NYC Holiday Gift Guide: 25 Local Shops And Makers Across The Five Boroughs

New York in December means crowded sidewalks, fogged up windows, and that familiar scramble to find gifts that feel more personal than whatever is in your online cart. The upside is that the city is full of small shops, studios, and markets where the people behind the counter actually know what they are selling and often make it themselves.

This guide gathers twenty-five very small and independent businesses from all five boroughs. You will find candles and ceramics, pantry goods, knitwear, books, toys, nostalgia pieces, and experiences, all from places that feel distinctly like New York rather than anywhere else. Many of them can be shopped both in person and online.

Best NYC Holiday Gifts For Homebodies And Art Lovers

The quickest way to make any apartment feel finished is to add light, texture, and one or two objects that do not look like everyone else’s. These shops are where you go for candles, ceramics, and artful pieces that turn a rental into a home.

Lit Brooklyn

Lit Brooklyn, founded by candle maker Denequa Williams-Clarke, treats scent as both mood and memory. Each candle is layered with fragrance and sustainably sourced materials. Their formulas are made to burn cleanly, which matters if your giftee is health conscious but likes to set a mood. These are the candles you reach for when you want the room to feel pulled together with zero extra effort. 

Website: litbklyn.co

Instagram: @litbklyn

Featured gift: A classic collection candle like MUSE or JOY.

Good to know: Black owned; woman owned; handmade; online + in store.

Soft Skills

Soft Skills is a ceramics and design studio project initiated by artist and curator Jocelyn Miller. Her pieces sit somewhere between sculpture and functional object, with handles that squish, surfaces that ripple, and glazes that move between soft matte and high gloss. One mug or vase can quietly change the feel of a desk, bookcase, or an entire room. 

Website: softskills.shop

Instagram: @soft____skills

Featured gift: The silver seed vessel is a modern, molten take on a typical stem or bud vase.

Good to know: Handmade; woman owned; online + in person pop-ups.

Material Intent

Material Intent is the studio of ceramic artist Charlotte Corini, who hand builds pieces with visible gesture and personality. Planters tilt and lean, bowls wobble just enough to feel human, and glazes often layer or drip. If your friend loves plants or tablescapes, a single piece from here will not get lost in the mix. 

Website: materialintent.com

Instagram: @charlottecorini

Featured gift: A planter plus a small plant from your local nursery, so you are gifting a finished corner rather than just a pot.

Good to know: Handmade; woman owned; online + in person markets.

NiLu Gift Shop

NiLu is a gift and home shop founded by Katrina Parris Pinn and her husband Mark Parris Pinn as a way to showcase Harlem’s culture, artistry, and independent makers. Shelves are full of work by New York designers, along with pieces that speak directly to Harlem and uptown life. 

Website: shopnilu.com

Instagram: @shopnilu

Featured gift: A Harlem themed tote or print paired with a favorite book or candle from the shop, especially good for anyone who has roots uptown.

Good to know: Black owned; woman owned; online + in store.

By Word of Nose

By Word of Nose is the ongoing project of Colombian American sculptor Kat Geng-Caraballo, who turns noses into fabric sculptures and stories. Through one to one “Nose Job” commissions and workshops, she creates soft noses based on a person’s profile and personal history, often weaving in scent and textile details that matter to them. It is the kind of gift people talk about for years. 

Website: bywordofnose.com

Instagram: @bywordofnose

Featured gift: A custom “Nose Job” sculpture, wrapped with a short note about why you thought this particular friend deserved to see their face reimagined.

Good to know: Woman owned; POC owned; handmade; online bookings + in person experiences.

Every Thing Goes Thrift & Vintage / Book Café

Every Thing Goes is a cluster of thrift, vintage, and bookshop spaces owned and operated by the Ganas Community, a long running intentional community on Staten Island. The stores are set up so you can dig for clothing, furniture, books, and oddities, then sit with something hot at the Book Café. It is a strong option if your idea of a gift is a small haul of things that could only have been found by wandering around together. 

Website: etgstores.com

Instagram: @etgfurniture and @etg.bookcafe

Featured gift: A bundle of vintage glassware or a retro lamp plus a used book that matches the recipient’s taste.

