As the holiday gift-giving season inches closer and closer, the list of presents seems to grow by the minute. From something for a party host, to teacher appreciation, to your little brother in college, it can seem never-ending. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite gifts at Atlanta shops all over the city. The best part? We’ve capped the price at $50! Bye-bye sticker shock, hello holiday goodness!
For the Native Southerner
Need the perfect gift for someone who considers mac and cheese a vegetable? Look no further than Vivid Boutique in Decatur, where we found this Southern food sign by Old Dirty Type artist George Hanna for $40. Best part? It’s handmade and sealed, so you can use it indoors or out!
Sweet Southern sign, $40, from Vivid Boutique
For the Girl on the Go
Lou Lou, in Ponce City Market, is a great go-to for jewelry and accessories for every outfit. This wallet ($18) and ID or business card holder ($15) come in a rainbow of colors, but we’re partial to the orange and pink combo.
Lou Lou has a sweet wallet for $18 and business card holder for $15.
Because You Can’t Gift a Reservation to Gunshow
Cue the mouthwatering. We scoped out Little Shop of Stories in Decatur and found Atlanta Chef (and former “Top Chef” contestant) Kevin Gillespie’s newest cookbook, Pure Pork Awesomeness. For just $29, you give the gifts of sure-to-be hits like Lemon-Ricotta Tortellini in Ham Broth to Grilled Pork Belly with Pickled Apples and Smoked Peanut Butter.
Kevin Gillespie’s new book, $29, at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur
For the BarTaco addict
The BarTaco craze has officially hit Atlanta with packed patios at three local locations. We suggest grabbing a pack of their to-go salsas. At $7.95 apiece, they’re the perfect hostess gift, stocking stuffer or gift to yourself for taco night.
Got some spicy friends? Give these BarTaco salsas for $7.95 per bottle.
For the Young at Heart
Have you gotten the scoop on the adult coloring book trend? A stress reliever PLUS fun?! Sign us up! We checked out Binders, our go-to source for all things art, and found this Secret Garden coloring book for $15.95, and Milan pencils and sharpener for $7.29 and $1.29 respectively. Add water, and your colored pencils suddenly become watercolors!
Release your inner child and get coloring with the Secret Garden coloring book, $15.95, available at Binders.
For the Dog Lover
Over on Marietta Street, we stopped by Crafted Westside for great, handmade, local gifts. We love these foil dog prints by Fire Hydrant Press. Don’t see your favorite breed? They do custom orders, as well! For just $20, this is the perfect gift for your dog lover pal or UGA fan.
Who let the dogs out?! Looks like it was Crafted Westside with these awesome dog prints, $20.
For Your Couple Friends
Finding the perfect gift for a pair can be tricky. Luckily, Bellina-Alimentari at Ponce City Market makes it easy! For $36, their Date Night kit comes with truffle crackers, pici pasta, tomato sauce and hazelnut pralines covered in chocolate. Dinner is served!
Date night is made easy with the help of Bellina-Alimentari’s cute, romantic kit, which sells for $36.
For the Metaphysical Folk
Jewelry is always a nice gift, but jewelry that has healing, transformative powers is even better! This lepidolite pendant from Crystal Blue is not only a lovely lilac hue, but it’s also known as a soothing, calming stone containing lithium, used to treat anxiety and stress. The crystal pictured was made into a pendant with a silver chain for $40. However, you can also give the loose stone in its natural form.
Share the healing power of crystals with various pendants, available at Crystal Blue. Pictured here: purple lepidolite, $40
For Your Wannabe “Buddy the Elf” Friend
We all have that friend who starts decorating for the holidays before Halloween. For $35, snag these fab holiday knit knickers by Knitty Kitty from Sq/Ft in Decatur for your favorite Mrs. Claus.
Seasonal gifts, like these knit knickers from Sq/Ft, $35, are super cute.
For Your Four-Legged Buddy
Even Rover deserves the best during the holiday season! That’s why we love these Santa dog toys at Krog Street Pet Works at Krog Street Market. For $14.99 each, cross Fido off your list and give the mailman a break!
Krog Street Pet Works has adorable Santa dog toys for $14.99.
For the Dude Who Hates Candles
Anyone who said candles were for girls never smelled Dude. Candles. from Homegrown in Decatur. With scents like bacon, whiskey and leather, these are the perfect gift for any man in your life. Or perhaps, for those single gal pals looking to fill the void of not having a great big, burly man in their lives.
Dude, look at these Dude. Candles., $12, from Homegrown.
For the Beer Snob
With two locations in Atlanta, Hop City is a beer lover’s dream. We love their growlers as gifts for the 21+ set. Growlers start at $4.99 (and are for keeps!) and can be filled with your pal’s favorite beer for $4.99 to $20, depending on the selection. Plus, they can take it back later and try something new!
Hop City growlers start at $4.99.
