Probably the best way to make friends with townspeople in Stardew Valley is to give them a gift that they love (they are materialist to the core those people). Each of them has several items that they love to get as presents, some likes and some dislikes, some items that they hate. The most effective way to build friendships is to give people gifts that they love (you will see that little heart appearing over their head once you give it to them). It works even better if you get the loved item on their birthday. Be careful with items that they don’t like or even hate. In this case you will lose friendship points.
Being friends with the villagers and townspeople is beneficial, you will get more immersed into interesting life of Pelican Town. But not only that. Once you reach a certain friendship level with someone they will start sending you gifts and recipes that you can later use. And of course, you can only marry someone if you’ve first became very good friends with them.
You can give gifts to each character two times a week but not on the same day. If a character is celebrating his or her birthday you can get them an extra gift. All marriage candidates will require to be presented with a bouquet at some point in your friendship. They will then become your boyfriends or girlfriends (and you can have quite a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends in Stardew Valley, no one will bat an eye).
So what are the best gifts to give to each of the villagers and townspeople in Stardew Valley?
Alex loves Complete Breakfast (this can be cooked in the kitchen, it requires 1 Milk, 1 Fried Egg (cooked using 1 Egg), Hashbrowns (cooked using 1 Potato and 1 Oil) and Pancakes(1 Wheat Flour, 1 Egg)), Salmon Dinner (cooking requires: 1 Salmon, 1 Amaranth, 1 Kale). These items are not easy to cook especially in the early stages of the game, you may not even have a kitchen yet. However Sam likes a great deal of other things, so it shouldn’t be too hard to win his friendship even without his most favorite items. Alex is also a marriage candidate, so after you reach 8 heart friendship you will have to present him with a bouquet in order to develop the friendship further. However Alex hates two things, so if you want to be on good terms with him don’t give him Holly or Quartz.
Evelyn is a nice old lady, Alex’s grandmother, she loves Beet, Chocolate Cake (cooking requires: 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Diamond, Fairy Rose, Stuffing (1 Bread (1 Wheat Flour), 1 Cranberries, 1 Hazelnut), Tulip. Since Evelyn loves quite a lot of things it’s pretty easy to win her affections. She will appreciate most of the things you present her with. However Evelyn hates a lot of things as well. She will not be happy if you give her Clam, Clay, Coral, Fried Eel, Garlic, Holly, Maki Roll, Salmonberry, Sashimi, Spice Berry, Spicy Eel, Trout Soup.
George is a grumpy old man, however he is quite nice after you get to know him better. And there is no better way to make friends in Stardew Valley as giving gifts, right? George loves Fried Mushroom (cooking requires: 1 Common Mushroom, 1 Morel, 1 Oil), and Leek. George hates getting Clay (who would like that, though?), Dandelion, Holly, Quartz.
Pierre runs his own general store in Pelican Town. He loves Fried Calamari (cooking requires: 1 Squid, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Oil). Pierre dislikes most of the foraged items. However he hates getting only few items that are: Corn, Garlic, Parsnip Soup, Tortilla.
Caroline is Pierre’s wife. She loves receiving Summer Spangle and Fish Taco (cooking requires: 1 Tuna, 1 Tortilla, 1 Red Cabbage, 1 Mayonnaise). Caroline hates Quartz and Salmonberry.
Abigail loves Amethyst (just like the color of her hair), Blackberry Cobbler (cooking requires: 2 Blackberry, 1 Sugar and 1 Wheat Flour), Chocolate Cake (cooking requires: 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Pufferfish, Pumpkin, Spicy Eel (cooking requires: 1 Eel, 1 Hot Pepper). Abigail hates Clay and Holly she will not doubt to express her dissatisfaction with such a gift. Abigail is also a marriage candidate and once you reach 8 heart level friendship with her, you will have to give her a bouquet if you want to develop this friendship (or a romance) further.
Harvey is the doctor of Pelican Town and also a marriage candidate. Harvey loves Coffee (ingredients 5 Coffee Beans, requires a keg, Coffee can also be bought at The Stardrop Saloon), Pickles (that can be made from any vegetable in Preserves Jar), Super Meal (cooking requires: 1 Bok Choy, 1 Cranberries, 1 Artichoke), Truffle Oil (made in the Oil Maker using 1 Truffle), Wine (made in a keg using any kind of fruit). Harvey hates Coral, Nautilus Shell, Rainbow Shell, Salmonberry, Spice Berry.