Good to know: Worker cooperative model; in store, limited online.

Where To Buy Food, Pantry And Kitchen Gifts In NYC

Pantry and kitchen gifts get used long after the tree is gone. These are the spots for host gifts, breakfast kits, and snacks that make a new place feel stocked and lived in.

Brooklyn Granary & Mill

Brooklyn Granary & Mill is run by co owners Patrick Shaw-Kitch and Laura Huss, who built the bakery and mill around regeneratively grown Northeast and Mid Atlantic grains. You can walk out with loaves, pastries, and retail bags of freshly milled flour that actually taste different from what you find on a standard grocery shelf. 

Website: brooklyngranaryandmill.com

Instagram: @brooklyngranaryandmill

Featured gift: We love the Wapsie Valley corn & spelt pancake mix. The recipe calls for buttermilk which you can also pick up at the bakery.

Good to know: Handmade; in store, limited online.

Dibs Shop

Dibs Shop is a vintage and new home goods store from propmaster and shop owner Alexis Weiss, whose background in film and TV shows up in the way pieces are styled and displayed. The space somehow fits furniture, tableware, art, pantry items, and excellent cards into one compact storefront. It is the rare place where you can grab the gift and the wrapping supplies and feel good about both. 

Instagram: @dibs.shop

Featured gift: A vintage serving dish plus a fancy pantry item or two, presented with one of their cards so everything feels pulled together.

Good to know: Woman owned; handmade items; vintage; in store, some online ordering.

Locavore Variety Store & The Locavore Guide

Locavore Variety Store is owned by “shop local” obsessive Caroline Weaver, who has spent years cataloging independent shops across New York City and sourcing products from within roughly 100 miles of town. Shelves are lined with pantry staples, snacks, skincare, stationery, and household goods that all come with a local backstory. Their mix of pantry goods, condiments, and everyday basics makes especially good gifts for friends who have just moved and are rebuilding their pantry essentials. The Locavore Guide book, which Weaver wrote after visiting thousands of shops, doubles as a long lasting present for someone who loves exploring neighborhoods. 

Website: thelocavore.shop

Instagram: @thelocavorenyc

Featured gift: A pantry starter bundle built from their sauces, salts, snacks, and The Locavore Guide tucked in on top.

Good to know: Woman owned; locally sourced, handmade and small batch mix; online + in store.

Emiliano’s Market

Emiliano’s Market is run by Emiliano and Franca, a husband and wife team who set out to recreate the feeling of a small town Italian piazza on Mosholu Avenue. You can build your own combination of cured meats, cheeses, imported pantry staples, sweets, and a bottle of something sparkling, then call it dinner. 

Website: emilianosmarket.com

Featured gift: A deli built gift box with olives, taralli, cookies, and a house favorite jarred sauce for an easy winter dinner.

Good to know: Family owned; in store only.

Flagship Brewing Co.

Flagship Brewing Co. is a Staten Island brewery co founded by brewer Jay Sykes and his partners, who set out to make a true hometown beer. Their cans travel well, whether that means a four pack to a party or a mixed selection to ship to family who will appreciate something that actually says Staten Island on the label. 

Website: flagshipbrewery.nyc

Instagram: @flagshipbrewery

Featured gift: A mix and match selection of their core beers and a limited seasonal release, packaged in a reusable tote.

Good to know: Small batch; in store, some online.

NYC Clothing, Knitwear And Accessories That Make Great Gifts

Clothes can be tricky, but the right sweater, hat, or pair of earrings ends up in heavy rotation. These shops lean into pieces that feel special without asking you to guess someone’s exact measurements.

Next Season

Next Season is an upcycled knitwear brand from designer and founder Anne Warren, who takes damaged and unwanted sweaters and remakes them into new, one of a kind pieces. Every garment saves textiles from the waste stream while turning into something new, with silhouettes that are familiar enough to be wearable but distinct enough that you will not see ten of the same sweater on the subway. 

Website: nextseason.nyc

Instagram: @nextseason.nyc

Featured gift: A gift card paired with a note inviting the recipient to work with Next Season on a custom piece from sweaters they already own.

Good to know: Woman owned; eco-friendly; handmade; online + in person events.

