This is my go-to gift shop in town. The selection is beautifully curated, thoughtful without…read morefeeling generic, and I've genuinely never left disappointed. The owner is incredibly intuitive, and has an amazing eye. I always ask for her advice, and she somehow always points me to the right gift for the right person. It makes gift-buying feel effortless and actually enjoyable. If you want something meaningful and well chosen, this is the place.

Amazing stuff! Stopped in for a small kids gift and ended up getting myself a bunch of things as…read morewell. Amazing selection, very well curated, and staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!!

Great Japanese pottery shop specializing in Japanese plateware, bowls, match tea accessories,…read morechopsticks and many fine decorations for the home crafted with Japanese expertise. Fun shop to visit if you like all things Japanese!

Utsuwa-No-Yakata is a Japanese pottery store specializing in kitchenware and small gift items…read more The prices were rather reasonable, and their offerings are quite varied and attractive. The store clerk was friendly and helpful in finding items we purchased. This store is definitely a must if one is looking for an unique piece, such as serving bowls, plates, sake & tea sets, and more.

Great spot for getting wood, special and fruit paper. Cool kites and arts supplies. Small business…read moreowned and nicely woven. A little pricy but the quality is high tier

This specialty paper shop is a find and gift for anyone who does paper art, bookmaking or any art…read moreor craft that uses paper. It's a one-of-a-kind place that is great to shop on line and even better in person.

According to the website, "Chariots on Fire is place to discover special objects of design made to…read morebe enjoyed and coveted for the ideas they hold and the beauty they represent." In other words, a lot of cool stuff that's hard to categorize as being together under one roof, but all well-worth browsing. It's a different shop than most in the area because it's smaller and often the owner/manager is basically just sitting at his desk working or tinkering. I know some ceramics and jewelry caught the eye of my wife and I was especially interested in a sort of space-age looking stereo receiver in the front window. It was incredibly expensive at many thousands of dollars. Hey, a boy can dream. They also have featured artists on a monthly basis with unique works you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Come in just to find something totally unique.

The Best Gift Shop on Abbot Kinney…read more Chariots on Fire is a small store that carries hard to find jewelry, pottery, and unique fragrances, and contemporary ceramics. They have a unique selection of goods that you cannot find anywhere. I do a lot of poetry and visual art, and coming in here almost felt like walking into a modern museum. Every piece of jewelry, home décor or unconventional flower pots seems to have a message that reaches out to you once you catch a second glance. It's not as if you are buying home goods and decorations, but every piece in this store has a story to tell. There is that old saying " You should seek to understand, and then be understood", but at this store its almost a liaison between you and your sense of style. When you buy a piece at Chariots on Fire and place it in your house, people will see it and try understand its meaning; but ultimately they will understand you. Very few stores have had the ability to do this with the merchandise they carry. Chariots on Fire is truly one of the best hidden gems on Abbot Kinney in Venice!

WINE TASTING EVENT! This event was second to none. Dr…read more Nat was fun, easy-going, very knowledgeable and funny. Sharing her expertise about wines was quite in-depth yet easy to follow. Instantly I felt at ease and engaged. Although it was my first time attending her events, it will not be my last. The group was intimate (12) and from the looks of it, everyone enjoyed themselves. Not only did we sample wines, but the Sensei educated us on some of the technical aspects of winemaking, to include grape cultivation, and various marketing aspects of running a vineyard or winery. The venue, Cultural Interiors was a good setting for this event as well. Being surrounded by diverse treasures, curated home décor, artisanal teas, metaphysical tools and cultural literature truly enhanced this exploration of wine. Looking forward to the Sensei's next pour decision!!

I gave this business, a beaded bracelet and an amber necklace that my parents had brought to me…read morefrom Africa. The owner was never able to account for its whereabouts when I went back to receive a supposedly fixed piece of jewelry/s. The owner has never contacted me. The owner has not tried to reach out to me the owner and has not compensated me. The owner has not even recognized that she thought it was in a drawer and it wasn't there when I went to ask for it What am I supposed to make up this? What kind of person travels to Africa to bring back artifacts to the United States supposedly to uplift the African heritage prestige and morality so to speak and does not even choose to recognize that she owes me something.

Buko's pieces are all so dreamy, if my bank account permitted I would furnish my entire house here!…read moreI found my dream extendable dining table here earlier this year and also, just recently, a beautiful rosewood bar cabinet. The condition of both are excellent - you can tell their picking standards are high and their approach to finishing or restoring the pieces honors the original intention of the designs. Highly recommend.

If you are into quality danish furniture this is your spot! They are very specific with pieces they…read moreget in. Also Iurii the owner is very helpful and knowledgeable. The best part is you can buy things as they are or they have an in house furniture restorer. Highly recommend these guys.

amazing knowledge and so many beautiful papers! A fantastic place to visit, a wonderland of…read morehandmade paper, metallic envelopes, all the colors and textures you could want.

Always great for paper .. exotic huge selection of papers and supplies.Unique handmade and archival…read morepapers. Wonderful art supplies too!

What a fun experience! My friend made a reservation for a group of 3…read more The studio is a small room inside the building it's located, but I think it's a cute quaint place. We had a 2-hour time limit to choose our charms (literally the hardest part because they're all so cute), and decorate our item of choice. At the time my friends and I went, they offered phone cases, hair clips/claws, handheld mirror, desk mirror, and jewelry boxes. The staff give you tips on piping the frosting glue with paper plates to practice before you start putting on your charms, which I thought was very helpful as a first timer. All materials are provided so I didn't mind the cost too heavily, since you're paying for the supplies & the experience, also I'm a sucker for cute things. Would definitely return with my friends! (:

Tucked away in Sawtelle is a very cute DIY Art Workshop that deserves way more recognition!…read more My friend and I stumbled upon it on Instagram and we are so glad we did! We were very excited to participate in the decoden decorating. They had plenty of options including jewelry boxes, claw clips, phone cases, mirrors, and more. The best part? No charm limits here! The staff was very friendly and informative, she guided us through a variety of piping techniques to make sure we were confident with our skills before we got started on our own creations. The entire experience took about 1.5 hours, during which we had a really great time! You also get $5 off if you post about your DIY on your story on IG. If you're feeling a little crafty, make an appointment ASAP! Other than decoden decorating, they also have pouring art, candle making, and squishy-charms making. Parking: There's plenty of meters and there is also a paid parking lot nearby.