Best of Philly

Best Gift Shop

2025 Best Wedding: Registry Alternative

Home Tonic

Out: basic registries. In: using wedding money to select goods for your new life together at a locally run boutique, like this beloved home and gift shop. Here, you’ll find treasures for your attendants (like jewelry and cute trinket boxes), pieces for your pad (from furniture to small accessories like vases and candlesticks), and inspiration for your wedding decor, courtesy of the store’s tablescapes and interior design vignettes. Read More »

28 South State Street, Newtown, PA Website

2025 Best Shop for Elevating Your Life

The Meanings of Things

Walking into this nearly three-year-old lifestyle boutique makes you want to be the sort of person who uses Italian brass paper clips, who tucks kitchen sponges into hand-painted stoneware dishes, who gives friends special gifts like candles that look exactly like real lemons and fancy Umé Studio soap, who lights Wild Yuzu incense with matches from a fancy pewter matchbox, who meditates with a jade eye mask, and who jots things down in tiny handmade notebooks with deckle edges. And who knows? Maybe you can. Read More »

19 North Main Street, New Hope, PA Website

2025 Best Antidote to Online Shopping

The Merrygold Shop

Browsing this corner boutique is bewitching: At every turn is a delightful treasure, be it a vase shaped like a hand, a bracelet full of vintage charms, or a puzzle that’s a work of art. But equally inspiring is what’s not for sale. Owner Sammi Bateman, an artist herself, goes above and beyond to create changing displays worthy of a Fifth Avenue window that will make you want to return each season. Read More »

721 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2024 Best Gift Shop

Ruby Mountain Goods

Headed to a housewarming or birthday party empty-handed? Stop by Ruby Mountain Goods, which focuses on indie brands and handmade items ranging from stationery and kitchen linens to jewelry and beauty products. There are frequent pop-ups from Philly creators — Made by Hank recently showcased her modern quilt-inspired bags — and even a wish-list you can fill out at the store, so someone can treat you, too. Read More »

6782 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2023 Best Shoppy Shop to Buy Something You Don't Need (But Want Badly)

Salt & Vinegar

The next time you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves food, beeline to Salt and Vinegar for small-batch coconut jam, local cheese CSA pickups, locally made masala spice packets, gluten-free pop-tarts and more. Jen Honovic Herczeg’s newly opened provisions shop has a mission to stock its shelves with products from women- and minority-owned businesses. This is exactly the kind of happy place where you can spend $50 without even realizing it. Read More »

905 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2016 Best Philly-Centric Gifts

Philadelphia Independents

The goodies here fall into the Brotherly Love vein (hand-drawn neighborhood maps, prints featuring neighborhood-centric designs) without veering into cheesiness. Everything is made in the Philadelphia area, so you're supporting local business when you buy that "Home Sweet Jawn" watercolor print. Read More »

35 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-773-7316 | Website

2016 Best Gift Shop

Moon + Arrow

You won't find anything flashy here. That's the beauty of this flea-market-like store, which brims with handcrafted, low-key-cool treasures like fringed yarn wall hangings,unglazed earthenware air-plant slings and gorgeous jewelry, so you'll never have to scrape off a "Made in China" sticker before wrapping. Read More »

754 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-469-1448 | Website

2016 Best Customized Gifts

Sweet Whistle

Easiest way to become everyone's favorite friend? Buy your gifts from this Bryn Mawr-based online company, which curates luxe gift boxes full of festive items — cocktail ingredients, truffles, candles, catchalls — that feel handpicked and thoughtful. You can even modify the pairings (or create your own) to perfectly tailor your present. Read More »

| 610-500-3477 | Website

2014 Best Thoughtful Gift

TREATMiNT Box

It's quite possibly the best idea we've seen this year: a subscription-based gift-box service for people dealing with cancer. The Philly-based brand, brainchild of cancer survivor Kimberly Fink and her childhood friend Wendy Nichols, curates thoughtful gift boxes (full of uplifting and pampering products like journals and organic lotions) that you can order on a onetime or monthly basis. Read More »

Website

2014 Best Gift Shop

Scout & Annie + Details

This two-in-one shop has original mid-century-modern home accessories placed like found works of art on shelves, as well as throws, funky pillows and colorful serving trays. In short: Everything here is worthy of your wrapping paper. Read More »

125 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA | 484-732-8554 | Website