Published November 14th, 2026 by Aaron McFarland
The best are unique, local, and not from a big box store. The holiday shopping season is upon us, so I wanted to put together this guide of some of my favorite places to shop local for your Christmas and holiday presents.
Here are the locally owned Boise shops worth a stop this season, sorted by the kind of person you’re shopping for, with a gift pick at most of them. Support local whenever possible and keep your dollars in our local economy.
Gifts for the Foodie and the Host
Olive & Vyne
An Eagle tasting room with more than 40 olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars from Modena, and a shelf of boutique wine. You can taste everything before you buy, which makes it an easy stop for a host gift or for the cook who’d never splurge on the good bottle for themselves.
This time of year, the shelves fill with ready-made holiday gift boxes in the $38 – $75 range, and the staff will build a custom box with 48 hours’ notice.
Good For
Olive oil, balsamic and wine
Gift Pick
$41
Charcuterie Companions box, made for a cheese board
Good to Know
Call (208) 939-6775 to order a custom box. E-gift cards run $25 – $100, and wine is pickup only.
Where
The Chocolat Bar
Chocolates, caramels, truffles, and barks made by hand in Boise, packed in boxes that look like you tried harder than you did.
There are shops downtown and in Eagle, and the downtown shop scoops gelato too.
Good For
Handmade chocolate
Website
Gift Pick
$40
Signature Favorites box in milk, dark or both
Good to Know
For a stocking, a four-pack of truffles is $13.
Where
City Peanut Shop
Fresh-roasted nuts, brittle, gourmet popcorn, and nut butters, made downtown. Most things run about $7 – $15, so it’s the stop for stocking stuffers, gift basket fillers, or the office gift exchange.
Holiday tins are usually available this time of year, and the seasonal Gingersnap popcorn is back.
Good For
Roasted nuts and brittle
Gift Pick
$14.99
Potato Bacon Brittle, the most Idaho thing in the shop
Where
Push & Pour
Push & Pour roasts in Garden City and runs cafes on the Bench and downtown. Bags of beans run about $16–$18; there’s a subscription for the coffee lover in your life.
Good For
Locally roasted coffee
Website
Gift Pick
$16
A bag of the Sunliner Blend, the house coffee
Good to Know
Gift cards work at every Push & Pour cafe.
Where
Flying M Coffeehouse
Downtown’s quirky coffeehouse has been at 5th and Idaho since 1992, roasting its own coffee and running a gift shop stocked with off-beat gifts. One stop gets you a bag of house-roasted beans and something you won’t find anywhere else.
Its Nampa sister shop, the Flying M Coffeegarage, hosts the Hip Holiday Craft Market on December 5th, with about 40 Treasure Valley artists and crafters in the garage and parking lot.
Good For
Coffee and off-beat gifts
Hip Holiday Market
December 5th
Flying M Coffeegarage, Nampa
Website
Where
Idaho-Made Gifts
For the person who loves it here, or the one who moved away and misses it. Everything these shops sell is made or designed in Idaho.
Idaho Made
An artisan co-op in Old Boise with work from more than 60 Idaho makers: pottery, jewelry, stationery, sculpture and art. It’s the best one-stop shop for a wide variety of local gifts.
Where
Ward Hooper Gallery
Ward Hooper’s paintings and prints of Boise and Idaho landmarks are among the most recognizable local art, done in a vintage-poster style that fits almost any wall.
The downtown gallery has prints, posters, and cards for nearly every corner of the state, from Boise Clear Skies and the Idaho Botanical Garden to Idaho Smoke Jumpers, Nampa, and Kuna.
Good For
Boise and Idaho art prints
Website
Gift Pick
From $30
A print of their favorite Idaho spot
Good to Know
The gallery does custom framing, so you can hand it over ready to hang.
Where
Banana Ink
An Idaho apparel brand that’s been selling Idaho-themed apparel and more since 2011, with tees, hats, sweatshirts, and stickers covered in mountains, morels, rivers, and Idaho outlines. The designs are made for people who love living here, and the 9th Street shop is an easy stop for a gift that’s clearly from Idaho.
Good For
Idaho apparel and stickers
Website
Gift Pick
$26.99
Fish Idaho tee; stickers from $4
Good to Know
Shipping is free on orders of $60 or more.
Where
Idaho Livin
A Boise apparel brand selling since 2017, best known for its hats: retro snapbacks and trucker caps with Idaho script, mountain peaks, fish and antlers, plus heavyweight hoodies, crewnecks, tees and mugs. The shop in the Clearwater Building on Main Street is open late every night, which helps when you’re shopping after work.
