Melbournalia is a souvenir shop that sells stuff people will actually like. This news is the good…read morekind of shocking. I'm a fan of gift giving, but souvenir shopping is such a chore. It takes forever and there's a good chance that the recipient will be polite but never use it, or you'll buy something that's more gag-gift than keepsake. What bugs me even more is when you see the same damn souvenirs relabelled in every country you go to. The wares at Melbournalia are different. They sell well thought out items from local Melbourne designers, with just the right hint of local charm (trams, postcode designs, aussie animals). You wouldn't have to have a foreigner in mind to buy something here either. They sell the kind of stuff you could have in your own house without it being embarrassingly ironic. Cute+

Bourke Hill based Melbournalia carries all manner of Melbourne-themed (and Melbourne-made!) goods…read more From local rooftop honey and tea towels to tram t-shirts and kids books, this small shop pretty much corners the market on local gifts. A wise stop if you want something to remember your trip to Melbourne, or want to send a gift to a homesick Melburnian living abroad.

Melody Nelson is a great little nook of surprises, full of things you didn't realise you wanted…read moreuntil you saw that it existed. Full of little knick-knacks, thing-a-ma-bobs and trinkets, it's an especially good place to visit if you're gift shopping (particularly as it bills itself as a gift shop). The goods are sourced locally and from Europe, and range from leather gloves, dresses, fancy hats, scarves and cushions through to brightly coloured and chunky potato peelers, rainbow water glasses and cute little tea sets. It's the sort of shop where you go around making little noises of approval as you browse. It's not cheap, but also not all that expensive and the things are nice. It's always worthwhile to drop in if you're in the area.

Tucked away from the bustle of Sydney road is the no car traffic street of Sparta. A little oasis…read moreof small unique stores, cafe, and artists hangout. The design store sits here, and sells a range of handmade kids clothes, blankets and other crafts. They also stock amazing Marimekko collection and small collections from independent jewellers, cards, and other things. It's a lovely little shop that you will surprisingly spend Way too much time in.

I just adore the range at Belki! This beautiful little gift shop in Rathdowne Village stocks some…read moreof my favourite local accessory brands including Nancy Bird and Polli. There's a great range of scarves, pottery, jewellery, handbags and homewares. Belki also has beautiful gifts and cards for babies and toddlers. The colour palate across Belki's merchandise blends together beautifully (think whites, tans, mustards, burnt oranges and reds), making you want to buy the whole store and do up your house like something out of a magazine shoot. Gorgeous! If you're on a budget the defiantly keep away, because this shop is so cute you'll end up buying all kinds of things you really don't need.

As I reached the top of the stairs that lead you to Mr Kitly, I couldn't help but break out in a…read morehuge smile. This place is cool. At the top of the stairs is a smart display of books that range from manga to healthy eating. The room directly to the right has a huge low display of indoor plants that seem to be quite exotic with a range of pretty flowers and odd shaped leaves. The next room through in this cubbyhole of a store is full of designer artefacts and knick-knacks from around the world. There are Norwegian chopping boards and Japanese teapots - actually there are a lot of Japanese items, there seems to be a bit of a theme. I asked the guy behind the desk if this place is new and he informed me that it had been serving the public since last year. I had just walked past without ever noticing. It is hard to see! A cool little pocket of the world, one where I will be heading back to next pay day!

Down Sydney Rd one comes across a narrow flight of stairs beside a fabric shop that is rarely open…read more One could be forgiven for not ascending said stairs and moving on, but if so you would miss out the magic that Mr Kitly. Part crafty boutique shop of marvelous wares, part gallery and exhibition space, the quiet subdued nature of the place seems to makes the pieces stand out even more than they on may already. Indoor plants a plenty take space on stairs and room, with the shop area filled with crafty goods you expect from Brunswick's DIY craft culture elite - the pottery and jewelry kind. You pay for it, but you know it's good. And you may get a glimpse out the window to Sydney Rd, something that is surprisingly hard to come by.

Generally this gift shop is just like any other quality present finding shop filled with…read morecollectibles, flasks, frames and an assortment of adorable homewares. But recently they've truly outdone themselves with the vast and magnificent range of Christmas decorations and collectibles on offer. I must say I'm a sucker for the festive season, particularly since I've had kids I really love getting into the spirit with them and decorating the house. This year I'm going to Cards and Gifts Galore to purchase my daughter her own Christmas memorabilia keepsakes. The front display is of a white Xmas, with singing and musical Santa's, white Xmas trees and other trinkets perfect for the Xmas tree. For as little as $1.00 these are the best Xmas keepsakes I've found for quality and price. Similar to the range at Myer but half the price!

