7 Gastown shops for last-minute gifts

We’ve all been there - it’s 5:37 pm, the shops close at 6:00 pm, and you're desperate to make it to a party across town by 7:00 pm. You promised yourself you wouldn’t do this again, yet here you are: the last-minute shopper. Don’t fret! This last-minute gift guide will take you through some of the essential Gastown shops to hit – you're sure to find a gift they love. Best of luck!

7 Gastown shops for last-minute gifts
Grace McRae-Okine By

LYNNsteven

1
225 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J2

Gift shopping is easy at this Gastown boutique, where flirty party dresses share the racks with cozy sweaters and feminine lingerie. Owner Nicole Dennis Durnin has pulled together a beautifully curated selection of apparel, accessories, skincare and beauty products from emerging designers and international labels. It’s worth stopping in just to see the impressive cylindrical fitting room built with 6,000 paperback books. Our fave gift-giving picks include the versatile Nomadix yoga towel (an absorbent, quick-drying towel that’s a must-have accessory Vancouver babes), gemstone earrings and rings from local jewellery designer Leah Alexandra, and aromatic neighbourhood-inspired candles by Vancouver Candle Co.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Novelle Novelle

2
209 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K7

One of the best boutiques Gastown has to offer, Nouvelle Nouvelle stocks basics for both women and men, with plenty of unisex items in between, and at price points stretching from “Thank god I found $10 in my coat pocket” to “BFF’s engagement gift”. Think modern clothing, staple accessories, local jewellery, stocking-stuffer sized bath and beauty products, and the cutest collection of cards in the ’hood.

Old Faithful Shop

3
320 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1E8

Old Faithful Shop specializes in “Quality Goods for Simple Everyday Living”, and they deliver on this promise in spades. Perfect for the burgeoning chef or Pinterest-obsessed friend, the Kinfolk-worthy showroom stocks everything from simple Chemex coffee urns to polished marble cutting boards. Imagine walnut wood, thick knit wool, balsam fir incense sticks, and artisanal cocktail bitters and you’ve got OFS in mind.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Cadeaux Bakery Inc

4
172 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1G1

For the perfect “petite morceau” gift, amble over to Cadeaux Bakery. Simply standing inside is a treat, with the air always tinged with confectioner’s sugar, notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon, apple…I could go on! Though everything behind the gleaming glass cases is delicious, if it’s your first time, you can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate croissant (one for them and one for you).

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Army & Navy Department Store Ltd

5
27W Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G5

Bringing this shopping odyssey to a close is Gastown staple Army & Navy. You can easily find a wide array of affordable gifts here, for kids, her and him. This is also a great spot to wrap it all up – literally – with all the gift-wrap, bags, birthday candles, tape and more of those last-minute gift-giving necessities that may slip your mind.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Grace McRae-Okine Grace McRae-Okine
With an addiction to all things internet and a passion for live music, you'll find Grace wherever both the Wi-Fi and the coffee are strong. Her ideal day in Vancouver includes taking in foreign horror films on Netflix, searching for the perfect gin cocktail in Gastown, and nodding along at underground concerts 'till the wee hours. When she isn't hanging out with her Bengal cat Basil, she's promoting shows for Timbre Concerts.
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