You’re running out of time to find that perfect gift. We thought we’d pitch in by listing some of our favorite Orlando shops and items, just in time for the holidays.
Check out a quick list of our favorite gift shops in our fancy retail map below for even more amazing finds that we don’t include in our roundup. Or click HERE for our interactive map of local vintage and thrift shops.
“100 THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO” – CLICK HERE
Our pal Jon Busdeker loves Orlando so much he wrote a book about it. Well, he co-authored it with John Brown. It’s all about the best restaurants, events, attractions, and activities you can find in Central Florida and it’s an essential read for anyone who calls Orlando home.
APRIL SEELBACH’S TRIPPY ART – CLICK HERE
This Florida-based artist specializes in retro landscapes juxtaposed with trippy designs peppered into the skyline and she’s a must-have for anyone who loves themselves some Modernist chic. You can shop her prints online HERE.
BUNGALOWER BUDDY KEYCHAIN – CLICK HERE
For a donation of $20, you can get a special Bungalower Buddy keychain that lets you “unlock” deals around town at participating businesses. It’s our own answer to a Buy Local program and lets you get out there and enjoy some of the best local options available. We add more and more businesses every week so remember to check HERE to see what’s new.
BURROW PRESS SUBSCRIPTION – CLICK HERE
Give your book lover friends something to squee over with a subscription to local indie Orlando publisher, Burrow Press. Members get four books by Florida authors sent to their mailbox a year and access to private book-loving events.
FRESH AF DUDS FROM DUVIN – CLICK HERE
This brand was created by Lake Highland Prep graduates and is taking the region by force with its fresh AF designs and gear. Shopping from their tricked-out schoolie shop is something every Orlandoan should add to their local bucket list.
MEMBERSHIP TO ENZIAN THEATER – CLICK HERE
Become a member at Enzian Theater and enjoy a year’s worth of discounted admission to movies, one free popcorn per show, and discounted admission to select programming. Members also get access to special event notifications like when we were hosting our drive-in movie series earlier in the year. The higher the membership level, the more the perks. Click the image for more information.
FLORIDA STATE PARKS PASS – CLICK HERE
You can get an Annual Entrance Pass to all of Florida’s State Parks for just $60. Click the image to order one for your outdoor-loving loved ones.
GOLDEN HOUR WINE SUBSCRIPTION – CLICK HERE
This boutique woman-owned wine shop in Baldwin Park specializes in responsibly farmed, small production wines that are tasty and thoughtfully created. They have monthly wine delivery packages that bring the wines directly to you and they uncork a different bottle of wine every day at the shop and share samples too.
PLANT SUBSCRIPTION THE HEAVY – CLICK HERE
Instagram-ready shop, The Heavy, is ready to supply subscribers with a unique four-inch diameter plant to take home with them every month for $88 a year. Click the link above for more information.
FRESH LEWKS FROM HELLCATS USA – CLICK HERE
These Orlando makers have got everything from paper goods to lapel pins and stickers. And they’re hella cool looking too. And they just opened up a brick-and-mortar shop in Winter Park that you definitely need to add to your “Must-Visit” list.
JOYBIRD BOOKS – CLICK HERE
Joybird Books specializes in used books and local authors and carries Spanish-language pieces as well. The owners got into the used book business when they but in a chance bid on an online auction and won (when nobody else bid on it), and found themselves with thousands of books from a former college library. Prices are a set range of $5 for paperback, $10 for hardcovers, and $15 for larger format books for most books in the collection, though newer works, like those by local indie publisher Burrow Press (Facebook | Website), have their own set prices.
SEXY GEAR FROM LACASTRO – CLICK HERE
Lacastro is a new men’s clothing store that opened in April by Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors and it specializes in swimwear and resort wear for men and will open in a gorgeously renovated building. Side note, if you tag them in the dressing room while you try on their gear, they’ll likely share it on their ‘Gram, especially if you’re cute and have a hairy chest.
YUMMY SMELLS FROM LA JETEE – CLICK HERE
The store is owned by Joseph Todd who happens to own downtown venues Bauhaus and Hanson’s Shoe Repair (Website) and is a passion project for the Orlando resident who has a deep passion for perfume. The name of the shop was inspired by one of Todd’s favorite films of the same name, La Jetee, a 1962 French science fiction featurette by Chris Marker that later inspired Terry Gilliam to create 12 Monkeys in 1995. The shop is only the second perfumery in the state of Florida and carries some of the rarest and best-rated perfume houses.
MAFFREY’S GOOD GOODS – CLICK HERE
Maffrey’s in Ivanhoe Village specializes in “good goods” or items that have a connection to a good cause or awesome operators, like these Elf-inspired infusion cocktail flasks that are from Curious Botanicals, a woman-owned business. Love it.
PLANTED PERFECTLY EYE CANDY – CLICK HERE
We’re REALLY big Cecil fans at Bungalower and it’s not just because he’s got a green thumb and likes to take his shirt off on Instagram – he’s also super nice and smart! Check out his online shop of curated ephemera and vintage finds – you’ll love it.
SECRET SOCIETY GOODS – CLICK HERE
Secret Society Goods makes some of the coolest pins, stickers, and occult-inspired merch around and was founded by cutie patootie Orlando resident Sean Walsh. Check out his “Highway From Hell” sticker if you need a laugh.
BONUS IDEAS:
- ONE-YEAR PLANT SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEAVY – MORE INFO HERE
- CUSTOM PRINTED T-SHIRTS – MORE INFO HERE
- BOTTLED DRESSINGS AT HUNGRY PANTS – MORE INFO HERE
- DOWNTOWN INFORMATION CENTER SHOP – MORE INFO HERE
- CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOP AT ARTIFACT CANDLE FOUNDRY – MORE INFO HERE
- THE NEW NEIGHBORS SHOP AT EAST END MARKET – MORE INFO HERE
- VISIT THE MILK DISTRICT SPOT TO SUPPORT START-UP RETAILERS – MORE INFO HERE
WEIRD RANDOM THINGS WE LOVE:
- SPONSOR A SLOTH CROSSING – MORE INFO HERE
- PLAY THIS ADDICTIVE GAME THAT DROPS YOU (DIGITALLY) SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU ARE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTEXT – MORE INFO HERE
- PLAY THE DIGITAL REAL ESTATE MARKET – MORE INFO HERE
- START PLOGGING – MORE INFO HERE
- JOIN THE “BUY NOTHING” MOVEMENT – MORE INFO HERE