71 wonderful gift shops you can find only in L.A.
Shopping for gifts in person in Los Angeles can be overwhelming to think about in terms of options.
There are shopping malls, local craft fairs such as Renegade, In Todo and Unique L.A. and a surplus of independent stores where you can purchase one-of-a-kind gifts from independent brands.
After a slow summer and the Hollywood strikes, many small store owners have told us they are struggling. Several have lost leases and others have closed since last year’s roundup.
So why not purchase something from a small business that honors makers this year? Your giftee will get something unique, and you can support local artists and neighborhood bricks-and-mortar shops.
On top of that, shopping in person is much more fun — not to mention reliable — than shopping online or at a crowded mall, and you can explore L.A.’s diverse neighborhoods in the process.
Whether you’re looking for jewelry, clothing, pantry items or something more personal, we’ve rounded up the best places to shop for gifts in L.A.
Working on your holiday shopping? We’ve got you covered with recommendations for the best gifts to find in L.A.
Acorn Eagle Rock
Alchemy Works
The downtown Los Angeles location is located at Signal, 821 Traction Ave.
Belljar
Broome Street General Store
Also at Platform, 8840 Washington Blvd., Suite 103, Culver City.
Burro
The sunny boutique is curated to suit everyone on your gift list: Cookbooks and pretty boxes of tinned fish for foodies, games and books for kids, jewelry, hats and casual clothing for women, home goods and ladybug gardens for gardeners and fabulous stationery and cards for everyone. The store features many local brands, including Flamingo Estate, Brightland, jewelry labels Chan Luu and Victoria Cunningham Jewelry, skin-care and olive oil brand Wonder Valley.
Cici ’n Tux
Clover
Coop
Dekor
DEN Los Angeles
“For me, Midcentury Modern is more of a catch-all term for intentional designs and quality made furniture that focuses on form and function,” says Potter. “I focus on vintage pieces as I love the sustainability factor. As long as I stick to the parameters, our inventory will stay timeless and will integrate well with any home.”
On a recent visit, one-of-a-kind standouts included a two-piece sectional sofa in velvet by Edward Wormley ($48,000), a pair of leather Otto Zapf lounge chairs for Knoll ($8,000) and Architectural Pottery and David Cressy ceramic lamps.
For those not prepared to drop $30,000 on a George Nakashima dining table, Potter also offers some smaller, lower price point items as well as occasional sales on surplus goods.
Open by appointment only.
D.L. Rhein
Dotter Store
Earthing Earth
Espionage
Esqueleto
Flowerboy Project
General Store
Gibson
The Give Store
Gold Bug Pasadena
Greenwood Shop
Haley Solar
Also in Silver Lake: 3318 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026.
Heath Ceramics
Homage Pasadena
House of Intuition
There are additional locations in L.A. County: 5148 York Blvd., Highland Park; 7449 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; 14520 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 5018 E. 2nd St., Long Beach; and 5223 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.
Household by Nickey Kehoe
Huset
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, there’s always the self-serve Swedish candy and savory snacks.
Kneeland Co. Rarities
LA Home Farm
Shopping is fun here, whether you’re looking for art, truffle oil or handcrafted ceramics by local potters. If you can’t decide on a gift, Kranz and the staff are incredibly helpful at creating custom gift baskets that will leave their recipients swooning or, in my friend’s case, with happy tears.
Late Sunday Afternoon
Lawson-Fenning
Leanna Lin's Wonderland
Lost & Found
The Santa Monica showroom is at 2230 Main St.
Luca
Made by DWC Cafe and Gift Shop
All profits from the Made store and cafe, which sells organic coffee, smoothies, salads and pastries from Homeboy Industries, help fund the center’s career training and mentorship programs. Note: The gift shop is not open on weekends.
Marz
Maude Woods
Merchant
“I wanted it to look like a house,” says co-owner Denise Portmans, who runs the store, along with an Atwater Village location, with her artist daughter Sara Marlowe Hall. “I like things that are a little unusual.”
The stores are an homage to Portmans’ mother, an artist and ceramicist, and they are stocked with Midcentury Modern furniture, vintage Moroccan rugs, contemporary ceramics from Paris and Italy, and goods by local artists such as Heather Rosenman and All Roads Studio. On a recent visit to the Santa Monica store, prices ranged from $120 for a wooden wine rack to $2,500 for a vintage leather safari chair. Portmans also is open to making deals.
The second showroom, Merchant Modern East, is at 3127 Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village.
Midland Shop
Müsh
Native Sol
Now Voyager
NicSon Mercantile
OK
Other locations are at 1716 Silver Lake Blvd. in Silver Lake and 2413 Main St. in Santa Monica. A Velvet by Graham and Spencer/OK store is at 13020 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood.
Pergolina Shop
Phoebe Peacock
Poketo
Lake
It’s easy to make a day of it on this stretch of Silver Lake Boulevard, with Now Voyager and Müsh across the street, OK down the block and Botanica Restaurant and Market next door.
Pop Up Home
“I wanted it to feel like New York,” Beanum says of the airy third floor, which is filled with curvaceous furnishings in leather, velvet and corduroy. “Everyone is interested in postmodern furnishings right now.” In addition to furniture and accessories, including a wide variety of ceramics, artwork is mixed in with the furniture and decor as part of UNREPD, a gallery devoted to emerging and mid-career artists of color as well as women artists and LGBTQIA+ artists. Beanum also offers custom upholstery.
Prelude & Dawn
Prism Boutique
Pygmy Hippo Shoppe
Restrained Whimsy
Retreat
Rolling Greens
Also at 7505 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; 12833 Ventura Blvd. #145, Studio City; and Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica.
Shout and About
Soap Plant/Wacko
Spitfire Girl
Also at 7401 Melrose Ave.
Stay Home Friend
Stark Studio
Suay Sew Shop
When it comes to gifts, the shop offers one-of-a-kind clothing made from repurposed fabrics, napkins, pillows and other home goods. A Suay Sew Shop gift card can be used to repair and alter cherished items.
Sumi's
Tansy
And the plants! The pandemic launched a lot of fads, including the houseplant life, which can be sustained here, especially if you’re still working from home. A vibrant monstera can brighten the worst of days, and Tansy experts will help with instructions on how to keep the newest member of your cluttercore family alive.
Tesoro
Tortoise General Store
The House of Woo
Treehaus
Their lifestyle boutique covers a wide range of goods, including clothing and jewelry, toys, books and games for kids, L.A.-centric tea towels, unique cards and small-batch leather goods.
Twig and Willow
Village Heights
Wildflora
There is also a location at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St. Stall No. 708.
Yolk
Also at 3191 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village.
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