Share Pittsburgh with your loved ones this holiday season with unique and local gifts. From local subscription boxes to a museum membership, a one-of-a-kind pottery piece or a handmade t-shirt for your furry friend, check off everyone on your holiday list while supporting Pittsburgh-owned businesses with our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide.
For the Sports Fan
If you bleed black and gold, you'll want to head on down to Pittsburgh's Strip District for a selection of sports gear for all the city's professional teams - a classic or special edition Terrible Towel is always a good stocking stuffer idea! Gift the experience of a Pittsburgh Penguins game, especially during a themed game like Ugly Holiday Sweater Night, Superhero Night or Fan Appreciation Night, and explore season tickets and mini package deals with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2023 season.
For the Foodie
Gift the ultimate Pittsburgh foodie experience with a ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour! Choose from one of eight different Pittsburgh neighborhoods for a delightful and tasty adventure. You also can deliver a delicious present with a Forma Pasta holiday gift package featuring fresh-made pasta and homemade sauces. Located in Allentown, Forma Pasta is Pittsburgh’s first and original pasta subscription box with handmade pasta delivered to your door monthly.
If the foodie on your list also likes to cook, be sure to check out Uncle Jammy’s for amazing sauces and seasonings. Ranging from BBQ sauces to the Happy Ranch rub and The Black N Gold Pack, you can find Uncle Jammy’s products at Whole Foods, Giant Eagle Market District or online.
For the Kids
Pittsburgh is home to a variety of locally owned toy stores filled with fun for kids of all ages. S. W. Randall Toyes and Giftes is Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest specialty toy store with locations in downtown, Squirrel Hill and Shadyside. Stop by Dragonfly Castle Toys in Lawrenceville for a unique variety of European and American-made toys with no batteries or screens.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind toy shopping experience at Fun Buy The Pound! This toy store carries more than 20 brands of toys and features an online store and home delivery for orders in the Pittsburgh area. Add a visit to Kawaii Gifts for a collection of Japanese kawaii (cute) gifts, stationery, plush and fancy goods.
Insider's Tip: Check out Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, a locally-owned candy store with a large selection of nostalgic and international candy and eccentric gifts, for the ultimate stocking stuffers.
For the Family
The gift of a museum membership is sure to provide family fun and lasting memories all year long! Surprise the whole family with a membership from the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh! Various Carnegie Museums membership packages are available, featuring access to four museums including the Carnegie Science Center, The Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.
Check out the National Aviary, Senator John Heinz History Center and Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium for memberships that include admission and extra perks throughout the year. There are plenty of additional Pittsburgh memberships available, so be sure to contact your favorite museum or attraction to secure the perfect family gift this season.
Insider’s Tip: Each Carnegie Museum has its own gift shop. Stop in and pick-up a Pittsburgh or museum-themed item as an extra special gift for everyone in the family!
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For the Fashionista
Searching for a timeless piece? You won’t want to pass up BlakBirdJewelry, hand-cut, metal jewelry and Knotzland, zero waste bowties made locally and shipped globally. Both make for a perfect gift for the fashion trend-setter on your list. Browse a variety of handmade stud and drop earrings, necklaces and bracelets with Leo and Lynn Jewelry.
Also, check out Kiya Tomlin for fashion-forward and comfortable clothes. This online store by custom designer Kiya Tomlin specializes in environmentally friendly and super-soft bamboo fabric for each handmade piece.
Add eye-catching stocking stuffers from Oakland Fashion Optical, including a gift card to purchase unique and fresh frames and an anti-fogging eyeglass cleaning cloth.
For the Pittsburgh-Lover
Visit love, Pittsburgh for a wide selection of gifts designed by various Pittsburgh artists. Items in the store range from a “Little Pittsburgher” baby onesie to Pittsburgh tea towels and a Cookie Table candle. You also can send a love, Pittsburgh seasonal box for a fun and festive surprise.
