2020 has been a whirlwind of a year, but the holiday season is quickly approaching. If you want to get ahead on your holiday shopping and find some unique Oakland and Bay Area gifts, here is a list of 10 of our favorites:

Of course we’re going to put ours at the top of this Bay Area gift ideas list. Do you know someone who wants to take a foodie trip around Oakland from the safety and comfort of their home? Or indulge in Oakland’s very own Rocky Road ice cream? With five different themes to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a gift box that suits your giftee’s needs and satisfies their taste buds. 

If you are shopping for a foodie or a cooking enthusiast, look no further than Oaktown Spice Shop, named one of the world’s best spice shops by Food & Wine Magazine . Oaktown Spice Shop sells a variety of spices, herbs, and tonic water kits, as well as gift sets like the Lake Merritt BBQ Gift Box . You can order online at the website or stop by their stores in the Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland, Solano Avenue in Berkeley or the new Castro Valley Marketplace.

BART Tree tee from Oaklandish

Started in 2000 as a public art project, Oaklandish sells t-shirts, snapbacks, shorts, socks, accessories, and more (including face masks and hand sanitizers – it is 2020, after all) with their signature Oakland and The Town designs. With a mission to spread “local love,” the brand supports grassroots nonprofits through donations and collaborations, and you can feel good about benefiting the local Oakland economy. 

Candle from Happy Soul Candle

It has certainly been a stressful year, and there is no better way to relax than by lighting an eco-friendly, hand-poured soy candle. Support a local business and purchase one of their candles, reed diffusers, or wax melters in scents ranging from holiday-themed Cypress and Bayberry to cozy Cinnamon . Give the local Oakland holiday gift of relaxation with a beautiful candle from Happy Soul Candles.

For your BBQ fan, Everett & Jones, an Oakland-favorite since 1973, sells bottled jars of its Mild, Medium, and Hot Sauces. Get cooking and treat your tastebuds by ordering individual jars or cases of twelve jars here. You also receive one in our Beer & BBQ Lovers Collection and Food Tour Highlights Local Love Gift Boxes.

Urban Indigo is a local gift shop in the Lakeshore neighborhood, and it sells everything from stationary to jewelry. Urban Indigo sells several Oakland-centric items, including an Embroidered Oakland Tea Towel and Hand-Embroidered Oakland Pillow , glasses, cheese boards, and trinket dishes. Urban Indigo is currently open in-store every day.

A family owned and operated toy store since 1996, Adventure Toys Oakland sells puzzles, games, Lego sets, books, and more. Its Local Love Collection features Oakland-themed goods like baby onesies , books , and mugs . We’ve purchased a number of cute toys and clothes for Foodie Kiddo here. Check them out!

For your of-age giftee, our friends at Bardo Lounge & Supper Club (featured on our Grand Lake Cultural Cuisine Food Tour ) offers cocktail boxes like its DIY Whiskey Cocktail Kit and DIY Gin Cocktail Kit. You can even add on bar tools for your friends or family members to create their own special experience. 

Pizza For All t-shirt from Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

Featuring the design from 2019 Zachary’s Art Contest winner Pete Davis, the Pizza for All t-shirt benefits the Fam1st Family Foundation , an organization that helps youth in Oakland expand their horizons and create solutions for the future. Let your recipient support an important Bay Area foundation and profess their love for pizza with this wearable gift! 

Small businesses and restaurants have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and you can support them via your gift-giving efforts by purchasing gift cards to treat your friends or family members to a meal. Check out our list of Tour Partners and support these beloved restaurants, breweries and shops with a gift card purchase.

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