California Gifts: The Best Local Businesses to Shop This Holiday Season
I grew up outside of Washington D.C., and most of my family still lives there. They don’t get to visit as often as they’d like, so one of my favorite things to do around the holiday season is gift them a few of my favorite things from the restaurants and shops I frequent (yes, maybe there is an ulterior motive here 😉). It also lets me support some of my favorite small businesses in California—a win-win all around.
Whether you want to give someone a little slice of California this holiday season or just support a local small business, here are some of my favorites to shop—and yes, as a San Francisco local, this list is very Bay Area-heavy.
Heath Ceramics
Heath Ceramics is an iconic ceramics brand with studios (and a long legacy) in San Francisco and Sausalito. Yes, they’re pricey, and yes, whoever gets this as a gift will be thrilled. I’ve been into their bud vases lately. Pro tip: if you’re in the area, make the trek to Sausalito to shop their discounted “seconds,” which are slightly imperfect versions of their products.
MM Clay
MM Clay is another, more contemporary ceramicist with a shop in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. I’ve been slowly collecting their dishes over the years and absolutely love them.
Wine: Navarro + Bricoleur
If you’re looking for a local small business to support in California, it’s so easy to do so by gifting wine. Lately, I’ve been into Bricoleur Vineyards, especially since they have some fun food + wine gift boxes and donate proceeds from their Isla Rose Brut Rosé wine to breast cancer research. Navarro Vineyards, based in Anderson Valley, is another holiday favorite—not sure why, but Gewürztraminer and Riesling (two varietals they do very well) just feel super festive to me.
Mission Workshop
This is for all the bag, bike, and bag + bike nerds out there. Bay Area based bag and clothing maker, Mission Workshop, is a cult favorite, especially among the EDC crew. For now, their brick and mortar shop in San Francisco’s Mission District is shut, but you can still shop online.
Dandelion Chocolate
Dandelion Chocolate makes simple, high-quality chocolate—and it’s damn good. Around the holidays, they also release a few festive, special-edition treats, but you also can’t go wrong with year-round classics like hot chocolate or their bars. Pro tip: if you plan to fly with the hot chocolate, keep it easy to reach in your bag or check it. I’ve gotten stopped by TSA for an extra screen every single time I’ve flown with a bag of their hot chocolate. 😂
Hog Island
Yes, yes, yes, oysters (which Hog Island is best known for) make for terrible gifts under a Christmas tree, but fortunately for you (and your family), the company also harvests seaweed and salt, and has been making some very fun non-oyster edibles you can shop. I especially love their salts (straight from the sea!) and nori butter. And if you really do want to gift oysters, their smoked oysters are a good option.
Cookbooks
There’s no shortage of great food and well-known chefs in California, meaning: lots of excellent cookbooks highlighting our state’s cuisine. Some favorites include:
If you’re in San Francisco, Omnivore Books is a great place to shop for cookbooks.
An Atlas of San Francisco
Speaking of books, I’m really into Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas by Rebecca Solnit. She does an excellent job of highlighting the city’s diversity and history through maps. Even living here for 10+ years, I learned a lot.
Kim + Ono
Kim + Ono, a shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is best known for their silk kimonos, but they also have a handful of other smaller products too. I’m a big fan of their silk eye mask.
Needles & Pens
Okay, less a brand and more of a shop with a variety of local brands, Needles & Pens is one of my favorite gift shops in San Francisco, located on Valencia street in the Mission District. They have an especially great selection of earrings, jewelry, socks, cards, and plants.
Ian James
Shop Ian James for unique, handmade leather goods. I especially love his home decor and bags—which you can shop at his Valencia street location or online.
