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Header images courtesy of @thecabinethk (via Instagram)
Published by Alisa Chau and Annette Chan
Gift local this holiday season with our ultimate guide to Christmas presents from home-grown and locally available businesses. From handmade lifestyle products to interesting experiences and delicious edible presents, we’ve got it all—and everything’s handily broken down into categories for your convenience. Happy shopping!
Food & drink | Wellness & beauty | Homeware | Kids & pets | Fashion | Workshops | Hampers
Keep your bubbly… well, bubbly, this festive season with Coravin’s ingenious wine preservation system. For those of us who really do just want one drink, the Coravin Sparkling keeps wines fresh and delightfully effervescent for up to four weeks, meaning that you can enjoy the most precious bottles in your collection throughout the holidays.
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If the oenophile in your life already has all the gadgetry they would ever need—or would never make a bottle last longer than one sitting—then you cannot go wrong with a nice selection of vino instead for them to sample their way through. For loyal fans of Old World wines with niche tastes and a passion for the smaller, lesser-sung labels, check out Bakus Cellars’ curated selection of independent and family-run vineyards.
Has your gift recipient got a taste for New World wines? Consider 30 Degrees South’s range of Antipodean wines from Australia and South Africa. And for a more specific selection of just South African bottles, Springbok Wines range includes everything from the ever-popular Chenin blanc and pinotage to lesser-known varieties.
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High-quality condiments are always an easy win for gourmands—upgrade breakfasts with handmade jams from Sam’s Kitchen and your choice of locally made nut butters, including flavours like peanut, pistachio, walnut, and almond.
Meanwhile, cover the savoury end of the flavour spectrum with a trio of handmade vegan Asian-inspired sauces, including a crispy chilli oil, a caramelised spring onion sauce, and a peanutty, savoury “crack sauce” from cookbook author Simran Savlani. For a little sprinkle of something extra, check out Nüte’s healthy but supremely tasty new granolas—with flavours like cacao and hazelnut, pizza, and nori umami—to add a little crunchy boost to your snacks.
For the boozer—sorry, alcohol connoisseur—in your life, gift a taste of locally made tipples. From easy-drinking hard seltzers to complex botanical liqueurs, gin, plum wine, and even an alcoholic lemon tea (available in both fizzy and flat formats), here are the best local alcohol brands to know.
As the new annum swiftly approaches, many of us are already setting our goals for the habits and lifestyle we want to pick up. New year, new me, after all, so why not kickstart your glow-up with a brand-new skincare routine? Keeping things simple, Baesix’s signature six-step routine is an all-in-one solution that packs in essential nutrients for your skin to shine with that coveted filter-free radiance. Its colourful packaging is one that will definitely pop amongst the array of presents under the tree, and it’s also 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable!
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Whether you are a seasoned hiker who knows Hong Kong’s peaks and valleys like the back of your hand—or have just made a 2022 resolution to head into the outdoors more—there is no experience like exploring the wealth of natural sights and scenes all around. With up to one hundred entry pages for you to log your experiences, discoveries, stats, and precious memories, Hong Kong Trails’ vibrant My Hong Kong Hiking Logbook is the perfect companion to your upcoming trips and treks. If you have a keen eye, try checking out A Field Guide to the Snakes of Hong Kong to familiarise yourself with the varieties of snakes that might be stealthily slithering right by. A trusty pocket-sized book printed with a waterproof snakeskin-look PVC cover, it’s built just right for outdoor terrains and conditions.
Give the gift of health this Christmas by granting your family or that special someone a glimpse into their hereditary traits. Now with special discounts for a holiday haul to share with your loved ones and fitness buddies, you can save up to 10 percent on individual Circle DNA kits, and 15 percent on packages for duos. Offering holistic, comprehensive reports that dive into your ideal habits in the realm of sports, nutrition, sleep, and more, finding the right pathway in healthy living has never been so easy.
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Holidays are prime time for relaxing and healing from all the stresses that have piled on over the year, and a soothing massage and an afternoon away at a spa are sure to whisk you and your loved ones away to a sensory paradise. Allowing you to treat yourself without mistreating your wallet, Recanto is currently offering Christmas packages for different types of treatments on the neck, shoulders, and feet, in addition to body magnetic and post-workout body massages. If you are keen on delving deeper into wellness sessions that encompass traditional therapies, aromatherapy, and more, The Slow is also an option that will not rattle your Christmas budget.
Got a crockery-loving pal or relative with a penchant for quirky, interesting patterns? Dish it out in style with local design studio The Cabinet’s tongue-in-cheek “Three Wishes” plates (available separately or as a set). The plates, which are inspired by three different classical Chinese porcelain styles, each skewer a different aspect of society—i.e. a “KOL” rice plate with painted likes, 通花 (cutwork; tung1 fa1) hearts, and a dragon checking its smartphone, or a “son of the rich” plate showing lackadaisical rich kids frittering away gold ingots.
