are trying to say is that when it comes to the best advent calendars for food and drink lovers in 2024, the possibilities are endless.

To stop you from feeling overwhelmed, we have rounded up the best non-traditional advent calendars we can find, suiting a range of tastes, styles and budgets. Check out our top picks below, which have been handily categorised by theme, so that you can jump straight to the section that tickles your fancy and is tailor-made for you. Move aside chocolate, it’s time for some other food and drink to bask in the Christmas glory for once.

The best cheese advent calendars

Cheese is love, cheese is life. For some bizarre reason, cheese advent calendars haven’t taken off quite as much as boozy or sweet varieties, but we’ve still managed to find some to satisfy your savoury cravings this Christmas.  

Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar

What: This popular cheese advent calendar is back for 2024! Behind each door, you will find one of 12 miniature cheese bites, alongside a selection of cheesy jokes. Flavours you can expect this year include Jarlsberg, Applewood, Mexicana, Cheddar, Red Leicester, Double Gloucester, Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries, and Wensleydale and Gingerbread.
How much: £26.99
Buy now: Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar

Paxton & Whitfield Cheese Advent Calendar

What: Paxton & Whitfield is the UK's oldest cheesemonger, and its festive fromage deliveries are incredibly popular. This year's cheesy calendar features some of the affineur's favourite cheeses from this year, as well as a few heritage favourites too. Plus, you get proper portions! Sign up and you'll get three separate deliveries of eight cheeses, with each coming neatly packaged in its own little box.
How much: £150
Buy now: Paxton & Whitfield Cheese Advent Calendar

The Chuckling Cheese Company Advent Calendar

What: Featuring eight individually wrapped cheeses, this advent calendar is the stuff dreams are made of (and possibly nightmares after consumption). The calendar also features six days' worth of mini crackers and six days' of mini chutneys, so that you can create a festive cheeseboard in the comfort of your own home.
How much: £39.99
Buy now: Chuckling Cheese Company Advent Calendar

The best food advent calendars

Let’s be real, you’ll probably eat enough chocolate on Christmas Day to fulfil your yearly allowance. So you might as well swap out the chocs for something different in the run-up to Christmas. Whether it’s pork scratching’s or popcorn, our pick of savoury food advent calendars should have something to suit your taste.

Fortnum & Mason Feasting Advent Calendar

What: Fortnum’s doesn’t do things by halves, so it’s no surprise that its Feasting Advent Calendar is filled with top-shelf foodstuffs. Festive treats to discover include the fig and fennel chutney, chocolate chestnut liqueur, orange and Champagne marmalade, and quarter bottle of Champagne.
How much: £200
Buy now: Fortnum & Mason Feasting Advent Calendar

Degusta Box Advent Calendar

What: Can't decide what type of advent calendar to get yourself this year? Degusta offers the ultimate feasting selection, packed full with 24 food-related goodies, that spans sweet and savoury. There's no skimping here either, all products are full-sized and housed in this, rather hefty, suitcase-style box. Enjoy chocolate, crisps, coffee and plenty more, with a new surprise every day.
How much: £44.99 (£39.99 with our discount below)
Buy now: Degusta Box Advent Calendar

Le Cordon Bleu Advent Calendar

What: For those wanting to celebrate the run up to Christmas with a culinary countdown, then look no further than Le Cordon Bleu. Behind each of its doors you’ll find a different herb or spice blend, inspired by cuisines from all across the globe. Indulge in a rich Gingerbread Mix, or take yourself to sunnier climates with the White Summer Truffle Salt. Not only that, but each spice mix comes with an exclusive recipe which will be revealed on the Le Cordon Bleu website.
How much: £35
Buy now: Available at La Boutique at 15 Bloomsbury Square

Gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar

What: The world’s first Gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar features twelve flavours across 25 individual sweet treats, with the Christmas Day door leading you to a chocolate coated salted caramel marshmallow bar. Want to take it up a notch? Get the toasting kit too for some campfire style snacks in the comfort of you own home.
How much: £17.50 without toaster, £20 with toaster
Where to buy: Naked Marshmallow Co.

Tiptree Bus Jam Advent Calendar

What: We’re a country of jam & marmalade lovers, with a majority of us choosing to spread it on our toast every morning, so what better way to start your day than getting a new sweet treat from your advent calendar everyday? Plus it comes in a charming double decker bus package.
How much: £32.99
Where to buy: Tiptree

The Sweet Reason Brownie Advent Calendar

What: You can find advent calendars made up of almost any foodstuff these days, but this is the first brownie advent calendar we’ve come across and we’re obsessed. The handmade brownie box contains fun and festive flavours, including mince pie, honeycomb, salted caramel, chocolate orange and Oreo and peanut butter. Just make sure to hide these from everyone else in your house.
How much: £89
Buy now: Sweet Reason Brownie Advent Calendar

Biscuiteers Luxe Advent Biscuit Tin

What: If you prefer biscuits to choc, treat yourself to 24 hand-iced biccies from the folk at Biscuiteers. Each snack is beautifully decorated to look like a hallmark of the festive season - think polar bears and snowflakes.
How much: £65
Buy now: Biscuiteers Luxe Advent Biscuit Tin

The best vegan advent calendars

Just because you’re a vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of counting down to Christmas Day. Check out the dairy-free alternatives that you can find behind the doors of the best vegan advent calendars below.