For the Beauty Lover
We stopped by Lily Rain in Ponce City Market and stumbled on a treasure trove of gifts for any of your best girlfriends. We think this DIY nail art book for $14.95 and Butter nail polish for $15 take the cake as the best gift for your product-obsessed bestie!
Nail your manicure this holiday season with this great DIY nail book, $14.95, and polish, $15, from Lily Rain.
For the Expert Tailgater
Over on the Westside, Tweeds is your stop for bespoke suits and fine, quality merchandise, but you’d also be hard-pressed to find a better selection of curated small gifts for men. We love the Traveler Mugs by Go Forth Goods for $30. They’re leather, handmade and work for hot or cold drinks!
Bring the party with you with these cool travel mugs, $30, from Tweeds.
For the New Mom
New moms, rejoice! Happy Mango, long an online retailer for eco-friendly baby needs, now has its first outpost in Krog Street Market! For $43, this three-pack of Aden & Anais bamboo swaddles are made from breathable muslin and only get softer after each wash. How’s that for a gift that gets better with time?
The babies in your life will love these swaddle blankets, $43, from Happy Mango.
For the Chef
Admit it: it’s hard work flipping back and forth between baking and Pinterest trying to read a recipe … and no one likes flour on their iPhone. That’s why we love these adorable tin Rifle Paper Co. recipe boxes from Archer Paper Goods! For $34, they also include 12 dividers and 24 matching recipe cards!
Organize your kitchen with these recipe boxes, $34 at Archer Paper Goods.
For the Sharp-Dressed Man
For the guy who can’t get enough haberdashery, we choose Rye 51. Whether it’s the fabric lapel flower from The Detailed Male for $30, or the metal lapel flower, $40, from Hook & Albert, your favorite guy will be ready to complete any outfit. Word to the wise? While you’re there, grab a drink from their whiskey bar and enjoy sipping and shopping.
Fabric lapels ($30) and metal lapels ($40), from Rye 51
For the Grill Master
Made just around the corner from Krog Street Market, you can scoop up these salts by Atlanta-based Beautiful Briny Sea at The Spotted Trotter. With flavors like Magic Unicorn, Friends Forever and French Picnic at $9 each, we dare you to pick just one.
Enhance your food with these Beautiful Briny Sea salts from The Spotted Trotter for $9.
For the Collector
At The Collective on Elizabeth Street, you can take your pick of vintage, local goods and one-of-a-kind art. For the perfect antique holiday gift, we love these Santa mugs for $12.95. Made in the 1950s, they’re the perfect classic addition to any cabinet.
Hey Santa, a hot drink from The Collective just tastes better out of your head! Available for $12.95 each
For the Chocolate Lover
We think perfection tastes a lot like Xocolatl small batch chocolate. The husband and wife team behind the Krog Street Market outpost learned their art in the jungles of Costa Rica. Pick up three bars for $25 … we won’t judge you if you only give out two.
Xocolatl chocolate bars, three for $25, make us smile.
For the Elementary Crowd
Take a trip to any school playground or cafeteria, and you’ll see that these areas have become makeshift runways for fashionable girls. Make sure your daughter/niece can compete with these super sweet, fabric necklaces, $16, from Emerald August. Each necklace is made of wooden balls wrapped in various woven prints with a tie back.
Young ladies looking to accessorize will love these fabric necklaces, $16, from Emerald August.
For the Jaunty Types
Most people think royal family and high tea when hearing the word fascinator. But we think these adorable headpieces are perfect for a New Year’s Eve ensemble. This feathered and jeweled piece, $24.95, from The Clothing Warehouse in Little Five Points is super sweet and will dress up any outfit.
Fascinators are so fascinating! Wear a cute one like this from The Clothing Warehouse for $24.95.
For Glitzy Hostesses
Cocktails are great; ring stains are not. So combine the best of fashionable concoctions with chic protective wear with these metallic cowhide coasters from steve mckenzie’s. The coasters, $9 each, come in silver acid wash, gold, hot pink and a few other colors. Now you can glitz up your party without having to scream at your guests for leaving their drinks around the house.
Metallics are super in this season, so stay in style with these cool cowhide coasters from steve mckenzie’s for $9 each.
For the Woman Looking to Up Her Jewelry Game
These bangles, by Candice O’Mary Designs available at Garage Door Studios, feature hand-selected raw and semiprecious stones like pyrite, quartz and geodes. These gold- or silver-plated bracelets, $35, transition well from casual to formal and look great alone or stacked.
These bangles, $35, at Garage Door Studio are a new and different way to change up your look. Image: Garage Door Studio
For the Bookworm
Got a friend who guffaws at email, sneers at texts and rolls her eyes at digital notepads? If your pal prefers old school paper and pencil, pick up this pencil set, $12, from The Merchant. And now she’ll have no excuse for not having your handwritten thank you note ready to go.
Keep track of your gift list with this cool pencil set, $12, from The Merchant. Image: The Merchant
As you make your list and check it twice this holiday season, be sure and check out some of the great retailers that call Atlanta home, where you can get some amazing gifts under $50!