Pam loves Beer (can be bought at The Stardrop Saloon or made in a keg using 1 Wheat), Cactus Fruit, Glazed Yam (cooking requires: 1 Yam, 1 Sugar), Mead (made in a keg from 1 Honey), Pale Ale (can be made in a keg using 1 Hops), Parsnip, Parsnip Soup (cooking requires: 1 Parsnip, 1 Milk, 1 Vinegar). Never give Pam Holly, Octopus or Squid, if you want to befriend her, she absolutely hates those things.
Gus owns the Stardrop Saloon. Gus loves getting Diamond, Escargot (cooking requires: 1 Snail, 1 Garlic), Fish Taco (cooking requires: 1 Tuna, 1 Tortilla, 1 Red Cabbage, 1 Mayonnaise), Orange. If you want Gus to be friends with you and even share some of his recipes never give him Holly, Quartz or Coleslaw, he hates those.
Penny is Pam’s daughter. She is a marriage candidate and loves getting Diamond, Emerald, Sandfish, Melon, Poppy, Poppyseed Muffin (cooking requires: 1 Poppy, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar), Red Plate (1 Red Cabbage, 1 Radish), Roots Platter (1 Cave Carrot, 1 Winter Root), Tom Kha Soup (1 Coconut, 1 Shrimp, 1 Common Mushroom). However if you fancy Penny don’t you ever give her … well quite a lot of things. Penny hates Beer, Grape, Holly, Hops, Mead, Pale Ale, Rabbit’s Foot, Wine.
Robin is a carpenter. She loves Goat Cheese (made in cheese press using 1 Goat Milk), Peach, Spaghetti. Don’t give Robin Holly (apparently, most people hate Holly in Stardew Valley). But in general Robin likes quite a lot of things. She is not too picky.
Demetrius loves Bean Hotpot (cooking requires: 2 Green Bean), Ice Cream (cooking requires: 1 Milk, 1 Sugar, Ice Cream can also be bought at ice cream stall during summer), Rice Pudding (1 Milk, 1 Sugar, 1 Rice), Strawberry. Demetrius hates Holly.
Sebastian loves Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Pumpkin Soup (cooking requires: 1 Pumpkin, 1 Milk), Sashimi (1 Fish), Void Egg. Sebastian is a marriage candidate, so if you are planning on getting serious with him don’t give him Clay, Complete Breakfast, Farmer’s Lunch, or Omelet. He hates those things.
Maru is a marriage candidate. She loves Battery Pack, Cauliflower, Cheese Cauliflower (cooking requires: 1 Cauliflower, 1 Cheese), Diamond, Gold Bar, Iridium Bar, Miners Treat (cooking requires: 2 Cave Carrots, 1 Sugar, 1 Milk), Pepper Poppers (1 Hot Pepper, 1 Cheese), Rhubarb Pie (1 Rhubarb, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar), Strawberry. Maru hates Holly, Honey, Pickles, Snow Yam, Truffle.
Linus, the nice homeless guy loves Blueberry Tart (cooking requires: 1 Blueberry, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Cactus Fruit, Coconut, Dish o’ The Sea (2 Sardine, 1 Hashbrowns).
Dwarf loves all kinds of stone: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Emerald, Jade, Omni Geode, Ruby, Topaz. Any of these should set you on good terms with the Dwarf.
Clint is the blacksmith of the Pelican Town, as any blacksmith should he likes minerals and metals. The best gifts for Clint would be: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Artichoke Dip (cooking requires: 1 Artichoke, 1 Milk), Emerald, Fiddlehead Risotto (1 Oil, 1 Fiddlehead Fern, 1 Garlic), Gold Bar, Iridium Bar, Jade, Omni Geode, Ruby, Topaz. Clint hates Holly among other things like Soap and Seaweed.
Lewis is a nice elderly guy, he is responsible for Pelican Town as he is the mayor. The mayor loves Autumn’s Bounty (cooking requires: 1 Yam, 1 Pumpkin), Glazed Yams (1 Yam, 1 Sugar), Hot Pepper, Vegetable Medley (1 Tomato, 1 Beet). Lewis hates Holly and Quartz.
Emily lives with Haley, her sister. Both of them are marriage candidates. Emily loves Amethyst, Aquamarine, Cloth, Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Survival Burger (cooking requires: 1 Bread, 1 Cave Carrot, 1 Eggplant), Topaz, Wool. Emily hates Fish Taco, Holly, Maki Roll, Salmon Dinner, Sashimi.