Good For
Idaho hats and apparel
Website
Gift Pick
$34
Retro hats, the shop’s best sellers
Good to Know
Open until 8pm Monday through Thursday, 9pm Fridays and Saturdays and 7pm Sundays.
Where
Idaho Candy Company
The home of the Idaho Spud bar, made in Boise for more than a century. The downtown factory store also carries Cherry Cocktails, Huckleberry Gems, and Owyhee toffee, so you can fill a bag with old-school Idaho candy.
It’s the easiest gift to send to someone who grew up here or is Idaho-curious.
Good For
Classic Idaho candy
Gift Pick
$15.99
12-count box of Idaho Spud bars
Good to Know
Online boxes sell out, so the factory store is the surer bet. If you’re shipping out of state, order early: orders take up to two business days to process, and ground shipping takes five to eight business days. Check store hours before you go.
Where
Lit & Co. Candles
Small-batch soy candles have been pouring in Boise since 2012, with shops in Hyde Park and the West End. The pour-your-own fragrance bar lets you make a custom candle, which turns a gift run into a little outing.
Candles run about $24 – $69, and select candles are buy three, get one free right now.
Good For
Candles
Website
Gift Pick
$8.50
Bayberry Tradition candle, sold with the old poem about burning one for luck in the new year
Good to Know
The Holiday Soiree in Hyde Park on December 3rd (6pm – 8pm, $24 tickets) is a fun way to shop the season.
Where
Idaho Soap Company
Handmade bar soap, lotions, body butter, and men’s shaving goods from a small shop on State Street in Eagle. Smaller items start around $6, so it works for a teacher, a neighbor, or a stocking stuffer, and the huckleberry gift box is the one to send to someone who misses Idaho.
Good For
Bath and body
Gift Pick
$10
Cashmere Body Butter
Where
Gifts for the Outdoorsy One
Idaho Mountain Touring
The downtown outdoor shop for Patagonia layers, Nordic and backcountry ski gear, bikes, and camping gear. The staff actually ski, bike, and camp, so ask before you guess at sizes or specs.
Gift cards cover ski and bike tune-ups too, which is a good fit for someone who already has all the gear.
Good For
Outdoor apparel and gear
Gift Pick
From $26.99
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 3L, a stocking stuffer for the traveler
Where
Idaho River Sports
Right next to the Boise Whitewater Park, this shop sells and rents kayaks, rafts, and paddleboards, plus river-ready apparel. In winter, the racks fill with fleece made for cold Boise mornings, so it’s worth a stop even when the river is quiet.
Good For
Paddlers and river rats
Gift Pick
$40
Kavu Fur Ball Beanie
Good to Know
For the paddler on your list, a gift card goes toward rentals and classes when the river season starts.
Where
Idaho Angler
Boise’s fly shop has been open since 1993, with rods, flies, fly-tying supplies, apparel, and guided trips for the fishermen in your life. The staff will point you to the right fly box or tying kit for someone who already fishes, and a spot in an Idaho Angler University class is the gift for someone who’s been wanting to learn.
Good For
Fly fishing
Website
Gift Pick
$59
Skwala Thermo 350 fingerless gloves for winter water
Good to Know
Shipping is free on orders over $99.99.
Where
Gifts for Readers, Gamers and Music Lovers
Rediscovered Books
Boise’s independent bookstore since 2006, now in its newer home on Grove Street in the Linen District. If you don’t know what to get, ask: the booksellers will match a book to the person, and there’s a big kids’ section too.
December is busy here, with a First Thursday opening on December 3rd and a kids’ storytime and craft on the morning of December 5th.
Good For
New books and staff picks
Gift Pick
Book Box
A personalized monthly book subscription
Good to Know
Closed on Thanksgiving Day. Gift cards are sold in store and online.
Where
Hearts on Fire Books
A downtown bookstore that sells only romance, from fantasy romance to historical to YA. Staff hand-pick everything on the shelves, and the indie-exclusive editions are books they can’t get from a big online store.
If someone on your list reads two books a week, this is their store. Not sure what they’ve read? The gift cards and shop merch make it easy.
Good For
Romance readers
Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Where
Fantastic Games
A downtown game store with board games, puzzles, role-playing games, and trading cards, plus Yoto and Tonies players for younger kids. It has one of the biggest board game selections in the Northwest, and the staff will match a game to the family, from family game night to serious strategy.
