Best Places To Buy Gifts In The Bay Area
Nothing says "I didn't really think about a gift" like getting your brother another pair of socks or your girlfriend a generic heart-shaped necklace you found online. This year, give a gift that shows you're proud to live in the Bay! I hand-picked the following vendors because they offer items that are rad and unique, while also giving you the opportunity to support local businesses and artists. Now get to shopping!
Clothing + Accessories
Broke-Ass Stuart
Broke-Ass Stuart is a source of Bay Area news and entertainment for us all, but did you know they’re also a source of some seriously great merch? Often relying on knowledge of the Bay and its culture, your local friends are sure to love them. Other Bay Area brands serving up comfy classics: Culk, Oaklandish, and SanFranpsycho.
(2331 3rd St. // Dogpatch - Workshop Temporarily Closed)
These handmade clogs are definitely on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for. With a number of colors and styles, these just might be the coolest (and comfiest) kicks around. Plus, they’re made to order! Production takes some time, but I promise they’ll be with the wait. Searching for more styles? Check out Freda Salvador or the ever-popular Birdies.
Fiat Lux
(3169 16th St. // Mission)
A tiny store filled with all sorts of tiny things, Fiat Lux sells jewelry from a variety of Bay Area makers. With everything from minimal classic rings, to wildly unusual statement necklaces, to one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your gift list. Margaret Elizabeth and Melissa Joy Manning make jewelry I love too!
Bart Bridge
A pocket hat is pretty self-explanatory, and Bart Bridge is slinging hats that are cool and functional. They design patches for cities in the Bay Area and beyond, and stitch the patches on hats, leaving a sneaky pocket for your ID, credit card, or anything else you might want to stash. Complete the look with other locally-made accessories from Odsy, Adelle Stolle, and Rickshaw Bagworks.
Food + Drink
Ritual Coffee Roasters
(Multiple Locations)
A bag of coffee from Ritual is great, but what about three? In a festive box? Ritual’s holiday gift set includes three limited-edition roasts, or you can spring for a subscription if you’re shopping for a constant caffeine fix. Awesome gift sets (and subscriptions) are also available from Lady Falcon Coffee Club, Timeless Coffee, and Saint Frank.
Frog Hollow Farm
(11435 Brentwood Blvd. // Brentwood)
You don’t have to live in East Bay to enjoy the spoils of Frog Hollow Farm. In fact, they ship nationwide! They have a variety of freshly picked gift boxes and other goodies that you can send to your friends, or you can opt for a monthly subscription of fruit straight from the farm. Check out Greenhearts Family Farm and Stemple Creek Ranch for more farm-fresh goodness!
Bi-Rite Market
(Multiple Locations)
We all know and love Bi-Rite, so why not share it with everyone on your list this year? They have a variety of gift boxes filled with the best snacks, sweets, and condiments that the Bay Area has to offer. You can even choose your shipping date! Gift boxes from La Fromagerie, Sincerely San Francisco, and La Cocina are all solid options as well.
Glowfari
(Oakland Zoo // Oakland)
Take a (socially-distanced) stroll through the zoo to find light installations larger than life, including elephants, tigers, butterflies, and even dinosaurs. Dozens of glowing lantern animals stand tall over the grounds, perfect for pictures or just staring in awe.
(1615 Innes Ave. Ste. C // Bayview - Temporarily Closed)
Of course, no food and drink gift list would be complete without alcohol, and they Bay Area (unsurprisingly) has some pretty great offerings. Raff Distillerie, which formerly called Treasure Island home, has offerings like Emperor Norton Absinthe and Barbary Coast Rhum, so it’s hard to go wrong. Other top-tier boozy gifts can be found at Fieldwork, Haus, and Cellarmaker Brewing Co.
Home + Novelties
Though it can be difficult to score a piece from Mud Witch (whose website restocks and sells out approximately monthly) you can arrange for a truly unique gift with the Build-A-Mug Gift Certificate. Your giftee can choose their mug color and shape, and will get their made-to-order piece in about 8 weeks! Check out my other fav ceramics at Heath, Morningtide, and Earthen.
Often Wander
(593 Valencia St. // Mission)
This shop is full of good smells, as well as gifts that keep on giving. All of their candles can be brought back in and refilled (when you’re done burning of course) for half price! Plus, if you have a container you think would make a great candle, they’ll fill that too during monthly custom candle events. Other smells I love? Juniper Ridge and Basik Candle Co.
Paxton Gate
(824 Valencia St. // Mission)
Paxton Gate is one of those places that you really have to see to fully appreciate - from taxidermy to crystals to plants, they’re a source for all things natural, unexpected, and low-key spooky. If giraffe heads aren’t your vibe, there are plenty of other quirky gifts to be had at Rare Device, Atomic Garden, and Park Life.
We Are La Cocina: Recipes in Pursuit of the American Dream
La Cocina has been around since 2005, but 2021 was a big year for the organization as they opened their Municipal Marketplace in Civic Center (shout out women-owned businesses!). Their book, We Are La Cocina, details the stories of numerous women, as well as their bomb recipes. deYoung 125, Black Food, and Chinatown Pretty are great Bay Area books too!
Experiences
(10 S Van Ness Ave. // Civic Center)
This immersive world with 500,000 cubic feet of projected Van Gogh art touched down in SF on March 18th, and is slated to stay through January 3rd. Take your boo, your mom, your roomie, or gift tickets to yourself to this enchanting exhibit. You can also get lost this season at The Art of Banksy or The Art of the Brick.
Sidewalk Food Tours
SF has an amazing food scene (which, if you live here, you already know), and a food tour is a great way to get to know a new neighborhood or try some new restaurants. Organized by neighborhood, you'll stop for tastings at multiple locations. BiteUnite cooking classes or a fancy res through Tock make great gifts for the foodie in your life too.
Art, Science, and Culture Centers
Getting a membership to one of the many cool, educational, and artsy spots throughout the Bay is the gift that gives all year long. Snag an annual membership to the SF Zoo or Oakland Zoo for the animal-lover, or the De Young or SFMoMA for the art buff. Want to get cultured sans-kiddos? Tickets to Cal Academy NightLife and Exploratorium: After Dark are great options too.
Shows have been back on the books for months now, and there are already plenty of great events on the calendar for 2022. No matter who you need a gift for, you're sure to find an artist and a venue that will be the perfect fit. And a concert in the Bay Area? Best. Present. Ever.
