12 of the Best Gift Shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Well folks, it’s December, which means the Holiday season is officially here.

And while we might be cutting it close to the country-wide annual gift exchange, there’s no need to fret or stress about shipping times.  Because Minneapolis and St. Paul have tons of great local gift shops!

So you can support local, cut out the wait, and find the perfect gift for your loved ones, today!

‘Tis the season!

Here’s my picks for the best gift shops in the Twin Cities.

Map of our Best Gift Shops in the Twin Cities:

For the friend that has everything – 14 Hill

With more than 20 years in the boutique gift shop business, 14 Hill is my expert spot to find gifts for the friends and family that have everything.  Jewelry, books, toys, greeting cards are top of the list, along with a good selection of Minnesota-made items.  They describe the shop as a “hodgepodge of cool sh*t” to which I’d add “for people who already have a hodgepodge.”

Address: 4737 Chicago Ave Suite 2, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Website: 14 Hill

For kitchen gifts – Cooks of Crocus Hill

Cooks of Crocus Hill has been our go-to culinary gift shop for years.  Their three Twin Cities locations are always fun for browsing, taste testing, and daydreaming.  I love wandering the shelves imagining the potential dinner parties and dessert plates.  Cooks also hosts some of the top cooking classes in town.  So if you’re shopping for a foodie friend, their classes make a one-of-a-kind gift idea.

Address: 3 Twin Cities locations – St. Paul (Grand Avenue), Stillwater, and the North Loop
Website: Cooks of Crocus Hill

For the best all-around gift choices – Corazon

The spot where Minneapolis and St. Paul locals go to deck the halls and walls. Corazon is our winner for the best all-around gift options, especially for the art lover on your list.  Featuring local artists, gifts, stationery, jewelry, clothing, books, and home goods, Corazon is always approachable — never stuffy or overbearing.  I’ve also given tons of gift cards to Corazon to family and friends; it’s an all-around winner in our book.

Address: 4646 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Website: Corazon

For the ‘pick something up on the way’ gift – Patina

In a dream world, I shop for friends’ birthdays weeks in advance, and I always have a good selection of housewarming gifts on hand to choose from.  In reality, more often than not, I find myself stopping to find a perfect gift on the way to my next dinner party.  My friends know this about me and know that Patina is my gift shop of choice when I’m in a crunch and need to stop somewhere.  I’m almost always guaranteed to find a gift. They never seem to mind when I show up with their signature purple bag.  Plus, with 8 Twin Cities locations, I can almost always find one on the way.

Address:  Locations in Minneapolis (50th & Bryant; Uptown), St. Paul (Selby & Snelling; Highland Park), Edina, Golden Valley, Woodbury, Roseville, and Eden Prairie
Website: Patina

For the artsy friend – Walker Shop

The Walker Art Museum Gift Shop steals the show for DIY and artsy gifts among all the art museum gift shops in the Twin Cities.  You’ll find a good selection of art supplies, coffee table books, and home decor–along with stationery and gifts for artists and creators.  We love giving the housewares featuring the iconic blue rooster from the sculpture garden.

Address: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Website: Walker Art Museum Gift Shop

For the locavore – I like you.

Shop owners Sarah Sweet and Angela Lessman have curated a creative space to showcase Minnesota artists and designers at I Like You for more than a decade.  With more than 200 different local vendors in the shop, you’ll find a jam-packed gift shop with all things unique and locally/independently made.  If you’ve got a fan of the Minnesota State Fair on your shopping list, they’ve got an enormous selection of merch from the “great Minnesota get-together.”

Address: Northeast Minneapolis and St. Paul locations
Website: I like you.

For the kids and kids at heart- The Wild Rumpus

Bookstore. Petting zoo. And all things magical.  Since 1992, the Wild Rumpus has delighted Twin Cities families searching for the perfect children’s books and gifts.  Frequently named one of the best book shops in the Twin Cities, it’s also one of our favorite places to find stocking stuffers and birthday gifts for the ‘littles’ on our list.

Address: 2720 W 43rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Website: The Wild Rumpus

For the largest selection – General Store of Minnetonka

Sometimes to find the perfect gift, you’ve got to see all the options.  I mean.  ALL the options.  The General Store of Minnetonka contains more than 20,000 square feet of gift shop space, including a full cafe (because sometimes the gift buying list also requires lunch!)  The General Store gears more towards mainstream housewares, clothes, and gifts — with a mountain of selection to choose from.

Address: 14401 MN-7, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Website: The General Store of Minnetonka

For the sweet tooth – Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store

We’ve written here before that for the sweet tooth on your list, Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store (aka Jim’s Apple Farm) is the top destination.  They have 25,000+ square feet of retail space with every form of candy you can imagine.  They also have one of the world’s largest selections of jigsaw puzzles — if you’ve got a puzzler on your shopping list.

For our full review of Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, check out our guided tour.

Address: 20430 Johnson Memorial Dr, Jordan, MN 55352
Website: Jim’s Apple Farm

For the outdoorsy friend – Midwest Mountaineering

While not exclusively a gift shop, Midwest Mountaineering is still on our top list of destinations to find the perfect gift.  For a friend or family member who loves to explore, their West Bank, Minneapolis location has a wide selection of clothing, gear, and accessories for camping, hiking, canoeing, and all things outdoors.  The best part about the store is their knowledgeable staff.  Even if I’m not exactly sure about the gift I need, their team is always willing to point me in the right direction.

Address:  309 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 554542
Website: Midwest Mountaineering

For the green-thumb gardener – Tangletown Gardens

I love giving green gifts.  Flowers, house plants in funky pots, or just a gift card for a friend to purchase something new for the yard.  Tangletown Gardens has always been my go-to spot for gifts for my garden-loving friends.  Stepping into their shop is like stepping into a tiny corner of paradise.  Simply magical.

Address: 5353 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Website: Tangletown Gardens

For Minnesota-themed gifts – Minnesota History Center Museum Store

As the tagline says, “Come for the history. Stay for the goods.”  I always manage to find a gift or two when I stop at the gift shops in the lobby of the Minnesota History Center.  A little bit of Betty Crocker cooking, a good selection of locally made treats and jewelry, and some fun Minneapolis souvenirs to say “someone from Minnesota is thinking of you.”  Many of the gifts here can also be found in the museum shop at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.

Address: 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102
Website: Minnesota History Center Museum Store