Look, Mayor Lewis is basically the guy who keeps Pelican Town from falling apart while everyone else is busy staring at the ocean or getting lost in the mines. He's been the mayor for like, twenty years? You've seen him everywhere—standing by the truck, judging your crops at the Fair, and sneakily hanging out near Marnie’s ranch late at night.
If you want to get on his good side, you can't just toss a handful of grass at him and hope for the best. Most players think they can just ignore the town’s leadership, but honestly, having Lewis as a friend pays off in cold, hard cash and some actually useful recipes.
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The Absolute Best Lewis Stardew Valley Gifts
If you want to see that little heart bubble pop up over his head, you need to bring the good stuff. Lewis has a refined, sort of "country-classic" palate. He isn't looking for Prismatic Shards or anything too flashy, though he won't say no to a Rabbit's Foot.
Actually, the easiest way to win him over is through his stomach. He loves hearty, seasonal dishes. If you've got a kitchen, start cooking.
- Hot Pepper: This is the easiest "Loved" gift to get. Seriously. Just plant a bunch in the Summer. They regrow every few days, and Lewis loses his mind for them. It's the ultimate early-game friendship hack.
- Glazed Yams: You'll need the recipe from The Queen of Sauce (Fall 21, Year 1). It takes a Yam and Sugar. Simple.
- Autumn's Bounty: Another cooking winner. You get this recipe in the mail from Demetrius once you hit seven hearts with him.
- Vegetable Medley: This one comes from Caroline in the mail after you reach seven hearts with her.
- Green Tea: If you have the 1.6 or 1.5 updates, you can grow Tea Leaves. Pop them in a Keg, and you've got a gift Lewis adores.
Why Birthdays Change Everything
You've gotta mark Spring 7 on your calendar. That is Lewis's birthday. If you give him a "Loved" gift on this day, you get 8x the normal friendship points. We're talking about jumping nearly three full hearts in a single interaction.
If you have a gold or iridium-quality Hot Pepper saved from the previous Summer, give it to him on Spring 7. The quality multiplier stacks with the birthday bonus. It’s basically a friendship nuke.
What He Sorta Likes (The "Safety" Gifts)
Maybe you’re broke. Maybe it’s Spring and your Hot Peppers haven't grown yet. In that case, Lewis is pretty chill about certain forageables and farm goods. These "Liked" gifts give you 45 points instead of 80, but hey, it’s better than nothing.
He’s a big fan of most Fruit Tree Fruits (Apples, Peaches, etc.) and most Artisan Goods like Jelly or Honey. Just stay away from the weird stuff. He also likes Blueberries, Coconuts, and Cactus Fruit. If you've unlocked the Calico Desert, just grab a Cactus Fruit off the ground and hand it to him on your way back. Easy points.
Interestingly, he likes Goat Milk and Duck Feathers too. It’s almost like he spends a lot of time around a certain rancher who raises animals. Substantial, right?
Items to Never Give Lewis
Don't be that person who hands the Mayor a piece of literal trash. He’s the town leader; he has standards.
Specifically, stay away from Quartz. Most villagers are okay with Quartz, but Lewis hates it. Same goes for Holly and Salmonberries. If you hand him a Salmonberry, he’ll basically tell you it’s gross. Also, avoid Wild Horseradish. He’s not a fan of the spicy root life unless it’s a Hot Pepper.
And for the love of Yoba, don't hit him with a slingshot. It’s funny for a second, but you lose 30 friendship points every time you do it.
The Purple Shorts Mystery
We have to talk about the "Mayor's Shorts." You'll eventually get a letter in the mail where Lewis asks you to find his "lucky" purple shorts. They’re in Marnie’s bedroom. To get them, you need two hearts with Marnie just to walk into her room.
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You have three choices here, and two of them are hilarious:
- Give them back quietly: You get 750g and a friendship heart. Boring, but professional.
- The Luau Incident: Put the shorts in the communal soup during the Luau. The Governor will taste them, Lewis will freak out, and you won't get any friendship, but the dialogue is gold.
- The Stardew Valley Fair: Put the shorts in your Grange Display. Lewis will be horrified and bribe you with 750 Star Tokens to take them down.
Honestly, if you care about Lewis Stardew Valley gifts and maximizing friendship, just give them back. But if you want a laugh, the soup is the way to go.
Friendship Perks: What’s In It For You?
You might be wondering why you’re bothering to feed this guy peppers every week. Well, Lewis is actually pretty generous once he likes you.
Once you hit three hearts, he starts sending you recipes in the mail. You'll get the recipe for Spaghetti first. At seven hearts, he sends you the recipe for Eggplant Parmesan, which is a great buff food for mining since it boosts Defense and Mining.
Even better? He occasionally sends you Gold in the mail. He calls it the "Stardew Valley Agricultural Fund." It’s basically a tax kickback for being a good farmer. The higher your friendship, the more likely he is to send you cash or high-end items like an Energy Tonic.
Actionable Next Steps
To maximize your relationship with the Mayor, start by planting Hot Peppers as soon as Summer 1 hits. Stash at least 10 or 15 of them in a chest. This gives you enough to give him two every week for the rest of the year.
Make it a habit to check the Stardrop Saloon on Friday nights. Lewis is almost always there from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM. It’s the easiest place to find him without chasing him across town or waiting for him to finish "inspecting" Marnie’s ranch.
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By the time his birthday rolls around on Spring 7 of Year 2, you should have an iridium-quality pepper ready to go. Drop that on him, and you'll likely hit max friendship instantly, unlocking all those mail rewards and ensuring those "Agricultural Fund" checks keep rolling into your mailbox.