Good For
Board games and puzzles
Gift Pick
$19.87
The Gruffalo Tonie, screen-free story time for little kids
Where
The Record Exchange
This legendary Boise record store has sold new and used vinyl and CDs downtown for decades, with a gift shop and coffee bar inside. A gift card lets a music lover dig through the bins themselves, and the gift shop covers everyone else on the list.
Good For
Vinyl and music gifts
Black Friday
November 27th
Record Store Day exclusives
Where
Gifts for Art and Style Lovers
R. Grey Gallery
A BoDo gallery that’s been around for 40 years, with handcrafted jewelry from more than 100 artists, plus art glass and custom design. It’s the spot for a special piece of jewelry that isn’t from a chain store.
Pieces are priced by request, so call ahead with a budget, and they’ll pull options.
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
11am – 5pm
Good to Know
If you want something custom-made, start now, since some pieces need up to four weeks of studio time.
Where
Sagebrush Collaborative
This Hyde Park shop carries handmade goods from more than 90 Mountain West artists: ceramics, jewelry, prints, leather, plants and skincare. Most of it is one of a kind, which makes it the place for a gift nobody else will be giving.
Its 5th annual holiday market moves to the 36th St Event Center December 12th – 13th, with more than 70 handmade vendors.
Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Holiday Market
December 12th – 13th
36th St Event Center
Where
Boise Art Museum Store
The museum shop in Julia Davis Park sells creative gifts for all ages: puzzles of famous artworks, art-inspired jewelry, art books, watercolor sets, kids’ kits, and holiday cards.
Members save 10% all year and 20% during the members’ sale through November 19th, and a museum membership is a good gift for the art lover too.
Members Sale
November 12th – 19th
20% off for members
Hours
Tuesday – Sunday
Closed November 26th – 27th
Good to Know
Parking in Julia Davis Park is free for two hours.
Where
Ruby Lou
An 8th Street women’s boutique that’s been around since 2003, with relaxed clothing from brands like Rails and Sanctuary, plus cozy loungewear, Votivo candles, and home and body gifts. It’s an easy one-stop shop for the women on your list.
Good For
Women’s clothing and loungewear
Website
Gift Pick
PJ Salvage
New holiday pajamas they’ll wear all winter
Good to Know
Shipping is free on orders over $125.
Where
Fluff Hardware
A woman-owned Boise accessories shop with stores downtown and in Hyde Park. Think statement handmade earrings, purse charms, lockets and chain extenders, plus hats, hair clips, wallets and candles. Pieces in the For Purpose line send 30% of sales to women’s nonprofits.
Good For
Jewelry and accessories
Website
Gift Pick
From $15
Chain extenders, an easy stocking stuffer
Good to Know
Every piece has a lifetime warranty, and shipping is free in the US. The Hyde Park shop is at 1605 N 13th St.
Where
Dragonfly
A downtown boutique since 1983 with women’s clothing, jewelry, bags, hats, candles and incense, plus a good selection of greeting cards. It’s an easy place to find a gift for a mom, sister or friend, and a card to go with it, in one stop.
Good For
Clothing, jewelry and gifts
Hours
Daily
Sunday noon – 4pm
Website
Where
Gifts for the Hard-to-Shop-For
Hyde and Seek
A packed Hyde Park shop where every shelf holds something different: journals, art objects, quirky jewelry, home decor, and even chandeliers. The aisles are narrow, and the stock always changes, so it’s the place to browse when you don’t know what you’re looking for yet.
Good For
Eclectic gifts and decor
Hours
Daily
10am – 6pm
Where
Re-POP Gifts
Boise’s pop culture shop, with work from more than 40 local artists alongside licensed fandom gear, novelty socks, posters, and kitschy gifts, from Star Wars and Harry Potter to Bigfoot. It’s the answer for the person who’s hard to shop for, and it’s home to Idaho’s only Zoltar fortune-teller machine.
Good For
Pop culture and local art
Hours
Daily
Sunday 11am – 5pm
Website
Good to Know
Its sister shop, Toy POP!, is around the corner at 780 W Main St.
Where
Vintage Gifts
For the person who’d rather have something with a past. Vintage shops restock constantly, so go more than once.
3Peat Vintage & Streetwear
Downtown’s vintage, streetwear, and sneaker shop, with sports jerseys, fleece, hats, and outerwear for men and women, plus a wall of sneakers. It’s the stop for the teenager or the sneakerhead on your list.
Good For
Vintage, streetwear and sneakers
Hours
Daily
Sunday noon – 5pm
Website
Where
Urban Cowboy Vintage
A Vista shop in the historic Hoppie Building with vintage clothing from the ’70s through the 2000s, home decor, and Western-scented soy candles made in-house. A candle and a vintage tee make a good pair.
