Your 2023 Austin holiday gift guide

After spending 17 years proudly representing the public school districts of Texas, Marquette retired from the practice of law in 2016 to give her left...

While Amazon can be a life saver and big box shopping is convenient, this year's uncertain economy makes it more important than ever to shop local when possible. With our shopping dollars we can help local Austin and Texas business owners keep their doors open and their employees on the payroll.

Here are some of our favorite Austin-area and Texas holiday shopping ideas for everyone on your list, from the gourmet to the animal lover to the fashionista. Tune into our Austin holiday playlist while you shop online.

For the style conscious

Austin has a lot of choices in local designers and boutique shops to appeal to the style conscious. Our favorites include:

Adelante -- We can't resist popping into this store before grabbing a bite to eat at Santa Rita. Cute clothes and fun accessories make this a win.

Fanm Djanm -- Feel amazing in headwraps, caftans, bucket hats, bandanas, and headbands from this black, woman-owned business.

The Garden Room -- Curated jewelry, luxurious fabrics, and items with personality draw us to the Garden Room a few times a year when we are searching for something unique.

Kendra Scott -- Pretty much any jewelry from this woman-owned business is sure to put some serious sparkle in your recipient's eyes.

Howler Brothers -- Comfy and cool, the Howler Brothers t-shirts appeal to teens and adults alike.

Tecovas -- Each pair of boots is crafted by hand in over 200 steps so that they stand the test of time.

Texas Standard -- You can be the epitome of Texas style when wearing their guayaberas, workshirts, polos, and tees.

For the home

We love giving gifts for the home. Here are some of our local favorites that add a touch of beauty to the every day.

Settle Ceramics -- Hefty and simple, the custom mugs, tableware, and ceramic pieces from this woman-owned business add a special artisan touch to the table. You can also check out our behind-the-scenes video with the artist.

The Burlap Bag -- Artisan-crafted candles bring a personal touch to the home with items made in-house at this family-owned business.

Emily Eisenhart -- Add a bold stroke to the walls with colorful pieces by a local artist and support a woman-owned business in the process.

Freytag's Florist -- We believe a beautiful dining table isn't complete without flowers to add life and color. Send a custom bouquet to someone you miss this holiday season.

And while not local, we think the following two tech-forward essentials make a great gift.

Samsung Frame TV -- While technically not an Austin company, they do employ a lot of people here in Austin. Plus, the Frame TV is a beautiful upgrade to your TV room style.

Hai -- This smart shower system has best-in-class spray tech and smart water and carbon tracking to help with conservation.

For pampering

In today's hyper-busy world, it's important to carve out time for self-care. Add intention and comfort to your daily routine starting at home.

Blossom Essentials -- Headquartered here in Austin, Blossom offers clean, natural products with a focus on simple beauty instead of complicated routines.

Love Foy -- Vegan, natural, and cruelty free skincare brand created by a local dermatologist. This woman-owned business also offers care products for your lady parts. Yep.

The Good Hippie -- Small-batch, natural, artisan skincare and beauty that makes your daily routine a time of indulgence.

Katie Kime -- Pajamas in great fabrics and fun prints, including an Austin-themed toile, are swoon-worthy. And if you want to spruce up your home, the wallpapers of this woman-owned business are also pretty cool.

For the animal lover

Our fur babies deserve a little extra attention at the holidays too. Here are a few of our go to sources for our four cats Atticus, Scout, Finch, and Queenie, and of course, Willow the wonder dog.

Tomlinson's -- In business for over 75 years, this local pet store has their own brand of special treats that are dog and cat approved by our finicky band of rescues. You can even get your holiday treats delivered directly by the store.

Lucky Plus Dog -- Cute holiday collars are calling our name at this local Austin shop.

Grand Dog Bakery -- Homemade biscuits, bites and cookies made in small batches.

Springer Pets -- Keep your four-legged bestie hydrated on walks with these travel water bottles.

Major Darling -- We love the range of colored leashes and collars at this Austin-based store. They also support the local shelters and feature shelter dogs in all of their advertising. Our Willow wears these.

