Like everything else in 2020, shopping for the holidays will require a bit more planning than usual. Shops and boutiques around Los Angeles are open, but capacity is limited for in-person browsing. Thankfully many offer opportunities to buy online, which means you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. From art to organizers, stocking stuffers, home goods, and more, check out the goods from this collection of Downtown L.A. businesses. After all, DTLA puts the ‘LA’ in fa-la-la-la.  

Design-Friendly Finds at Row DTLA

Whether in person or virtually, hitting the clothing, art, and gift boutiques at the Row DTLA complex will tick the boxes of everyone on your list. For stationary nerds, Hightide features calendars, organizers, and other desk needs from the Japanese brand. Serious coffee and tea drinkers would love anything from Kinto, which sells “lifestyle accessories valuing the balance between usability and aesthetics.” Poketo is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves bright colors, sleek design, and the kind of thing they’d never buy for themselves. The working studio at Still Life Ceramics means getting one-of-a-kind pottery for decor and tableware gifts (some even discounted for flaws to love).

Stock Up From Local Hotel Shops 

Don’t overlook a good boutique hotel shop for gift ideas. Inside the O Hotel just a few blocks from 1133 Hope, Fable DTLA offers beautiful treats for would-be world travelers. Think: Italian panettone and torrone, German stollen, homemade fruitcakes and cookies, plus gift mugs, stuffed stockings, and so much more. Get comfy robes, hipster blankets, pint glasses, and even ultra-cool sunglasses at the Ace DTLA. If you’ve noticed some of the wall art exhibited around Hotel Figueroa, you can gift that, too. 

Shop the Museum Stores

Museums might be closed for now, but shopping the gift stores isn’t off limits. The Broad has everything from an exclusive Yayoi Kusama scarf to a limited-edition Jean-Michel Basquiat Dunny. The artist-designed Moca mask collection is definitely a gift for the times, just one of many great ideas from the MOCA store. Support the museums at Exposition Park: There are fun gifts from The Natural History Museum (T. Rex shot glass or saber tooth lion masks, anyone?); donate in someone else’s name to the California African American Museum; or find collectibles for Einstein fans to Hello Kitty stans at the California Science Center. 

Restaurant Gift Cards and Swag

In any other year, a gift card might seem like a throwaway gift, a last-minute purchase for a distant relative or Secret Santa exchange. But this year, buying restaurant gift cards can help keep your favorite place afloat, to help see them through the pandemic and come out on the other side. Look for hot sauces, totes, hats, great T-shirts and more at places like Guerrila Tacos, Badmaash, and Bar Ama. Get wines and spirits to gift from places like Rossoblu, Redbird and Barcito. Buy gift cards to celebrate being able to dine out again from Bavel and Bestia, Enrique Olvera’s new Damian, and Orsa & Winston. And invest in cookbooks that celebrate the wonderful world of LA dining via Now Serving, the most excellent culinary book and gift shop in Chinatown.

Don’t Forget Our Furry Friends

Some of the doggie daycares around DTLA have little boutiques for your four-legged BFF.  You can also find really cute things for kitties and dogs at places like Pet Project on Spring Street or Daiso in Little Tokyo.

Featured photo courtesy Poketo