Find a one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece at Pittsburgh Pottery! The locally owned store has crafted products ranging from ornaments to Pittsburgh steins and shot glasses; plus, all the ceramics are food, dishwasher and microwave safe.
If you’re on the search for Pittsburgh swag, be sure to visit Steel City for authentic, trendy black and gold attire. You’ll also want to check out the Made in PGH online store for a wide variety of chic Pittsburgh-themed clothing, hats and accessories.
For the Quirky
Celebrate Pittsburgh’s quirkiness with unique gifts from local shops. Lawrenceville’s Von Walter + Funk is a lifestyle boutique featuring hand-crafted goods including planters, candles, lighting and more. The store also specializes in creative balloon installations, funk | BALLOON, a perfect addition to your holiday home décor.
Complete your holiday shopping with quirky cards for everyone on your list! Located in Shadyside, Kards Unlimited carries a wide variety of festive cards, coloring books, mugs, puzzles and pins.
Be sure to add Dr. Tumblety’s™ Time Inspired Specialty Shop to your list for tonics & trinkets, local artisan novels & novelties, cures & curiosities and vintage goods.
For the Pet Enthusiast
Show your love for the fur kids with handmade t-shirts for dogs from Kin of Duncan! Owned by 16-year-old Jazmiere Bates, Kin of Duncan frequents pop-up markets throughout the city.
Petagogy is another stop to add to your pet list as it’s a locally owned pet shop with natural foods and treats, as well as unique toys and accessories for cats and dogs. With locations in Shadyside and Greensburg, you’re sure to find a new gift (or gifts) for your furry friends this season.
Dubbed “where the pets shop in Pittsburgh,” a stop to Wagsburgh is a must! The store carries a wide variety of pet food, treats, toys, health and wellness products and travel accessories. Gift cards and curb-side pick-up also are available.
For the Brew or Spirits Enthusiasts
Pittsburgh is home to many award-winning craft beers and spirits! Cheers to the season by gifting locally brewed and distilled deliciousness. Brew Gentlemen’s flagship American IPA, General Braddock’s, is named one of the top-25 best beers of the decade and is now available in a 4-pack, 12 oz. cans for pick-up. Be sure to check out some of Pittsburgh’s seasonal brews including Penn Brewery’s Nut Roll Ale, a semi-sweet nut brown ale spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, or East End Brewing Company’s Snow Melt, a rich and roasty winter ale.
Looking for a variety of craft beers? Check out the City Brew Tours Holiday Craft Beer Boxes, featuring Hanukkah and Christmas experience boxes. First Sip Brew Box is another great gift option that keeps on giving. This monthly subscription box, perfect for any craft beer enthusiast, includes brewery swag and food from a variety of small businesses.
Beyond beer, Pittsburgh boasts lots of great local distilleries. Wigle Whiskey produces a wide variety of whiskeys, bourbon and even ready-to-drink cocktails with pick-up and shipping options available. Also, check out Maggie’s Farm Rum, quite possibly the most awarded rum in America, featuring the Queen’s Share Rum, Sherry-Cask Aged Rum, White Rum and more.
Located in the Strip District, Pennsylvania Libations is a fully stocked liquor store only selling Pennsylvania made spirits, wines, ciders, meads and beers. It’s a one-stop shop for gifts for the bartender in your family!
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For the Reader
Writing about African-American youth, long-time Pittsburgh resident Sharon G. Flake takes on tough topics and shines light onto people and places in society. Her books are based in Pittsburgh and have received a number of awards and recognitions including the American Library Association Best Books for Young Adult Readers. The Night Gardner, by Jonathan Auxier, is another good read for young adults, telling a spooky moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling. Auxier earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University and currently resides in the city.
Enjoy poetry? You won't want to pass up In the Shadow of the Mic, featuring poetry and spoken word from more than twenty artists across three decades. For a historical fiction read, check out Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict, a story of one brilliant woman that pays homage to Pittsburgh and the Carnegie legacy.
Insider's Tip: Shop at locally-owned Pittsburgh bookstores like White Whale Bookstore and City of Asylum Bookstore to pick up these books and more for every reader on your holiday shopping list!
