Holiday season is upon us. It’s the time to give. We know how hard it can be to find the perfect present, so we asked our favorite creatives and locals their top spots to shop. From a handmade kimono to mango-infused tea, give a uniquely Miami gift by hitting up the spots on this local’s guide to holiday shopping in the Magic City.
Sweat Records
5505 N.E. 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Located in the heart of Little Haiti, Sweat Records has been dishing out the latest local cassettes, vinyl, and CDs for almost a decade now. There’s nothing quite like that Miami sound, and Sweat has got it all, from old school soul to gutter punk.
We suggest these awesome local tunes:
- Deep City, CD, a collection of Motown from Miami’s soulful legacy
- Treasure Teeth, Cassette, a local duo that produces dreamy, electronic music
- Permanent Make-up, CD, a local punk/surf rock band
- Snakehole, Vinyl, a local all-female punk band
Bunnie Cakes
2322 N.E. 2nd Ave, Miami, Florida, 33137
Welcome to Miami’s only vegan, kosher, and gluten-free bakery. They’ve got mini-cupcakes, large cupcakes, donuts, whoopie pies, brownies, cakes, and more. Flavors go way beyond your standard vanilla and chocolate, with locally-inspired favorites like guava, and dulce de leche, among others. They also have empanadas if you’re craving something savory. We suggest a dozen mini cupcakes, which will run you about $25.
Knaus Berry Cinnamon Buns
15980 S.W. 248 Street, Homestead, FL 33031
And in the exact opposite vein, we present to you the gooey, gluten-filled, eggy deliciousness that is a Knaus Berry Cinnamon Bun. As a Miami staple, these seasonal baked goods are pretty much a given win. A dozen will run you about $9. But be prepared — it’s cash only.
Sprout Flowers and Coffee
2563 North Miami Ave, Miami, FL, 33127
A bouquet of flowers always warms up a room. Wynwood’s Sprout designs unique bouquets in-house, especially for special occasions! We suggest stopping in for some succulents, air plants, or homegrown orchids.
Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique
2040 N.W. 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33127
When you buy a present from Lotus House, you’re really giving twice, because this thrift shop partners with a local homeless shelter that’s assisting women, youth, and children to improve the quality of their lives. All clothes are donated, and you can find some unique gift-giving gems like an all white power suit or a vintage purse.
Red, White, and Blue Thrift Store
12640 N.E. 6th Ave, North Miami, FL 33161
Want an oversized fur coat? How about a banana yellow button down? This thrift shop is a Miami favorite, a place where you’re sure to find the most wonderfully weird present. We suggest you make a day out of it. Wander long enough, and your perfect gift will appear.
Share Squared
8325 N.E. 2nd Ave. Miami, FL, 33138
This is workspace where you can sew, draw, make craft jewelry, silkscreen, and knit. They offer classes that you can buy for a friend, or attend a class yourself and give someone special a one-of-a-kind gift like a handmade wallet, kimono, or purse — the only limits are your own imagination.
Wynwood Letterpress
2621 N.W. 2nd Ave, Suite 21, Miami, Florida 33127
The staff at this stationery store can help you customize a designer gift. Give personalized presents, from pressed notebooks to custom printed coasters. Or give the gift of crafting and enroll your friend in one of their calligraphy or lettering workshops.
Lemon City Tea
Perfect for tea lovers everywhere, this company is wholly inspired by Miami, with local founders and plenty of teas celebrating South Florida. The teas are sourced from around the world and combined with natural herbs, fruits, and oils, with options like porteños en paraiso, a yerba mate blend with green tea, hibiscus, and tulsi, or the san-té-ria, a black tea blend. You can try before you buy at more than 20 local businesses around Miami, including Sweat and Sprout. And if you decide to give the gift of tea, you can order from their website, where a blend will run you about $10.
One of the founders of Lemon City Tea has a personal relationship with The New Tropic CEO Chris Sopher. He was not involved in the production of this story.
Crasqi
4308 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Short shorts, long shorts, men’s shorts, women’s shorts — Crasqi’s got you covered. This Miami-based boutique was started by a pair of sisters who just couldn’t find nice swim shorts for the men in their lives. And when you live on the beach, that’s kind of a problem. So they designed some themselves. Since then, the business has flourished at pop-ups all around the world. You can find them in Miami at The Bazaar Project. The sisters are committed to remaining socially responsible, donating a portion of their profits to environmental NGOs.