Spend a lot of time at a loved one’s flat? Help them jazz up their walls with a gallery-worthy print or two—Blue Lotus and Bamboo Scenes both offer gallery-quality art prints of Hong Kong photography, whether taken by budding local talents or career shutterbugs. Whether your giftee would be partial to Greg Girard’s time capsule-esque prints of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong, the moody blue cityscapes and ceramic tiles of Chinese characters from Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, or the cityscapes of Elaine Li, there are plenty of striking works to discover.
Besides photography, Hong Kong’s visually striking iconography lends itself beautifully to souvenirs—as anyone who has a miniature taxi or tram can attest to—and beyond cute printed products, there’s a wealth of creative and quirky locally themed presents out there. From miniature red wet market fairy lights to pawnshop sign earrings, manhole cover coasters, jigsaw puzzles of local housing estates, and even Hong Kong-specific card-based drinking games, here are the best Hong Kong-themed gifts you can get.
For all the hydro homies out there (if you know, you know), nothing’s better than a trusty water purifier. Designed with Hong Kong apartments in mind, Pluvial Plus’ countertop and dispenser-style filters are compact and streamlined. Not only are they space- and cost-efficient, but the filters actually add healthy minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium into the water and impart a light, refreshingly sweet flavour. For Christmas, Pluvial Plus is also offering a 12-month package for just $1,888, so you can stay hydrated for less in 2022.
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Gift the home cook in your life the cookware of their dreams from Saladmaster—we’re talking frying pans, saucepans, woks, kettles, the whole shebang, all of which heats quickly, evenly, and maintains purity of flavour thanks to 316 stainless steel. Not sure which pieces to pick up? Pre-determined sets take (almost) all the guesswork out of it for you, with options catering to everything from the amateur home cook to professional executive chefs.
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If you’re tuned into the wellness world, you will likely have heard of CBD’s health benefits—lessening anxiety, alleviating pain, and other soothing properties, to name a few. But did you know that animals can also experience these positive effects? Perfect for the pet parents in your life who want to pamper their furry family members, LOP & LOA’s premium CBD range is formulated by CBD-certified veterinarians from organically farmed hemp. Besides the flagship CBD drops, the range includes other versatile formats like a topical healing balm and dog treats.
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A sweet and comforting treat, cookies are almost universally loved, taking the spot of a childhood favourite for many. Without a doubt, gingerbread men are the cookie of the season, and Cookie Smiles has brought together top chefs from all over the city to create a collection of 12 dazzling versions! Ranging from classic options like W Hong Kong’s spiced W Christmas Touch made from ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, to the elevated rosemary-molasses-and-sea-salt Mr Terra crafted by Chris Czerwinski and sous chef Chan Chun-fai of Salisterra, to the decadent MO Salty Caramel Man designed by The Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s Richard Ekkebus and pastry chef Valentin Mille, sales will go towards ImpactHK, which provides better opportunities for the homeless. To nab up your gingerbread men army, head to the official pop-up at Joyce boutique in New World Tower, Central.
Melding together nostalgia with culinary wonder and charity, Matcha Moon ($120) by Jo Soo-Tang is a storybook that foregrounds themes of helping others through a heart-warming dedication to cookie-baking. Published as another Cookie Smiles campaign, it tells the story of a pair of cookie-loving siblings and their friend, who embark on a mission to better their cooking skills while helping the less fortunate. Available online and at Bookazine, it is a wonderful gift that doubles as a lesson in giving back. Proceeds from both of the above will be channelled into select causes supported by Cookie Smiles, as well as to fund job training and career opportunities for the disadvantaged.
For the design- and environmentally-conscious parents out there, what could be better than some seriously chic baby products? We like the adorable wooden biscuit-shaped teether and milk tea-patterned cotton bib from The Wee Bean. If the tot in question is a little messier, however, the printed silicone bibs and adorable silicone teethers from Milk It Baby provide lovely options that are just as easy on the eyes as they are to clean. Complete the set with Milk It Baby’s patterned play mats—available in Hong Kong, London, and Los Angeles-themed prints, these beautiful mats are made from completely sustainable and non-toxic foam.
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Threading together the effortlessly cool combo of t-shirts and baseball caps with next-level details from seven Hong Kong creators, Carnaby Fair explores the diverse artistic subculture of the city with some highly wearable pieces. Showcasing artists who work in a wide range of mediums, every one of their embroidered caps and oversized t-shirts has a wholly unique feel, from the graffiti-inspired The Plumber King baseball cap with white splatterings and the navy blue Boms Wonderland dad cap by Boms, to the cheeky remix that references traditional Chinese art and Super Mario printed onto the Let Me Have a Bite tee by Ernest Chang.