For the book lover

If you have an avid reader on your holiday shopping list, you'll want to check out these independent books stores for some socially conscious reading and unique finds.

Black Pearl Books -- A black-owned, independent bookstore promoting diversity, inclusion, and representation through literature.

BookPeople -- Books and gifts for all ages. Plus, we love them for taking a stand on censorship and pushing back against the Texas Legislature.

Vignette Books -- Think of it as a clothing subscription box for books. You take a short quiz, and their well-read booksellers pick books just for you. Easy, and unexpected...

South Congress Books -- This woman-owned, independent bookstore offers a carefully curated selection of first editions and bound volumes for the collector, reader, and gift-giver.

For the gourmet

There are so many fantastic choices for the food and drink connoisseur on your shopping list. We are partial to these Austin purveyors:

Antonelli's Cheese Shop -- Cheese. Stinky. Creamy. Crumbly. Antonelli's has it all, plus wine and all the accompaniments. They even ship!

Austin Jam Company -- Small-batch jam made from local and organic fruits and no pectin hits the sweet spot at this woman-owned business.

Bartlett's -- We enjoy their french fries, steak, and pear martinis. Sometimes we go there just for their hot fudge sundae, but let's keep that a secret, shall we?

Bloody Revolution -- A Bloody Mary Mix that’s as great for cocktails as it is for cooking in six bold flavors like pickle zest and garlic.

Delysia Chocolatier -- Named 2022 Best Chocolatier in the Americas, gift your loved ones with a 16 piece truffle collection from this woman-owned business.

Made In -- Cookware, knives, and tabletop items that get a thumbs up from local chefs.

Loco d'Oro -- This hearty Italian restaurant in the Mueller neighborhood offers its employees one fair wage to go along with its delicious fare.

Syrsly Chocolate -- A sweet for your sweet with chocolate bar flavors like Oaxacan Espresso, Caramel Hazelnut, and Cranberry and Texas Pecan.

For chilling out

Honestly, it's been a stressful year. While we should probably exercise instead, these Austin treats are our preferred antidote for taking the edge off.

Still Austin Whiskey -- Distilled and aged right here in Austin using grains from local farmers, the whiskey (and gin) is strong, yet smooth with a really nice sipping quality. Paul's favorite is the Cask Strength Straight Bourbon, although they are all sip-worthy. Also, be sure to try their limited edition Bonded whiskeys; you won't regret it. Our behind-the-scenes tour is sure to make you thirsty.

Desert Door Texas Sotol -- Reminiscent of tequila, we like to use the sotol with a mixer. It's especially nice in iced drinks by the pool during our steamy summer days.

Early Bird CBD -- Earlybird is an Austin-based recreational hemp company that makes gummies and tinctures formulated to make you feel good. We haven't tried these, so let us know what you think.

Post-Shift Calming Focus -- Created by the owner of Comedor and James Beard nominee, Philip Speer, this superfood helps you shift gears.

Tribe -- Founded by a former attorney, this woman-owned business offers cannibinoid products geared toward integrated wellness. The Cycling Frog drinks are a nice alternative to whiskey on weekend nights.

For the toy lover

Whether you have young children or you are shopping for the young at heart, here are two local shops to support:

Terra Toys -- We love taking our kids here. From stuffed animals to magic kits and books, they've got it all.

Toy Joy -- Marquette's been shopping here for cute toys and gag gifts since her college days when the shop was close to the UT campus.

For miscellaneous gifts

Still searching for the perfect gift? Try these options:

Paper Place -- This paper store near Central Market has a beautiful selection of stationery, but also so much more. We love their seasonal gifts, puzzles, beautiful picture frames, and journals. It's an indulgence.

Blue Genie Art Bazaar -- From jewelry to visual art, you can find a little of everything at Blue Genie Art Bazaar.

What is going under your Christmas tree?

There are so many fantastic local businesses in Austin, so this is certainly not an exhaustive list. But it's a start! If you know of a local business that could use a little extra love, let us know so that we can give them a shout out. Happy holidays and have fun shopping.