Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for unique gift ideas? Our holiday edit has you covered with curated picks from our favorite downtown spots.
The holiday season is in full swing, but it’s not exactly the most wonderful time of the year for those who find holiday shopping stressful. Fear not: we’ve rounded up some of our favorite downtown spots and the unique stocking stuffers that will make you the star of the Secret Santa exchange. From a tiny cosmetics boutique in Chinatown that offers K-Beauty and J-Beauty skincare products to a Dimes Square home and gift shop that maximalists will love, make your way downtown and you’ll quickly make your way through your holiday checklist.
Spoiler alert: You’ll never want to leave November 19. Open since 2016, it’s the go-to destination for design lovers and an impeccably curated home and lifestyle shop located in the heart of the Lower East Side. With an endless selection of unique decor finds, November 19 could be your one-stop shop for holiday gifts. Head-turning highlights include rice wax candles in holiday colors handcrafted by artisans in Japan, Mr Chung incense, flower-inspired Ichendorf Milano coupe glasses designed in Italy, Flamingo Estate‘s roma heirloom tomato candle, and so much more downright delightfulness.
37 Orchard St; T. (646) 838-8386
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Since 2009, skincare dreams have come true thanks to Senti Senti, a cozy cosmetics boutique formerly known as oo35mm whose exquisitely curated shelves overflow with K-Beauty and J-Beauty skincare and beauty goodies. Hidden away up a flight of stairs on Mott Street, Senti Senti offers everything from serums and sheet masks—perfect stocking stuffers—to sunscreens and toners. Feeling extra giving this holiday season? Skincare junkies will lose their minds over the luxe, limited edition Dr. Ceuracle Advent Calendar, which includes seven full-size items and a slew of miniatures, including sunscreens, creams, and shampoo/conditioner. Looking for something both effective and affordable? Heal dry, cracked skin this winter with COSRX’s Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask, and thank us later.
81 Mott St. Floor 2; T. (718) 496-8163
Nestled on 10th Street in the East Village, Niconeco Zakkaya is a shoebox-sized store that is easy to miss. Step inside and discover an impossibly charming and whimsical world full of imaginative Japanese stationery and gifts, many of which are handcrafted in Japan and cat-centric (neko is the Japanese word for “cat.”) Think stickers, washi tape, candles, cat figurines, totes, and more. Overwhelmed with the array of kawaii options? Their 2025 planners and calendars make the purrrfect gift.
263 E 10th St
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This iconic Asian goods store has been around since the early ‘70s. Its latest location on SoHo’s ever-bustling Broadway opened in 2021, and the sprawling space is packed with fun decor and gifts. From origami kits and calligraphy sets to cookbooks and dinnerware, the New York institution has got you covered in the holiday gift-giving department. Can’t decide on just one thing? Buy the Best of Pearl River Friendship Box, which includes some of the store’s best-selling items like chopsticks, a sandalwood fan, and a lucky cat figurine. Also available are lots of kitschy ornaments, like an Instant Photo Camera and a Vintage Arcade ornament.
452 Broadway; T. (800) 878-2446
There’s no place like Coming Soon in Dimes Square, a magnet for maximalists and a people-watching hotspot. It’s sort of like a high-end Spencer’s gift shop meets an achingly hip downtown art gallery. Think massive, highly Instagrammable mirrors, eye-catching bath mats, zany candle holders, colorful coasters, and more. We are especially fans of Gaetano Pesce’s quirky resin vessels, which would make a great conversation starter at a holiday dinner party.
53 Canal St; T. (212) 226-4548
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Need some wallet-friendly Secret Santa ideas and non-boring stocking stuffers? This aptly named, super fun (and super small) shop in the East Village has something for everyone. Need a trio of cat kitchen sponges? A Dolly Parton ornament? How about candles that resemble joints? It’s all here, and most things won’t cost over twenty bucks. If you’re into supporting a local artist, whimsical illustrations, and NYC history, get the Trees of New York tote by Brooklyn-based artist Claudia Pearson, featuring seven illustrated trees found throughout Central Park.
77 E 4th St; T. (212) 358-0650
Searching for the best gift for a cinephile? You can’t beat the one-year membership to The Roxy Cinema, which gets you unlimited free screenings and one popcorn at every show. Housed in Tribeca’s The Roxy Hotel, the 118-seat cinema screens arthouse, indie, documentaries, 35mm cult films, old-school classics, and foreign films. The cinema also hosts special screenings, moderated panels, star-studded premieres, Q&A series, and more.
2 6th Avenue Cellar Level; T. (212) 519-6820
WORDS Alex Catarinella
PHOTOGRAPHY November 19; Coming Soon; Senti Senti; Random Accessories; Pearl River Mart; Niconeco Zakkaya; Roxy Cinema