One of the many great things about living in Providence is its diverse and interesting neighborhoods. There are lots of places around the city to pick up the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list.
Everyone knows Federal Hill for its amazing restaurants but, if you don’t have time for a meal, there’s still plenty of holiday shopping to be done. Venda Ravioli offers a yummy selection of holiday gift baskets at a variety of price points. Head to Dreamy Venice for Venetian glass giftware or pop up to Gather Glass for locally crafted gifts.
Downtown is almost overwhelming with options. To make it easy, stick to one building — The Arcade. Scoop up some fabulous vintage finds at Carmen & Ginger and Split Apart Secondhand or get a little weird with native son H.P. Lovecraft at Lovecraft Arts & Sciences. Venture into the heart of downtown for fabulous fashions at Queen of Hearts/Modern Love or to support the arts at Craftland. Set a sumptuous holiday table with finds from Homestyle and wow your guests with luscious desserts from Ellie’s Bakery.
Head east to Thayer and Hope streets for serious shopping. On Thayer, leave the holiday stress behind and escape into another world at Base Station VR Lounge, Rhode Island’s first virtual reality arcade and lounge. You can never go wrong at Thayer mainstays Berk’s and Spectrum India. On Hope, start with the edgy cool of J Marcel, hop over to Studio er, well, Hop, shop super local at Rhody Craft, outfit your kitchen at Stock Culinary Goods and don’t forget their cheeky neighbor Frog & Toad.
End your neighborhood exploration on Wickenden Street and Wayland Square. Campus Fine Wines has an amazing variety of varietals that make great hostess gifts, while Nava offers quality clothing, décor and more. Nearby in Wayland Square Wendy Brown Home features sumptuous linens and other home luxury items. Give a uniquely personal gift by crafting a signature scent at Providence Perfume Company. Finally, if you’re tired from all that shopping, escape into another world with fiction from Books on the Square.