Future Retro

Future Retro is a graphic apparel brand helmed by Tito & Jess Anton. They print T shirts, crewnecks, hoodies, and hats with messages built around creativity, presence, and making things. The designs are bold without feeling disposable, which makes them solid gifts for people who live in sweats and caps. 

Website: futureretro.nyc

Instagram: @futureretronyc

Featured gift: The FR Silhouette Hoodie is a perfect layer for January in Brooklyn.

Good to know: Artist owned; woman owned; POC owned; hand printed; online + in person pop ups.

Pimbeche Vintage

Pimbeche Vintage is the vision of founder and owner Lisa Ferrari-Sullivan, who built the shop out of a deep love for preloved clothing and the stories behind it. Racks range from everyday staples to full on statement pieces, with inclusive sizing and a mix of eras that feel more curated than chaotic. You will find faux furs, sequins, denim, and dresses that look ready for New Year’s even if you are just going to a friend’s living room. 

Website: pimbechevintage.com

Instagram: @pimbechevintage

Featured gift: A standout coat, blazer, or bag that becomes their winter uniform.

Good to know: Woman owned; in store, some online.

Stay Forever

Stay Forever is a colorful neighborhood gift and lifestyle shop co owned by Michelle Delgado and Lisa Jee. The team opened the original Ridgewood storefront as new parents and turned it into a community hub. The shelves are full of cards, books, home goods, wellness items, and a strong selection of affordable jewelry and small accessories that do not require you to look at a size chart even once. 

Website: shopstayforever.com

Instagram: @shopstayforever

Featured gift: A sweatshirt or hat plus a pair of earrings or a simple necklace for an eclectic bundle.

Good to know: Latina and AAPI owned; online + in store.

NYC Bookshops And Book Bars For Holiday Gifts

Books are easy to wrap, easy to carry on the subway, and hard to beat as a way of saying “I know what you like.” These shops double as places to spend time, so the gift can be the object and the outing.

Astoria Bookshop

Astoria Bookshop is a queer woman owned general interest bookstore founded by Lexi Beach, who now runs it with her wife and co owner Connie Rourke. The space feels like a neighborhood living room that happens to have a very good staff picks section and a busy calendar of events. 

Website: astoriabookshop.com

Instagram: @astoriabookshop

Featured gift: A staff pick paperback plus a gift card, especially good for friends who live nearby and can treat themselves later.

Good to know: Queer woman owned; online + in store.

Sweet Pickle Books

Sweet Pickle Books is the Lower East Side bookstore and pickle shop dreamed up by founder and owner Leigh Altshuler. She started by trading jars of homemade pickles for used books and has since turned the shop into a small cultural hotspot with celebrity shoutouts and a growing rare book selection. 

Website: sweetpicklebooks.com

Instagram: @sweetpicklebooks

Featured gift: A tote filled with a used book, a jar of pickles, and one of their T shirts or hats.

Good to know: Woman owned; online + in store.

The Lit. Bar

The Lit. Bar is an independent bookstore and wine bar created by Bronx native Noëlle Santos, who opened it after realizing the borough was at risk of having no general interest bookstores at all. The shop has become a destination for author events, book clubs, and readers who want to pair their next novel with a glass of wine. 

Website: thelitbar.com

Instagram: @thelitbar

Featured gift: A book by a Bronx author plus a Lit. Bar tote bag for carrying it on the train.

Good to know: Afro Latinx owned; woman owned; online + in store.

Liz’s Book Bar

Liz’s Book Bar in Brooklyn was founded by author Maura Cheeks and named for her grandmother Elizabeth Parker, who helped spark her love of reading. The shop doubles as a bar and community space, so you can browse, grab a drink, and linger. 

Website: lizsbookbar.com

Instagram: @lizsbookbar

Featured gift: A signed copy of a memoir for the person you know who loves that author.

Good to know: Black woman owned; online + in store.

The Fountain Bookshop

The Fountain Bookshop is an all ages bookstore, ice cream shop, and soda fountain in Washington Heights, opened by owner Karah Rempe as a neighborhood hangout. Kids, teens, and adults can all find something to read and something sweet to eat, which makes it especially good for multi generational gifting and chill winter afternoons. 

