Step up your gifting game with items from these 12 local shops in and around Boston. You don’t have to resort to Amazon for last-minute presents this year when there are plenty of even lovelier options right outside your door! You can get delightful homemade presents while supporting local businesses by shopping at one of these local shops in and near Boston.
1. Riviera Clothing Co., Cambridge
Cambridge-based clothing brand, Riviera Clothing Co. founded by Anne Sommers, will brighten up a cold winter gifting day and bring plenty of festivity into the holiday season with its cheerful prints. Riviera has something for everyone from women’s shirts, dresses, and pants to unisex shirts and accessories. Sommers designs these pieces herself, including some of the prints, so your special someone is in for an extra unique gift! Although Riviera doesn’t currently have a brick and mortar, being local means your products will ship in only a day or two!
Find it online and at select pop-ups throughout the city
2. Uvida, Multiple locations
Boston’s very first zero-waste shop, now with a second location in Brookline in addition to its landmark North End location, offers up guilt-free gifting choices. You’ll be doing yourself, your giftee, and the earth a favor by shopping from Uvida. Find here an assortment of adorable small gifts that are truly unique and won’t break the bank, or pick something up from Uvida’s stellar plant collection. Their Brookline location offers a curated vintage corner to find unique home decor and clothing too.
Find Uvida Boston at 28 Atlantic Ave and Uvida Brookline at 395A Washington Street
3. Covet + Lou, Needham
This Needham boutique is well worth the trip out of the city. You’ll be introduced to unique brands from all over the world in a range of products like PJs, jewelry, ceramics, accessories, and beauty, and maybe even find your perfect holiday outfit from their spicy clothing curation!
Find it at 28 Lincoln St, Newton, MA 02461.
4. Brookline Booksmith, Coolidge Corner
Brookline Booksmith has been providing new and used books to the Brookline community since 1961— in fact, it’s turning 60 this year! In addition to reading materials, Brookline Booksmith also has some of the best knick-knacks in town that will make the perfect presents, from cozy socks and mittens to notebooks and coffee mugs.
Find it at 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446
5. Cheapo Records, Central Square
Need a present for your friend or relative who’s just too cool for school? Cheapo Records is the place to go to shop for the indie music lover in your life. Not only do they have a fine collection of new and used vinyl records, but they also have racks upon racks of band tees, vintage clothes, and upcycled tees and hoodies as well. It’s a hipster’s paradise!
Find it at 538 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
6. Petrova Chocolates
This innovative chocolate master has festive flavors like Pistachio Praline, Almond Tart, and even a Candy-Cap Mushroom flavor that might sound intimidating but tastes like fresh maple syrup! Petrova Chocolates are the perfect gift for the foodie friend.
Find Petrova Chocolate online or at select pop-ups throughout the city
7. Bob Slate Stationer, Harvard Square
A Harvard Square classic since 1930, Bob Slate Stationer has all your cards and gift-wrapping needs covered for the holiday season. But along with the more practical purchases of wrapping supplies, Bob Slate has tons of small gifts that anyone will appreciate, from pens that write as smoothly as silk to gorgeous ornamental stationary and notebooks.
Find it at 30 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
8. Curio Spice, Porter Square
Curio Spice is a woman-owned business that specializes in directly sourced, sustainably produced spices from around the world. From the essentials to the rare and hard-to-find spices, Curio has an impressively diverse collection right in Cambridge.
Find it at 2265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
9. Gardner Museum Gift Shop, Fenway
When shopping for last-minute holiday presents, your go-to spot should be a local museum gift shop. All of their knick-knacks have a local connection and look beautiful. The Gardner Museums’s gift shop is no exception: they have a great selection of reading materials, objets d’art, and even simple postcards and calendars that stand out as gorgeous displays of art. Not to mention, they also carry unique gifts crafted by artists, artisans, and small-batch makers from New England.
Find the Gardner Museum at 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115
10. The Happy Journey, Beacon Hill
This darling new children’s bookstore just opened in Beacon Hill, and it’s just as whimsical as it appears from the outside. In addition to books, they have toys, trinkets, and ornaments to make your holidays merrier.
Find it at 73 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
11. Micro Plant Studio, South Boston
Micro Plant Studio is a Latinx-owned plant store that caters to your green thumb from start to finish. They have a lovely array of flower arrangements and house plants for you to take home. But what’s even cooler is their planter selection – they have a 3D printer on hand to create the coolest geometric planter of your dreams! This is the spot to get a completely unique present for a loved one (assuming they’ll take care of the plant after the holidays, that is).
Find it at 365 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
12. Choc Allure, Needham
Choc Allure is the brainchild of French-trained Chocolatier, Liron Gal. Based in Needham, Massachusetts and available for nationwide and local delivery in addition to arranged pick-ups, Choc Allure has some of the best chocolate not just locally, but possibly worldwide!
Online only on the Choc Allure website
13. Tutuland, Allston
At this crafter’s haven the limit is as far as your imagination takes you. Hand tuft a custom rug with any graphic and of any size and shape at this cozy nook in Allston.
At Tutuland you can DIY custom rugs, claw clips, phone cases, art and so much more! It’s the perfect personalized gift or you could take someone with you as an experiential option!
Find Tutuland at 115 Brighton Avenue, Allston MA 02134
14. Randolph
Founded 50 years ago by two optical engineers turned sunglasses designers, Randolph gets its name after the town it was born in, situated 30 minutes south of Boston. Randolph’s sunglasses became the official military specs in the 1980s and are now beloved by everyone from professional pilots to actors like John Krasinski, Brie Larson, and Steve Carell.
15. joujete
Founded by Boston University student, Cady Ghandour, joujete, sells some of the world’s comfiest pajamas-which circles back to its origin story 30 years ago. Ghandour’s pieces are inspired by her grandma, Jamila’s, original pajamas which were designed for her brother who complained of overheating and discomfort in his sleep due to his pajamas. Now, joujete is turning her family’s favorite pants into a flourishing venture and sharing the love with the world.
16. Juliet Aurel
The Mexican-born jewelry brand has new east coast roots, with the founder and CEO now based in Boston. Jhoseline Flores, the brains behind Juliet Aurel, notes some of their designs are influenced by New England coasts drawing inspiration from the sea, shells, pearls, and beauty.
17. A spa day at one of these local rest and reset spots
Nothing is quite better than a day at the spa. Whether they’re the thrill-seeking cold plunge type or the stone treatment zen sort, these New England spas offer up all sorts of special experiences they’ll never forget.