Candy Kittens Vegan Advent Calendar

What: If you want to avoid chocolate, why not indulge in some vegan sweets instead? Inside you'll find 24 days’ worth of at least two tasty Candy Kitten sweets per day, as well as a full sized pouch for the 24th day. It makes for the perfect gift for any sweet-lovers in your life!
How much: £12
Buy now: Candy Kittens Vegan Advent Calendar

H!P Oat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: Made with oat milk and 100% Colombian chocolate, H!P's advent calendar is vegan-friendly, and it's plastic free so entirely recyclable when you get to Christmas Day! Plus, the calendar mixes things up with four different chocolate flavours - plain, salted caramel, gingerbread and white chocolate - so you're not getting the same old same old every day.
How much: £12
Buy now: H!P Oat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

Popcorn Shed Vegan Advent Calendar

What: You’ll forget any chocolate cravings with this gourmet popcorn calendar. Each window conceals a handful of gourmet popcorn, with flavours including pecan pie and white truffle.
How much: £27.99
Buy now: Popcorn Shed Vegan Advent Calendar

The best drinks advent calendars

If you prefer liquid pleasures to foodstuffs, pick from one of these drinks-focused advent calendars instead. Ranging from calendars filled with herbal tea infusions to ones featuring 24 different kinds of hot chocolates, these drink advent calendars will have you sipping pretty all the way until Christmas Day.

Grind Coffee Advent Calendar

What: The perfect choice for the coffee lover. Start each morning of your Christmas countdown with a Grind coffee pod (designed for Nespresso machines). You'll get to enjoy a variety of unique blends, with an extra pod for the 25th featuring the limited edition Christmas blend. Plus, the pods are compostable so you don't need to worry about any waste.
How much: £28
Buy now: Grind Advent Calendar

TWG Tea Twelfth Night Advent Calendar

What: Luxury tea brand TWG Tea have pretty much perfected the art of a good cuppa by now, making this the perfect gift for the tea lover in your life. Bringing a touch of magic this winter, keep yourself cosy with a dozen unique tea blends, packed full of sugar and spice. This Twelfth Night Advent Calendars comes all wrapped up in this striking, deep red box, with magnetic clip for extra security, you’ll find 12 tins of loose-leaf teas, designed to be enjoyed throughout the 12 Days of Christmas (but we won’t judge if you start your countdown early). Buy online, or pick one up in the TWG Tea Boutique in Leicester Square.
How much: £125
Buy now: TWG Tea Twelfth Night Advent Calendar

Waterdrop Advent Calendar

What: Planning an alcohol-free festive season? Opt for this advent calendar which features 25 booze-free micro drinks which are all infused with vitamins, real fruit and plant extracts. There are three sizes to choose from, so you can order the one that’s just right for you.
How much: From £22.90
Buy now: Waterdrop Advent Calendar

Volcano Coffee Works Christmas Coffee Calendar

What: Nothing quite says countdown to Christmas like a freshly brewed coffee each morning - right? Independent roasters, Volcano Coffee Works are set to bring you 12 days worth of unique blends throughout December. Inside, you’ll find 12 different coffees to try, with everything from its signature espresso mix, The Mount Blend, as well as some limited edition festive options of Berry Crumble and Choccy Biscotti - so you can start each morning with a bit of Christmas cheer.
How much: £55
Buy now: Volcano Coffee Works Advent Calendar

NIO Cocktail Advent Calendar

What: This indulgent calendar is bringing you a cocktail a day in December! Containing 12 doors - each filled with two cocktails - you'll have a variety of choices to keep you going during the run up till Christmas from Margaritas and Espresso Martinis to Cosmopolitans and Negronis. There is, of course, the option to share your drinks over 12 days - but we won't judge you if you keep them all for yourself. 
How much: £135
Where to buy: NIO Cocktail Advent Calendar

Pact Ground Coffee Advent Calendar

What: Pact Coffee is bringing coffee lovers a selection of 25 exceptional coffees, each neatly packaged in branded sachets. The coffees also come with their own coffee cards so you can discover more about each one whilst you drink it. Want to make sure you and your partner both get your daily dose of caffeine? They also do a couples advent calendar and one with beans, for those who like to grind their own.
How much: £29.95
Where to buy: Pact Coffee Advent Calendar

Artisan Coffee Bag Advent Calendar

What: Long gone are the days of coffee pods for your convenient caffeine hit at home, Artisan Coffee company is bringing you an advent calendar full of coffee BAGS. This unique festive treat offers 24 bags with six different signature blends to enjoy throughout December, and is the perfect motivation to get yourself out of bed during the cold winter mornings.
How much: £28.99
Where to buy: Artisan Coffee Co.

