Holiday Shopping in Toronto for Everyone on Your List

It’s that time of year when your to-do list seems a mile long and there’s just never enough hours in the day to get it all done. But we’re here to help with one of the most time-consuming tasks on your list: Shopping for all those holiday gifts. Below we’ve rounded up all kinds of gift ideas and more importantly, actual stores for holiday shopping in Toronto where you can track down the perfect present for your siblings, your best friend, your kids’ various teachers, daycare workers, bus drivers…you get the idea.

It’s still rough out there for small businesses so we’ve focused this list on those shops, in hopes of sending some love and some dollars their way.

Gift Ideas & Best Local Spots for Holiday Shopping in Toronto

Support Local Artisans

Through the Looking Glass (2459 Dundas St.W.) describes itself as a, “unique, multi-vendor marketplace featuring quality, handcrafted products by Canadian artisans.” But it’s not as expensive as it sounds! Pick up a pretty pendant for your sister for only $35 or a gift pack of manly skincare items for your brother for only $35.

Arts Markets has three locations across the city that will help you cross multiple names off your list at once thanks to the wide selection. Expect to find beautiful ceramics, fun vintage clothing items, and plant-based body products.

And of course, there’s always the Craft Ontario Shop (1106 Queen St. W., Toronto), which sells hundreds of locally created items that vary from pure art pieces to more practical items. Yes, goods here tend to be a little pricier (though the website has an under $30 section), but it’s a great spot to visit if you’re looking for something that will really impress the recipient.

Gift Green

Share your love of the earth by picking up gifts from bare market (1480 Danforth Ave., Toronto). While best known as a plastic-free grocery store, this store also sells all kinds of reusable products, body care items, and even cute cards (made on recycled paper of course).

Green and Frugal (918 Kingston Rd.) offers pre-assembled gift packs that start under $15, and feature locally made body products. Or pick up individual items, including candles, jewellery and something called floral waters that we suspect smells amazing.

If you’re near Wychwood, Ecoexistence (766 St Clair Ave. W., Toronto) will help you wrap up your shopping list with its wide selection of often earth-friendly items. Here, you’ll find everything from cozy socks made from alpaca fur to gorgeous soaps (and dishes to match).

Rare & Wild Snacks

The last few years have seen a boom in “exotic” snack shops that are packed with ideas for stocking stuffers and gifts that won’t clutter up the recipient’s house. Grab some Campfire Smores M&Ms from Lucky’s Exotic Bodega (213 Ossington Ave.), Oreos in flavours as diverse as red velvet and tiramisu from Dank Market (399 Queen St. W., Toronto), or grab a candy from Mexico or India from HighMart (271 Yonge St., Toronto).

Chocolate-y Goodness

Chocolate is usually a safe bet as a gift (worse comes to worse, it can always be regifted). Soul Chocolate (20 Wagstaff Dr. Unit C, Toronto) has a new spot in East York where you can indulge others (and yourself) in seasonal items, drinking powders, bars, and more. Downtown, you can find one of the city’s most decadent shops: DeMeersman (Cumberland Terrace, 820 Yonge St., Toronto), which specializes in handmade Belgian chocolates and also sells a variety of imported candies and biscuits.

And of course, there’s always Soma, which some would argue sells some of the best chocolate in the city at its three locations. At Soma, you’ll find beautiful truffles, bars, cookies, and plenty more.

That Cute Little Something

Does your friend/sibling/office Secret Santa recipient love, let’s say, ranch dressing? Then Juxtapose has the gift for them: A Christmas tree decoration in the shape of a small bottle of ranch dressing! That’s just one of hundreds of cute items you’ll find in this Annex shop, which specializes in adorable products that’s perfect for holiday shopping in Toronto.

Mr Pen (683 Bloor St. W. and 5498 Yonge St. Toronto) does indeed sell lots of different pens but it also retails so many other fun yet useful items, many with a Korean or Japanese connection. The store has an extensive stock of stationery items including notebooks and cards, as well as household goods and tons of under $5 items perfect for Christmas stockings.

Prepare for colour —and finding the perfect gift —at Secret Planet (918 Danforth Ave., Toronto), a hybrid shop and printing studio. While it’s best known for its eye-catching prints and greeting cards, plenty of other items, such as tote bags, hats, and even stuff for kids, are also available.

For the Readers & the Music Lovers

A Different Booklist (779 Bathurst St., Toronto) is rich in the type of books that we could likely all be reading more of. Self-described as a, “multicultural bookstore specializing in books from the African Caribbean Diaspora and the Global South,” it features fiction and non-fiction books for all ages. If you’re looking for a bit more variety, the three locations of Type Books are an always dependable choice where you’ll find a mix of big names, local names, and some more obscure titles. It also sells non-book items including games for kids and adults.

For the music fan in your life, how about a T-shirt? Pop Music (345 Broadview Ave., Toronto) sells dozens of shirts representing new and old acts, as well as merchandise such as keychains and hats. The shop also sells vinyl, for any record collectors in your life.

Just for Kids

Many popular brands including Melissa & Doug, KidzLabs, and Janod can be found on the shelves of Jill and the Beanstalk (814 College St., Toronto), a small but comprehensive shop. It also sells a nicely curated selection of consignment kids’ clothes.

Swag Sisters (1511 Gerrard St. E.) offers a huge selection of toys that are nearly as cute as the store’s logo. Items include bath toys, craft kits, and lots of items for imaginative play.