The holidays are quickly approaching. If you didn’t take advantage of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday, you may be freaking out and scrambling to grab the perfect gift. Listen to our last-minute Philly-centered gift ideas as you finish (or start) your holiday shopping, and check out our additional list below.
For the Bookworm
Add these Philly books to the coffee table collection. “Greater Philadelphia: A New History for the Twenty-First Century” expands your knowledge of the city with an up-to-date, diverse, three-volume history that looks at our city’s past vis-à-vis the region, the nation, and the world.
For more book recommendations, check out these books released by Philly authors this fall.
For the Cultured
Is your gift recipient a lover of the arts? Maybe they’ll enjoy $11 tickets for a performance of Opera Philadelphia this season.
For the Foodie
You’ll be cheesin’ at this gift! The Philly Cheese School and the Third Wheel Cheese Co.’s Cheese of the Month Club ships a rotating, themed selection of artisan cheeses and accompaniments.
A good dish can be elevated by the perfect sauce. Poi Dog Sauces, by Philly chef Kiki Aranita, brings a taste of Hawai’i to your table with its Huli Huli Sauce, Chili Peppah Water, and Guava Katsu Sauce.
Make dining out an adventure by purchasing a gift card for Tiny Table Tours.
For the Drinkers (With or Without Alcohol)
Wine and dine at home with a bottle from Le Virtù’s wine club. Each month you’ll get wine from Abruzzo and other Italian regions. Check out this roundup for even more local wine clubs to pick from.
For non-alcoholic drink options, cozy up with a warm cup of tea from Craft Tea. The Mt. Airy-based tea company has several blends to pick from, including Wissahickon Walker, which contains Kava root, spearmint leaf, holy basil leaf, catnip leaf, and raspberry leaf. Each blend is also paired with a recommended vinyl for good vibes with good tea.
If your gift recipient prefers their drinks caffeinated, purchase a subscription to Persimmon Coffee’s Friday Coffee Club. Every first Friday of the month, they’ll get a fresh bag of beans shipped straight to their door.
Pet Riso's 2026 wall calendars. (Abby Fritz / City Cast Philly)
For the Planner
It might take several weeks to stop writing “2025.” To make life easier, grab a planner or calendar from Bonk. The local stationery store also designs washi tape, sticker sheets, and even love letters to send to that special someone.
For the Adventurer
Not every gift needs to be a physical item! Give the gift of an experience to encourage the recipient to get out of the house and try something new.
If they like to clown around, gift a class to the Philadelphia Circus School or these other circus groups to learn circus and aerial arts.
Put hand-eye coordination to the test with a class at Philly Archery. Whether you’re a newbie or a pro, there’s a class for every skill level.
For the Transit Enthusiasts
We may not be entirely in love with SEPTA’s service right now, but we do love SEPTA’s merch. The SEPTA store has transit-themed goodies, from sweaters and drinking glasses to retro rail signs and model train sets. If you need to grab your item quickly, the agency is operating a pop-up shop this year.
If you want to go beyond Philly or find the right gift for someone living across the country, here are recommendations from 13 of our City Cast hosts!