The best wine advent calendars

Christmas is the season to break out the good vino to enjoy with pals. If you're planning on just doing a little bit of moderate quaffing each day, these great wine advent calendars are just the ticket!

Laithwaites Mixed Wine Advent Calendar

What: The ultimate gift for the wine lover in your life, or a little treat for yourself - we won't judge - the Laithwaites mixed wine advent calendar offers everything, with 23 bottles of red, white and rose wine served up in delightful 187ml servings. Grab yourself a glass throughout the cold December evening's and then crack open a bottle of Prosecco on Christmas Eve, to really get in the festive spirit.
How much: £99.99
Buy now: Laithwaites Mixed Wine Advent Calendar

Virgin Wines Advent Calendar

What: Virgin was one of the very first brands to get in on the wine advent calendar action, first launching in 2016. This year, Virgin is stepping up its game by offering three different advent calendars: mixed, red and white. Each one features 24 miniature bottles of wine, as well as one regular-sized bottle to crack open on Christmas Day.
How much: £89.99
Buy now: Virgin Wines Advent Calendar

Prosecco O'Clock Advent Calendar

What: This rather elaborate advent calendar features Prosecco, Cava, Brut and more. You can pick your miniature bottle from each ‘hour’ on the clock, while the wooden structure can be used year after year (although refilling the bottles in the future will be down to you sadly).  
How much: £124.95
Buy now: Prosecco O Clock Advent Calendar

The best beer advent calendars

If you, or someone you love, is obsessed with beer, we’re happy to report that there’s an advent calendar for that. Our pick of the best beer advent calendars for 2024 feature some of the best beers from all over the world – cheers to that!

Star Wars Original Stormtrooper Beer Advent Calendar

What: Any Star Wars fans out there? This might be a niche gift, but you'll absolutely nail the brief if you have friends with a penchant for the sci fi franchise. Filled with 12 craft beers, including a Galactic Pale Ale and Lightspeed Pilsner, a 'Taste the Galaxy' glass, plus more Star Wars merch, this one's a great deal at less than £50.
How much: £49
Buy now: Star Wars Original Stormtrooper Beer Advent Calendar

Beavertown Advent Calendar

What: Beavertown has become famous for its punchy flavours and whacky can art. Last year's advent calendar featured fan-favourites Neck Oil, Gamma Ray and Bones Lager, as well as more adventurous offerings (chocolate porter and coffee stout). The calendar also includes a Christmas glass, as well as a surprise present for your tree.
How much: £69
Buy now: Beavertown Advent Calendar

Beer Countdown Advent Calendar

What: Wrapped up like a big Christmas present sitting under the tree, this countdown calendar features 24 bottles of beer for you to discover. Names you’ll find on the list of full-sized cans include Ghost Ship, Triple Knot and Mosaic Pale Ale.
How much: £129.95
Buy now: Beer Countdown Advent Calendar

The best gin advent calendars

Gin has had quite the renaissance in recent years, becoming one of the most popular orders at bars up and down the country. The nation’s obsession with gin has even extended to the Christmas countdown, with gin advent calendars in high demand. Check out some of this year’s best offerings below.

Virgin Wines Gin Advent Calendar

What: You might not expect Virgin Wines to offer a gin advent calendar given its name, but once you’ve tried this box of treats you won’t be complaining. This year, you can expect to discover 24 superb gins from both award-winning producers and lesser-known boutique craft gins. So, in short, there is something to please everyone.
How much: £99.99
Buy now: Virgin Wines Gin Advent Calendar

That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar

What: Fancy trying out 24 different kinds of gin without having to splash out on expensive bottles? This advent calendar is the solution to your problem, featuring 30ml drams of top gins. Sip on the likes of Pink Gin, Cherry Gin and Pineapple Gin.
How much: £64.95
Buy now: That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar

Drinks by the Dram Craft Gin Advent Calendar

What: This boujie offering from Drinks by the Dram includes 24 hand-picked, wax-sealed drams of gin, all of which are different and span a range of small-scale gin producers. Indulge in brands you know, and discover labels you don’t, with a wide spectrum of tipples on offer. Alongside classic offerings, there are plenty of interesting flavour combinations to get excited about too, including pink marmalade, gooseberry, gunpowder and rosehip, and orange and geranium.
How much: £69.95
Buy now: Drinks by the Dram Craft Gin Advent Calendar

If you’re planning a Christmas party for your friends, family or office, check out our Christmas parties page for tons of venue inspiration.

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