Haley is a vain girl who lives with her sister Emily. Both are marriage candidates. Haley loves Coconut, Fruit Salad (cooking requires: 1 Blueberry, 1 Mellon, 1 Apricot), Pink Cake (1 Mellon, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Sunflower. Haley hates Clay, Prismatic Shard, Wild Horseradish.
Jodi loves Chocolate Cake (cooking requires: 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Crispy Bass (1 Largemouth Bass, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Oil), Diamond, Eggplant Parmesan (1 Eggplant, 1 Tomato), Fried Eel (1 Eel, 1 Oil), Pancakes (1 Wheat Flour, 1 Egg), Rhubarb Pie (1 Rhubarb, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar), Vegetable Medley (1 Tomato, 1 Beet). Jodi hates getting Daffodil, Dandelion, Spice Berry.
Kent is a soldier. He loves Fiddlehead Risotto (cooking requires: 1 Oil, 1 Fiddlehead Fern, 1 Garlic), Roasted Hazelnuts (3 Hazelnuts). Kent seems to have some terrible experiences as a soldier and giving him specific items bring back bad memories. He hates Algae Soup, Holly, Sashimi, Tortilla.
Sam is one of the candidates for you to marry. The best gifts for Sam are: Cactus Fruit, Maple Bar (cooking requires: 1 Maple Syrup, 1 Sugar, 1 Wheat Flour), Pizza (1 Wheat Flour, 1 Tomato, 1 Cheese), Tigerseye. He loves those things. Sam hates quite a lot of things as well. If you want to be friends with him don’t give him Coal, Copper Bar, Duck Mayonnaise, Gold Bar, Gold Ore, Iridium Bar, Iridium Ore, Iron Bar, Mayonnaise, Pickles, Refined Quartz.
Vincent is a kid and he loves Pink Cake (cooking requires: 1 Mellon, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Grape, Cranberry Candy (1 Cranberries, 1 Apple, 1 Sugar). Vincent hates Clay and Horseradish, he also won’t appreciate Beer or other Artisan goods.
Willy is a fisherman in Pelican Town, he also owns a fishing shop. Willy loves Catfish, Diamond, Iridium Bar, Mead, Octopus, Pumpkin, Sea Cucumber, Sturgeon.
Elliot is a lonely writer who is also a marriage candidate. Elliot loves Crab Cakes (cooking requires: 1 Crab, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Egg, 1 Oil), Duck Feather, Lobster, Pomegranate, Tom Kha Soup (1 Coconut, 1 Shrimp, 1 Common Mushroom). He is a man of feels and there are several items that will give him a “terrible feeling”. Elliot hates Amaranth, Quartz, Salmonberry, Sea Cucumber.
Marnie loves Diamond, Farmer’s Lunch (cooking requires: 1 Omelet, 1 Parsnip), Pink Cake (1 Mellon, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar, 1 Egg), Pumpkin Pie (1 Pumpkin, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Milk, 1 Sugar).
Shane is an interesting character, quite depressive though. However he is marriage candidate. Shane loves Beer, Hot Pepper, Pepper Poppers (cooking requires: 1 Hot Pepper, 1 Cheese), Pizza (1 Wheat Flour, 1 Tomato, 1 Cheese). What he wouldn't appreciate at all are Pickles and Quartz. Shane hates it.
Jas is one of the kids in Stardew Valley. She will love Fairy Rose, Pink Cake and Plum Pudding. Jas hates Clay, Horseradish, Beer and other Artisan goods. Mead and Oil are not that bad, though.
Leah loves Goat Cheese, Poppyseed Muffin (cooking requires: 1 Poppy, 1 Wheat Flour, 1 Sugar), Salad (1 Leek, 1 Dandelion, 1 Vinegar), Stir Fry (1 Cave Carrot, 1 Common Mushroom, 1 Kale, 1 Oil), Truffle, Vegetable Medley (1 Tomato, 1 Beet), Wine. Leah is a marriage candidate, so if you are going to befriend here don’t give her Bread, Hashbrowns, Pancakes, Pizza or Void Egg.
Krobus is a nice monster that never leaves the Sewers. He will love getting a Diamond, Iridium Bar, Pumpkin, Void Egg, Void Mayonnaise, Wild Horseradish. Bring him any of those regularly and you’ll become fine friends.
Wizard loves weird things, as a wizard should. He will love: Purple Mushroom, Solar Essence, Void Essence, Super Cucumber.
Sandy lives in Calico dessert, she will love gifts from the valley. The best ways to win her affections are to bring her Crocus, Daffodil or Sweat Pea. She will hate Holly though.