Website: via fountainbookshop.com

Instagram: listed on their site

Featured gift: A children’s book or graphic novel paired with a handwritten “coupon” for a soda fountain visit together.

Good to know: Woman owned; in store, some online.

Where To Shop For Kids And Teens In NYC

Kids’ gifts are where local shops really shine. You can find things that keep them busy in small apartments, look great in holiday photos, and sometimes make the grownups happy too.

Accurate Pharmacy

Your local pharmacy probably has more on offer than you realize. Alongside the usual prescriptions, owner Danny Tsang stocks well curated trending beauty items and unique toys. It is a surprisingly efficient stop where you can grab gifts for younger kids and teens when you’re restocking your Advil. 

Instagram: @accuratepharmacy

Featured gift: For younger kids, Cubika wooden and magnet toys. A Smithsonian microscope or a bundle of Alleyoop cosmetics and Glamnetic nails for teens getting into STEM and self-expression.

Good to know: Family owned; POC owned; in store only.

Mini Jake

Mini Jake is a modern children’s and baby store in Williamsburg, run by owners David Jacobs and Inga Rogers. They stock strollers, furniture, toys, clothing, and gear for the early years, which makes it a one stop shop for “baby’s first holiday” and practical gifts parents will actually use. 

Website: minijake.com

Instagram: @minijake

Featured gift: A stomp rocket or similar active toy paired with a cozy pair of pajamas.

Good to know: Online + in store.

Museum of Nostalgia

Museum of Nostalgia in Astoria is a vintage toy museum and shop founded by partners Phebe Taylor and Jeff Zappala. The shelves and displays are packed with toys, games, and household objects from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, so kids and adults both find something to point at and say, “I had that.” 

Website: museumofnostalgia.com

Instagram: @museumofnostalgianyc

Featured gift: A vintage version of a toy or character your friend’s kid already loves, or a relic from the recipient’s own childhood.

Good to know: Owner operated; in store, some online.

Peek A Boo Children’s Boutique

Peek A Boo Children’s Boutique is a long running Staten Island shop owned by Brittany Emigholz and her mother Christine, who personally hunt for high quality kids’ clothing at market. The racks carry everything from everyday outfits to special occasion pieces that photograph well for holiday cards and school concerts. 

Website: peekaboochildrens.com

Instagram: @peekabookidssi

Featured gift: A holiday dress or sweater in a size they can grow into, plus a hair accessory or bow tie to finish the outfit.

Good to know: Woman owned; in store, phone/DM ordering.

Dan’s Parents’ House

Dan’s Parents’ House is a vintage toy and collectibles shop on City Island co owned by Dan Treiber and his partner, who turned a shared love of old toys into a full time business. The shelves are stacked high with lunch boxes, figures, trading cards, and games from the 70s through the early 2000s, which makes it fun for kids and adults who never stopped thinking like kids. 

Website: dansparentshouse.com

Instagram: @dansparentshouse

Featured gift: A small bundle of vintage trading cards, toys, and ephemera tied together with ribbon, with one item chosen for the kid and one for the grown up who will help them open it.

Good to know: Husband and wife owned; in store, some online.

NYC Holiday Gift Shopping FAQs

Where can I find unique holiday gifts in NYC that are not big chains?

All of the shops and makers in this guide are independently owned, many of them family or artist run. We spread our picks out over the five boroughs—Harlem, the West Village, Ridgewood, Astoria, Riverdale, City Island, and St. George all have enough here to fill an afternoon.

Can I shop these NYC stores online if I do not live nearby?

Most of the businesses listed here offer online ordering, phone orders, or DM based shopping through Instagram, and many will ship. When in doubt, use the website links and Instagram handles to reach out directly. If you have friends who just moved to the city, you can also send gifts to pick up locally as an excuse for them to explore their new neighborhood.

When should I start my NYC holiday shopping?

Start now! You’ll want to spend time exploring what’s on offer online and in person from these retailers.

However you use this guide, consider it a map to real people doing interesting work in every borough. Even after the holidays, these are the places to keep in mind for housewarmings, birthdays, “you survived your move” gifts, and the quiet occasions when a candle, a book, or a good loaf of bread can make a new place feel more like home.