Imagine if every time you are doing your body some good, you also get to give back and do the world some good as well. For the fitness buff with a strong love for healing the planet, locally-based Good Days is a label that is as environmentally friendly as it is extremely chic. Utilising fabrics spun from recycled plastics and reducing waste by shipping only in biodegradable bags and mailers, rest assured that the minimalistic designs and gorgeous colour palettes have been produced to be used for good.
Focusing our attention on ethical practices, there is also the brand Sparks, which has been conceptualised with the mantra of “Look good, give good, do good” in mind. For every purchase of their seriously gorgeous items in muted and jewelled tones, buyers are empowered to choose a special charity or cause that up to five percent of their proceeds will be donated to. It’s time to get sweaty and give back!
An irreplaceable resource, time is the one impossible gift that hovers about on end-of-year wishlists. Coming in at a close second, a timepiece serves as a tangible reminder to make the seconds count, making for a meaningful gift. Built to last, 2°EAST watches are crafted with sustainability at their core. These beautiful analogue devices are created not only with the longevity of the product in mind, but also of the whole industry and planet as well, opting to stick to using eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing practices.
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A bespoke experience geared towards toddlers between the age of two-and-a-half to four years old, Aureus Academy’s music exploration lessons (starting from $1,268) are a unique way to foster an appreciation for music and creativity from a young age. Presented as a basic package of four 30-minute sessions, each class uncovers a wide range of instruments, wowing the little ones with a foray into rhythmic body movement, as well as aural and musical skill training that is specially tailored to take a student-centric approach. What’s more, parents are welcome to join and sit in on the lessons, making them extra memorable for the whole family.
For the stationery and crafts-loving person in your life, give the gift of a traditional Chinese carved seal—one that they can design and make themselves! Led by a master of Chinese seal carving, this workshop in Kwun Tong offers students the chance to learn how to wield a carving knife under the tutelage of a bona fide si fu (師傅; skilled master).
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Give the budding shutterbug in your life the skills to switch from digital to analogue with this beginner-friendly film photography class. Hosted in Yau Tsim Mong in a small group format, students will learn how to pick vintage film cameras, how to shoot on film, and where to get their rolls developed.
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Debuting their line of quarantine hampers for both the home-bound and the hotel-bound, The Langham’s care package is one that checks all the boxes of self-care, with a candle and bath bomb to go hand-in-hand with your DIY spa session, a 4D puzzle to sharpen your mind, as well as traditional homemade stollen to soothe your cravings, amongst a host of festive decorations and goodies. On offer are hampers that feature a bottle of Perrier-Jouët champagne and an Artesian negroni ($2,388) or a non-alcoholic variant that instead carries Saicho sparkling tea and Artesian’s non-alcoholic negroni ($2,188). Deliveries and pickup are available from 1 December to 27 December, with an extra delivery charge for 24 December to 27 December.
Give the gift of luxury with the most extravagant item of all—caviar. Each starring premium sturgeon roe, Royal Caviar Club’s holiday bundles have been built to set the scene for a ritzy occasion. Whether you want to stick to the basics with the Royal Cristal caviar 50-gramme gift set ($1,380) or go all out with caviar and truffle ($3,700) or the wealth of sumptuous treats in the Epicurean Deluxe package ($6,800), these selections will not disappoint.
Recreating the excitement of finding presents that have mysteriously appeared overnight underneath the Christmas tree, the Shangri-La mystery box ($5,899) is an impressive choice that will offer a sweet surprise. Unpack the gorgeous selection of homemade gingerbread, cookies, and chocolate, alongside gourmet pâté and foie gras, and find a mysterious golden ticket, which will have you jumping for joy just like Grandpa Joe.
You might enjoy an Escape to the Sea staycation that has you set sail on a private catamaran cruise to watch the Hong Kong skyline, before relaxing with a room-service dining and spa experience. Maybe you will have the chance to taste the Summer Palace signature tasting menu and wine pairing with that special someone, or perhaps revel in a 90-minute aromatherapy treatment side-by-side.
Even families can have the chance to tuck into the glamorously delicious lunch or buffet dinner that admits four lucky diners. The prizes vary between boxes, though each is guaranteed to include at least one or more of the above options. Only available between now until 25 December, snatch up your secret coffer now!
Stepping up to the plate with their first-ever Christmas hamper selection, Stockton has prepared a curation of lavish festive treats that has your holidays covered in one sleek black box. Ready to gift or to dive into for yourself, the beautiful Stockton box is filled with their signature mulled wine (blended from a secret spice mix infused in cognac and Cabernet Sauvignon), as well as a premium Queen Spirit candle that evokes a dusky night at the bar itself.
Of course, the collection would not be complete without Stockton’s very own bottled Negroni, as well as two rocks glasses, an Amadei Creama Toscana chocolate spread, and the Stockton x Conspiracy chocolate to complement. On offer with finite stock, the box retails for $1,200 and can be found at the one and only Stockton.
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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