For the person who has everything: Gift shops in Vancouver
Your average specialty shop carries a selection of themed merchandise of a similar nature, such as food, collectibles or toys. But a special specialty shop goes a step further, stocking handmade, locally sourced, mindfully imported or lovingly curated items. Vancouver’s list of special specialty shops has everything from designer paper to Canadian-made sake and Asian furniture.
Paper-Ya
9-1666 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S2Paper might seem like the most ordinary material, but the folks at Paper-Ya know how to appreciate it for the creative and artistic creation that it is. This Granville Island shop stocks handmade papers from around the world for arts, crafts, cards and bookbinding. You’ll also find notebooks and stationery.
Meinhardt Fine Foods
3002 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J8You might be wondering how a grocery store found its way onto a specialty shops list. Meinhardt is like no other grocery store. Here, you’ll find high-end products, fresh produce and private labels. Browse their exquisite selection of olive oils, pastas and vinegars. Consider a carefully curated gourmet food basket for a housewarming, an engagement party or a thank-you gift.
Peking Lounge
83 Pender St E, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9Located in the heart of Chinatown, Peking Lounge has a hand-picked selection of high quality antique furniture alongside contemporary Chinese home décor. Their unique art pieces and housewares have caught the attention of international design publications. And they’ll likely catch your eye as well.
The Comic Shop
3518 4th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6R 1N8Western Canada’s largest and most established comics store is a pop culture heaven. Chock full of comics, graphic novels, art books, toys, posters and t-shirts, The Comicshop has been serving the Kitsilano community and beyond for more than 40 years and caters to collectors, dabblers and art lovers alike.
Daniel Le Chocolat Belge
2820 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J5Not only are Daniel’s chocolates available in dozens of flavour combinations and created with the most advanced Belgian chocolate-making techniques, but they’re completely natural and contain no hydrogenated or tropical fats. That means they’re practically healthy! So you can feel guilt-free while you pick your way through a box, and enjoy a couple of Daniel’s Parisian-style pastries while you’re at it.
Saje Natural Wellness
1091 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A9Tap into the therapeutic properties of plant-derived essential oils to relax, restore and rebalance your body. Saje’s selection of wellness products — including oils, bath salts, room sprays and more — are made with 100 percent natural ingredients. Enjoy the “scent-sational” uplifting and healing benefits of their straight-from-nature line.
Artisan Sakemaker At Granville Island
1339 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, BC V6H 4G9You may think of sake as something you only drink with sushi, but this Japanese wine (made from fermented rice) has a rich heritage. Handcrafted on Granville Island in small batches, Artisan SakeMaker has the distinction of producing Canada’s first locally made premium sake, with rice grown in the Fraser Valley.
