15 Local Gifts You Can Find in Boston For Under $50
From architecture-inspired home goods to handcrafted accessories, here's our budget-conscious list of the best local goods to gift this year.
Photos provided
Thankfully, our city is chock full of locally owned shops and boutiques. But with so many options comes a challenge: knowing which ones to stop into during the jam-packed holiday season. To help you find one-of-a-kind presents this year, we’ve scoured dozens of shops across the city. Sourced from local stores and Boston-based makers, our selections run the gamut so you can find the perfect present for everyone on your list. Here, find our guide to gifts under $50, starting with the least expensive options for your budget-conscious convenience.
Image courtesy of Curio Spice Co.
Kandy Spice, $8.50
Curio Spice Co., 2265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
curiospice.com
This mix of Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, fennel, coriander, and other spices was named not for candy but for a Sri Lankan city known for its spice gardens. The warm, soothing blend is best suited for baking, mulling wine, or sprinkling on squash or pumpkin.
Image courtesy of Bonnie’s Jams
Nuts and Honey, $12.99
Bonnie’s Jams
bonniesjams.com
Cambridge-based Bonnie’s Jams are a staple on a New Englander’s table, and this nuts and honey jar is no exception. It was inspired by a gooey concoction founder Bonnie Shershow spotted in a shop in Tuscany. She suggests arranging it on a cheese platter with pecorino or Cashel Blue.
Image courtesy of Craft and Caro
Walnut Wood Koozie, $14
Craft and Caro
craftandcaro.com
Step aside, neon-colored koozies of the world. This walnut koozie infuses your run-of-the-mill beverage insulator with class. Plus, it garners attention: “Got so many compliments on New Year’s Eve,” writes one customer.
Image courtesy of Sisters of Los Angeles, LLC
617 Rocks Glass, $16
Greentail Table, 343 Watertown St., Newton
greentailtable.com
In an age where phone numbers are no longer memorized, these Boston area code glasses represent local pride in numeral form. They’re excellent gifts for new-to-town friends and longtime locals, too.
Image courtesy of Boston General Store
Wildsam New England Field Guide, $18
Boston General Store, 305 Harvard St., Brookline
bostongeneralstore.com
Spark exploration and curiosity with this New England field guide, compiled by American travel brand Wildsam. The book juxtaposes hand-drawn maps with prose, interviews, and historical anecdotes.
Image courtesy of Olives and Grace
Boston Brownstone Tea Towel, $18
Olives & Grace, 623 Tremont St., Boston
olivesandgrace.com
For the architecture lover in your life, this brownstone towel is perfect for an at-home Boston Tea Party. The towel, made of cotton flour sack, comes in both rose and teal.
Image courtesy of Of Note Stationers
Letter Writing Paper, $20
Of Note Stationers, 220 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
ofnotestationers.com
This set of letterpress-printed sheets and envelopes offers 12 opportunities for a loved one to write down their thoughts on a soft cotton canvas. Each sheet is blank—an open-ended space where the story possibilities are endless.
Image courtesy of On Centre
Julian Edelman Crew Socks, $20
On Centre, 676 Centre St., Boston
oncentrejp.com
We recommended every Pats fan nab a pair of Tom Brady socks last year, and with these Julian Edelman ones, you’re free to mix and match. They’re a unisex “one size fits most,” so you can get a pair for every member of the family.
Image courtesy of Magpie
Somerville Onesie, $24
Magpie, 416 Highland Ave., Somerville
magpie-industries.myshopify.com
Custom-made for Somerville-based Magpie, this organic cotton knit onesie was hand silk-screened with water-based ink. Local pride isn’t reserved for grownups, after all.
Image courtesy of Abodeon
Tape Measure, $29
Abodeon, 1731 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
abodeon.com
It usually takes carrying a couch up five flights of stairs on September 1 to realize you should’ve brought a tape measure to size up the door frame first. This sleek brushed stainless steel variety has a push button lock with an auto-retract feature, making taking measurements equal parts stylish and painless.
Image courtesy of Ball and Buck
Roger Knit Hat in Rust, $32
Ball and Buck, 144-B Newbury St., Boston
ballandbuck.com
Exclusively available at Ball and Buck, this knit hat comes in a variety of colors. Made from organic cotton and adorned with a Ball and Buck logo, the hat is a fit for both cold-weather adventures and everyday wear.
Image courtesy of Follain
Rose Body Butter, $38
Follain, 65 Charles St., Beacon Hill, 53 Dartmouth St., South End
shopfollain.com
This intensely soft moisturizing mixture is infused with pure Moroccan rose essential oil, making it the perfect combination of sweet scents and hydration. It leaves skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
Image courtesy of the MFA Shop
Murakami Navy Boston Flower T-Shirt, $40
MFA Shop, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston
mfashop.com
It’s all over Instagram, on billboards, and even the T—it seems you can’t escape the MFA’s Murakami exhibit this season. Now, you can add one more piece of real estate to the art’s ubiquity: your person. This navy shirt will keep the beloved exhibition alive long after it has left the city.
Image courtesy of Cou Cou
Cafe Machine, $46
Coucou, 24 Union Park St., Boston
coucou-boston.myshopify.com
It’s never too early to foster an appreciation for good coffee. This toy espresso machine comes with two cups, a spoon, a faux milk frother, and colorful pods to insert into the removable filter—all excellent tools for a young barista in training.
Loyal Supply Co.
Loyal Leash, $48
Local Supply Co., 21 Union Square, Somerville
loyalsupplyco.com
Crafted in Loyal’s leather shop in Cambridge, this luxe leash is made from American tanned bridle leather and solid brass hardware. To finish it off, the leash was hand-fastened with copper rivets and stamped with the Loyal logo.