For the Well-Deserved Pampering
Gift a relaxing, pampering gift for your loved ones to relieve the stress of the year. Book a treatment at Pittsburgh Cupping & Medical Massage offing Hot Stones, Cupping and Aromatherapy with a specialty in Trigger Point Therapy Release. The Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing is an award-winning environmentally friendly wellness spa dedicated to the peace and relaxation of clients with gift certificates available.
Complete a spa-themed gift with a service or gift card to a Pittsburgh salon. Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, Cardamone’s Salon is a full-service hair and nail salon with over 35 years of beauty expertise offering an extensive menu of services. Snag an unlimited yoga package and get 50% off Sacred Self sauna and 1 hour cold plunge services at Sneha Yoga & Wellness Collective on Small Business Saturday. For facials, waxing, hair treatments and more, gift an appointment or certificate to Izzazu Salon, Spa & Blowout Bar. And be sure to check out Mark Anthony Hair Salon, an upscale multicultural salon featuring hair, nail and skincare services, for a gift card and a variety of products.
For the TikToker
If you need a gift for the TikTok lovers on your list, check out exclusive merchandise from celebrity Pittsburgh TikTokers! Conner Clyde a.k.a. Mrheelyagirl, the man capturing quirky, nostalgic vibes on the internet, launched his own apparel line. The 80s-inspired merchandise features gnarly sayings on shirts, fanny packs, stickers and more. Chef Ryan Peters created Peters Pasta, a TikTok channel dedicated to pasta-making at venues and events around the country. T-Shirts and hats are available for purchase with noodle slogans including Spread Pastativity.
Who could forget something from Pittsburgh's favorite Shell-ebrity, Tim Pearce of Carnegie Museum of Natural History? The joke-telling TikTok famous "mollusk man" has his own items available for purchase via the museum, so you can share the best snail jokes with the punsters on your list this holiday.
Hotel Holiday Specials
'Tis the season to surprise your loved one with a trip to Pittsburgh! The city is home to a variety of hotels ranging from pet-friendly options to luxury hotels and resorts. During the hotels, you can find a great deal on hotels, and even special holiday packages that include upgrades and gifts:
Insider's Tip: You can purchase an overnight stay or gift card to most Pittsburgh hotels that can be used anytime. And, to make your holiday stay extra special, explore the hotel a la carte menu to have champagne, a charcuterie board, chocolates or another surprise in your room upon arrival.
Handmade Gifts & More
For an in-store collection of local goods, Argyle Studio is the place to go! The studio store carries a variety of collections including arts and prints, body and soul, fashion and jewelry, fun and leisure, and home and office. Also, don't miss out on handcrafted steel treasures for your home and for those you love from Keystone Steel Co.! Shop their buy 3, get 1 free holiday deal.
Another place to check out is Workshop PGH, a store filled with unique and locally made clothing, accessories, gifts, home goods and DIY kits and supplies. Along with an online store, there are now two Workshop PGH locations in the Pittsburgh community - Garfield and Wilkinsburg. Looking for antique, vintage or even contemporary home décor? The Good Home of Oakmont is well worth a visit to find the perfect, and truly one-of-a-kind, find.
Holiday Markets
There are a number of upcoming in-person and virtual holiday markets featuring local vendors and products not to miss. Handmade Arcade, the largest holiday market in the region, is Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, featuring one-of-a-kind products from more than 250 talented makers, artists and craftspeople.
Contemporary Craft is also offering a special pop-up event series, CRAFTED, with holiday merchandise, holiday decor and decorative + functional items from some of the best craft artists around the country.
I Made It! for the Holidays will set up shop Nov. 19 at The Block Northway on McKnight Road. 110+ artisans, makers and artists join up with small batch food creators and local distilleries for this unique shopping experience!
And, don’t miss out on the award-winning Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ in Market Square! This year’s market opens on Friday, Nov. 18, and runs throughout the holiday season to Dec. 23.
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