Good For
Vintage clothing and decor
Where
State Street Antiques
More than 25 vendors under one roof on State Street, selling vintage clothing, records, crystals, and handmade goods. Give yourself time to dig.
Good For
Vintage and handmade
Where
Antique World Mall
More than 160 dealers on Overland Road, with mid-century furniture, vinyl, and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed. This time of year, the vintage holiday decor and ornaments are the reason to go.
Good For
Antiques and collectibles
Where
Memberships, Passes and Classes
For the person who already has enough stuff. These are gifts they’ll use all year, and most can be bought online right up until the holiday.
Idaho Botanical Garden Membership
A gift membership covers a year of garden visits and member pricing on events like Winter Garden aGlow. Memberships run $75 – $520, and the garden mails a gift certificate to you or straight to them.
The garden recommends buying before December 18th for Christmas delivery.
Zoo Boise Membership
A household membership is $125 and covers a year of zoo visits for the family. Individual memberships are $65, and grandparent memberships are $100. Last year, the zoo’s cutoff for mailed holiday gifts was December 19th.
Discovery Center of Idaho Membership
A membership to Boise’s hands-on science center gives kids 12 months of unlimited visits, discounts, and early access to camps, plus reciprocal admission at more than 300 science museums, which pays off on road trips.
Admission
Unlimited
For 12 months
Website
Good to Know
The STEM Store inside has science kits and games for a stocking stuffer to go with it.
Where
Bogus Basin Season Passes
A season pass is the gift that gets used all winter. For 2026/27, adult passes run from $129 for a Night Pass to $779 for the True Bogus pass, with Midweek, Value, and Winter passes in between.
Treefort Music Fest 2027 Passes
Treefort returns March 31st – April 4th, 2027. Five-day general admission passes are $385 at the current price tier; prices step up as the festival gets closer, and kids 12 and under get in free.
Holiday Classes at Edwards Greenhouse
Edwards Greenhouse runs hands-on holiday classes through December, and you leave with a wreath, centerpiece, or garland that’s ready to give, or keep. They fill up, so book early.
- Wintry Wreath, $65: November 21st, December 3rd, December 5th and December 10th
- Door Swag, $65: December 5th
- Gnome for the Holidays, $50: December 10th
- Christmas Harvest Wreath, $85: December 11th
- Holiday Citrus Craft Workshop, $40, and Amaryllis Live Centerpiece, $50: December 12th
- Sweet Garland, $90, and Designer’s Choice Gift Wrapping, $50: December 18th
- Christmas Glow Centerpiece, $85: December 19th
Good to Know
Gift cards can’t be used for online class sign-ups, so call the greenhouse at (208) 342-7548 to use one.
Where
Downtown Boise Gift Card
Can’t decide? The Downtown Boise gift card works at more than 230 downtown shops, restaurants, and businesses, in amounts from $5 – $500. A monthly inactivity fee kicks in after a year, so it’s best for someone who’ll use it.
Holiday Events at Local Shops
Local shops pack a lot into the season, and these are the events worth planning around.
Through November 19th: Boise Art Museum Store members sale, 20% off.
November 27th: Record Store Day Black Friday exclusives at The Record Exchange, and opening night of Holidays on the Grove downtown.
November 28th: Small Business Saturday. Our Small Business Saturday in Boise guide has the plan for the day.
November 29th – December 5th: Holiday wreath making at Telaya Wine Co. on several dates.
December 3rd: Lit & Co. Holiday Soiree in Hyde Park, 6pm – 8pm, $24 tickets.
December 5th: Hip Holiday Craft Market at the Flying M Coffeegarage in Nampa, with about 40 Treasure Valley artists and crafters.
December 9th: Telaya’s Holiday Market at the Garden City winery.
December 12th – 13th: Sagebrush Collaborative Holiday Market at the 36th St Event Center.
For every makers market and holiday bazaar in the valley, see our Guide to the Best Boise Holiday Markets.
Order-By Dates
Custom pieces: start now. R. Grey’s custom jewelry can take up to four weeks, and Olive & Vyne needs 48 hours for custom gift boxes.
Shipped gifts: order by early December. Idaho Candy Company orders take up to two business days to process plus five to eight business days of ground shipping.
Mailed memberships: the Idaho Botanical Garden recommends buying gift memberships before December 18th for Christmas delivery, and last year Zoo Boise’s cutoff for mailed gifts was December 19th.
Last minute: gift cards, e-gift cards and memberships can be bought online right up until the holiday.
