With the holidays fast approaching, you may feel a bit panicky about getting your holiday shopping done. Relax, take a deep breath and dive into this helpful guide to curating the perfect shopping excursion in the City of Oaks.
Easy access to local shops, restaurants, museums and holiday decor make downtown Raleigh a no-brainer during the holiday season. You'll find two giant, decorated trees—in front of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and at the North Carolina State Capitol, which is going up soon and being lit Dec. 9 at the annual tree lighting ceremony!
Edge of Urge
Kick off your shopping spree at Edge of Urge, a men’s and women’s boutique specializing in handmade and independent designer clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
Videri Chocolate Factory
Excite the chocoholics in your life with a stop at Videri in Raleigh's trendy Warehouse District. It’s nearly impossible to leave this sweet shop empty-handed. Look out for their gift boxes!
Tasty Beverage
For the craft brew aficionado on your list, make your way over to Tasty Beverage. They have an extensive selection of packaged beers plus draft beers for your consumption and subsequent enjoyment.
Ealdwine
Ealdwine, an upscale men’s store, opened in downtown Raleigh in 2019. Shop countless brands of men’s clothing and luxurious leather goods. For gift ideas and stocking stuffers, a selection of unique socks, belts and wallets can go a long way.
42 & Lawrence
Speaking of coffee, why not stroll over to 42 & Lawrence to enjoy a great cup and snatch a couple bags of Larry’s Coffee? Larry’s Coffee is a Raleigh roasting company started by Larry Larson, who is as passionate about making extraordinary coffee as he is about making the world a better place to live.
DECO Raleigh
For some major gift-giving inspiration, hop over to DECO Raleigh (pictured in header). This customer-centered gift shop and gallery from passionate mind Pam Blondin carries the work of more than 75 local artisans and makers. Shoppers regularly find unique, smart and eclectic gifts like apparel, jewelry, personal care/grooming products, ceramics, teas, stationery and more.
Raleigh Denim Workshop
For fashion-forward friends and family members, shop Raleigh Denim Workshop—the creation of passionate minds Sarah Yarborough and Victor Lytvinenko. The workshop/retail space is devoted to conscientiously producing small-batch, handmade jeans and clothing. Consider getting a gift card to make any style icon’s holiday brighter.
Zen Succulent
Green and glamourous, the ZEN Succulent offers unique holiday gifts for those with a true green thumb and those who just like a little nature sprinkled throughout their home.
House of Swank Clothing Company
While it may look like a plain brick building from the outside, inside you’ll find an explosion of color and creativity. House of Swank Clothing Company prides itself on fun and original designs, quirky N.C.-themed shirts and other must-have Raleigh swag.
Unleashed
Dog and cat lovers alike will adore you when you surprise them with a gift from Unleashed, the Dog & Cat Store. Located in City Market, this locally-owned and -operated store offers the best chews, treats, collars, leashes and toys around. Best part: everything is affordably priced to help give your wallet a rest.
Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop
In addition to being one of Raleigh’s favorite live music venues since 1997, The Pour House Music Hall also boasts a collection of both new and used vinyl records. Find something for the music lover on your list and enjoy an adult beverage from the full bar there as well.
Anne's Apothecary
One of our absolute favorite newer shops downtown, Anne's is a plant-based, bio-active skincare company offering up gift ideas like lip treatment sets for the winter, clay masks, soaps and more.
For more holiday shopping inspo, check out Downtown Raleigh Alliance's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide.
After a successful day of shopping downtown, a scrumptious meal is a must. While there’s a ton of options to choose from, you can’t go wrong with any one of these spots:
