It’s that time of year when you try to track down the perfect gifts for everyone on your “good list.” But no matter who you’re buying for in 2023, why not add some locally made goodies to your holiday shopping quest?
We recently visited some of our favourite stores and businesses across the city and searched out some sugar-plum-sweet gift ideas for you. Read on for our exclusive Richmond-made gift guide!
Wine
Buy at: Lulu Island Winery, 16880 Westminster Highway, Richmond
There are two reasons to stock up on tipples at this Richmond destination winery during the holidays: their signature icewines make great gifts (we love the Riesling-Chardonnay variety) and it’s also useful to have a couple of bottles on-hand in case you’re invited to any late-breaking Christmas parties (we recommend their crowd-pleasing Rosé for gatherings). Not sure which wines to buy? Book a spot at one of the winery’s admission-free Friday evening Vibes & Vino events to taste-test a few options and enjoy some live music.
Chocolates
Buy at: Sinfully The Best, 110-12251 No. 1 Road, Richmond
This delicious Steveston favourite is brimming with creative treats for every chocolate lover. Everything is crafted right here in the store and you’ll need to spend plenty of time browsing the selection. We love this year’s chocolate snowmen, Santa boots and 3D igloo scenes (with penguins and polar bears). And while the chocolate houses are always a bestseller, we also recommend the stocking stuffer snowflakes and decadent selection boxes where you can handpick your own truffles, ganaches and more for someone special.
Cream Puffs
Buy at: Little Fox Bakehouse, 1180-8181 Cambie Road, Richmond
This hidden gem bakery, located just inside the city’s centre’s President Plaza, produces a range of whimsical holiday-themed treats closer to Christmas. But if you’re looking to spoil someone right now (or anytime, of course), pick up a box of their luscious cream puffs. Varieties include mango, matcha, milk tea and London Fog and each is a hinged pastry shell enclosing a velvety wave of creamy goodness. The only problem? Trying not to eat them all yourself before you hand them to your intended recipient.
Tea and Jam
Buy at: London Farm, 6511 Dyke Rd, Richmond, BC
This charming London Landing heritage attraction is a great free-entry destination at any time of year. But there are two sparkling features that make it extra special during the holidays: they’re serving their lovely Jingle Bell high teas and afternoon teas here again (book ahead) and their onsite gift shop is a go-to spot for the best local-made jam in Richmond. The perfect holiday gift for jam fans, you’ll find jars made with strawberries, plums, pears and more––add a tin of London Lady Tea for the full effect.
More Sweet Treats
Buy at: Monkey Tree, 3851 Moncton Street, Richmond, BC
Speaking of local-made sweet treats, we also discovered that this browse-tastic Steveston boutique recently started stocking jars of honey from Bill’z Beez. Made right here in Richmond, this luscious golden elixir is a great gift idea. But the ever-friendly store is also teaming with lots of other Richmond and BC-made gift suggestions. Look for handcrafted salted caramels from Little B Confectionary; earrings and more from Glee Jewelry; and gloriously scented candles from Meadowfoam Products.
Beer
Buy at: Fuggles Beer, 103-11220 Horseshoe Way, Richmond
If you’ve been invited to a holiday house party this year, don’t show up empty-handed. Instead, take along a generous selection of canned beers from this celebrated Richmond craft beer maker. Drop by the brewery to assess (and taste test) their libations––but be sure to pick up some Javaverse Coffee Stout to-go. The perfect wintertime beer, this rich and fortifying concoction has a heady coffee and chocolate foundation along with sweet spikes of vanilla.
Coffee Beans
Buy at: R Ki Coffee Lab, 110-8280 Lansdowne Road, Richmond, BC
Across the street from Lansdowne Centre, this hidden gem coffeeshop feels like a secret java den transported from the backstreets of Tokyo. And although there isn’t much space to sit, it’s a great place to find a bag or two of amazing beans for that die-hard coffee connoisseur on your gift list. The knowledgeable staff at this small-batch roaster will help you with your selection, pointing out top-notch, savour-worthy beans from Brazil, Panama, Ethiopia and beyond. There are also some deluxe coffee-making accessories if you want to add to your gift.
Lavender Skincare Items
Buy at: Lavenderland, 8460 Steveston Highway, Richmond, BC
There’s always someone on your present list who truly deserves to be pampered, so why not treat them to a gift set from Richmond’s Lavenderland? Crafted from fragrant blooms grown and harvested right here on the farm, the gift sets often include hand creams, essential oils, foaming hand washes and more. There are lots of other products available in Lavenderland’s onsite store––their beautifully aromatic lavender sachets are perfect stocking stuffers––but call ahead to check store hours at this time of year.
Cannery Gift Shop
Buy at: Gulf of Georgia Cannery, 2138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond, BC
It’s easy to forget that the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site has a great gift shop. And as we discovered on a recent visit, it’s jam-packed with brilliant gift ideas, many of them made here in BC or other parts of Canada. Give yourself plenty of browsing time and you’ll discover everything from Quebec-made Christmas tree ornaments to a locally-authored Japanese-Canadian recipe book––plus small cans of wild smoked salmon from BC’s last-remaining cannery that make unique stocking stuffers.
For the Art Fan
Buy at: Steveston Museum and Post Office, 6511 Dyke Rd, Richmond, BC
Art fans should also visit Steveston’s historic post office building––and not just to buy stamps for their Christmas cards. There’s an onsite art space here that hosts pop-up shows of creations by local artists, and everything is for sale. The cleverly curated space changes monthly, but on our visit we discovered striking bird-themed ceramics by Steveston artist Jennifer James. And if you’re looking for a cool stocking stuffer, they also sell $14.50 shopping bags made from former City of Richmond street banners.
Unique Jewelry
Buy at: Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver International Airport International Departures, Level 3
If you thought shopping at Vancouver International Airport was all about neck pillows and bottles of water, you need to head to the monumental Bill Reid Jade Canoe sculpture in the International Departures area (pre-security). Right next to this beloved installation, you’ll find a brilliant open-plan store selling authentic art and artisan creations from Indigenous communities throughout BC. We spotted beautiful silver jewellery, fine art prints and unique carvings on our visit.
Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by Tourism Richmond