This was a lovely place to stumble upon! My husband and I were wandering aimlessly around North…read moreMelbourne after a yummy brunch at Elceed, and our wandering led us to Victoria Street, which if I recall correctly, had some cute cafes and retail spaces. I was drawn into this store because of the interesting decor featured in their storefront window (a huge corn on the cob that had a bite taken out of it, along with a double stacked hamburger... if that makes any sense.) True to their name, they had some quirky lookin' knick knacks, bags, jewelry, and housewares. I also loved their logo, which are silhouettes of animals such as dogs and giraffes. As I was browsing through the store, I noticed two guys carrying huge animal-like sculptures out of the store, as if they were going to be displayed at an event of some sort. Obviously not outside the realm of possibility at a store named Quirk! I ended up buying a customisable letter banner, perfect for my hipster birthday parties/Elite Events. :)

From the owner: Step off Victoria Street in North Melbourne into an unexpected menagerie. Toys too good for kids…read more There's a piggy bank cast from a real piglet and parrot drawings embellished with frilled collars made of recycled maps and envelopes. Greenery protrudes from vintage pots and an array of terrariums. Good affordable design with a sense of play!

Brunswick Bound is a particularly thoughtful bookshop. Not overly small and not large like the…read morechain stores, it caters to a variety of broad and specialty interests. There's a great range of locally designed cards, stationary and the odd bit of craft that make for great presents. A lot of the cards have some very cheeky local jokes on them, such as the cards with a photo of a zone 2 sign as part of the statement "I'd go to zone 2 for you" that were in stock about a year back. It also sells a small range of CDs and vinyl, as well as DVDs, journals and magazines. There's also a small gallery space upstairs that hosts bimonthly exhibits of local artists work. The staff are all avid book lovers and will happily talk you through your purchase or recommend something. It's also not too expensive, though obviously an independent bookstore rather than a discount outlet. Always worth a look in when gift shopping, or any other time really.

If you like reading, and I know you do because you're reading this review, then you must pop into…read morethis independent bookshop the next time you find yourself on Sydney Road. It's also a bit of an oasis of calm in here if Sydney Road is giving you aural overload. There's lots of great books, music, and knick-knacky gift type things to look at, so take your time about it. Grab a few books and find a spare spot on a sofa and just take a load off. If you've found the books you want but you're still not ready for pavement pounding, upstairs is a small, sun-flooded art gallery, and another space in which to meditate. Exhibitions here usually feature local artists. Brunswick Bound hosts the occasional author event too, so visit their beautiful website and get your name on their mailing list to keep in touch.

This is such a cute boutique. My sister and I were in the area looking for a brunch place and we…read morestumbled upon this little gem. It's really cute and girly and there are plenty of things to buy here. I was looking for little gifts that I could bring back home to family and friends and found a lot of things I could get. For the most part, they have unique trinkets that you could buy. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but they do have some really cute things. If I'm in the area next time, I'll stop by again.

For the woman in your life that has everything, but still loves just that little something more,…read moreRose St. could be just the place to shop. The vibe here is luxurious and the price tags are just what you'd expect for a store that focuses on high quality items that you don't see in many other gift stores. There's luxurious floaty sweaters, rich candles, silky scarves, soft leather handbags and small decorative home wares that most Mum's and ladies of fine taste would enjoy. Make a beeline here the next time you need to say "I'm sorry" "I love you" or "Happy Birthday" to your favourite female.

Quirky, colourful and so much fun - would be my description of this busy little shop that never…read morefails to get my attention. It's one of those stores that you need some time to browse and take everything in because there are so many little things to look, feel and experience. Check out the clever little gimmicks such as the stacking Babushka doll measuring cups, the matching measuring spoons and the more recent water carafe. Other interesting décor items include bird cages, bird motif frames and elegant candles stands and candelabras. Gizmo Gifts also has a wide ranges of kid's toys, quirky non-slip socks and slogan t-shirts plus humorous collectibles for the big kid in you. Every time I step into this store, I end up buying something that I really love so if you're in the market for a unique gift idea, Gizmo might have exactly what you're looking for.

This is one of those stores that if you don't like crowds, then don't go there on Christmas Eve…read more This is a tiny little gift buyer's paradise. There is everything from novelty mugs to calendars, to adult toys to key chains, scented candles and wacky mouse pads. The aroma as you walk in, is a fusion of bubble wrap and vanilla incense or whatever cheap incense they seem to be burning. I'm really not a fan of these stores - this is like the epitome of commercialism, I'm surprised that Christmas doesn't own it. This place is like an up-market $2 shop. Most of the products aren't made in china, so they cost you an arm and a leg - but unfortunately it's still worthless crap. Maybe I'm being a bit offensive, especially to those who have a "Magpies supporters only" parking sign in front of their house. If you don't, and you enjoy worthless crap, now you know the place to find it!