It’s time to start your Christmas shopping – I know, it’s the most stressful time of the year! I know shopping for holiday gifts can be overwhelming, especially when you want to show someone you truly care this holiday season, but fortunately you don’t have to wander too far in the City of Oaks to find wonderful gifts that say you care.
North Hills is the go-to district for shopping in the Holidays, as there are plenty of stores that have ideal gifts for him or her, kids, or stocking stuffers. Not only are there lots of places to shop, but there are Christmassy events and deals on throughout the festive period.
To help you find the perfect gift in North Hills, we’ve put together this shopping guide, featuring our favorite stores and their potential gift offerings. These stores have everything from clothing to home decor, to books, to kids’ toys, to health, to outdoor gear and gift cards. The vibrant North Hills area in Midtown Raleigh is the perfect place to shop. Park your car once and explore on foot, then relax over brunch, a coffee, or a glass of wine. You have lots of options to spoil your people with gifts.
Uniquities
Uniquities is a contemporary women’s fashion boutique that offers a wide array of holiday-happy giftables, from plaid pajamas to Christmas jumpers and socks! Find everything from cozy knits and glamorous jewelry and accessories. Visit them in North Hills for all of your holiday shopping!
La Maison
La Maison is a home boutique offering furnishings, accessories, gifts and interior design services. Consider the next candle in La Maison’s signature fragrance line. I enjoy the Atelier scent, which has notes of notes of gardenia and jasmine, a lovely soft scent for the holidays. Or browse for a pair of bronze ridge earrings for a special woman in your life, pick up a confectionary box, or brighten up someone’s kitchen with rainbow colored glassware.
Copper Penny
Copper Penny specializes in clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories. They are most well-known for jewelry, which is mostly hand forged jewelry made locally in Raleigh. They carry a great selection of jewelry from Marlyn Schiff, Sheila Fakl, and more. It’s pricey, but if you want that special 24k Gold necklace, this is the place to come. You can buy in person at their North Hills store, or they can mail it out if you message them over on their Instagram account, @copperpennyraleigh.
Learning Express Gifts
The shelves inside Learning Express are stocked with lots of unique and classic toys and those that have passed the test of time, plus the latest and greatest toys. It’s the place to find stocking fillers, Holiday themed sensory toys and fidgets, and STEM learning toys for Christmas. You can get personalization’s and gift wrap for free, meaning hassle-free shopping!
Tecavos
Tecavos can help you out with all your boot, apparel, and leather accessory needs. They have holiday gifts for cowgirls and cowboys, plus a fun collection of stocking stuffers. I like the look of their roper boot, The Earl (available in 5 colors).
Trellis Floral
Trellis is a full-service specialty floral boutique that offers beautiful and unique fresh flowers by the stem, hand-trimmed topiaries, and gorgeous custom flower arrangements. High atop the hills of Los Angeles, the Flamingo Estate produces handmade, healing products directly from the Earth. Shop hand poured candles, organic items for the pantry, and bath and body essentials.
Paper Source
Paper Source is a unique retailer of specialty paper, custom invitations, gift wrap, craft supplies and other products from their collection of note cards, walls lined in beautiful fine papers from around the world, scrapbooking and crafting supplies and a curated gift selection. You’ll find inspiration on their website, from personalized stationery to calendars, to notebooks and journals. It’s a good place to go for unique gifts that don’t cost a fortune.
Evereve
Another new addition this year to North Hills in the Main District, Evereve curates modern styles for busy women who want to look polished but comfortable — perfect for Raleigh’s effortlessly chic vibe. Personal stylists and thoughtful edits make this shop a must-visit for wardrobe refreshes. This would be one gift card I’d love to receive for Christmas. Here is their holiday gift guide.
Altar’d State
Just in time for Christmas shopping in North Hills, is the highly anticipated Altar’d State. Altar’d State is a rapidly growing boutique chain filled with boho-chic fashion, accessories, and gifts. Shoppers love the warm ambiance and meaningful mission — every purchase helps support philanthropic initiatives, making it a feel-good place to treat yourself.
This is the place my girls go to for that extra special outfit they need – or for when their Aunty Jen is visiting from Australia. She loves it just as much as them – and is their most perfect shopping partner! Here is their holiday gift guide!
Alo Yoga
Making sure all the fitness lovers in your life are covered with Christmas gifts this year is the new Alo Yoga. Alo Yoga known globally for premium activewear, lifestyle apparel and accessories. Alo brings its “studio-to-street” ethos to Raleigh with High-quality apparel and accessories that blur the lines between workout gear and everyday style — perfect for Raleigh’s active lifestyle. I really do like the style and color choices of their fitness-forward clothes. Here is their Christmas Gift Guide.
Lamb’s Ear Children’s Clothing & Shoes
Lamb’s Ear is the go to shop for the perfect baby gift. Large selection of soft toys, holiday-themed baby grows and cute dresses, plus blankets and toys. It has timeless classics to the latest in children’s fashion. You are sure to find something special for the little one in your life!
Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott is an American accessories brand inspired by the personal experiences, travel, and sense of community of its CEO, designer, and philanthropist Kendra Scott. Love their jewelry selection, we purchased a lovely necklace there in the past for our daughter’s 16th. Check out their holiday gift guide.
Quail Ridge Books
It wouldn’t be the holidays without a good book gift! Our kids love reading and a good book always makes for a simple yet perfect gift. We love that Quail Ridge Books is a local, independent bookshop and provides a wide variety of carefully selected books. Their Readers’ Club is good value at $15 per year per household, offers discounts and special sales. And they have gift cards if you don’t know which book to buy.
Liles Clothing Studio
Liles offers tailor-made clothing for men with style and taste. This high-end boutique store partners with designers in New York to provide the best clothing, accessories and handmade shoes to men. Go see Martin for expert and personable service and tell him Craig & Caz from ThisIsRaleigh sent you! They have also just completely renovated the store!
Unlikely Professionals
New to North Hills this year at the Makers Alley in the Innovation District, Unlikely Professionals brings a refreshing twist to men’s retail. It’s part boutique, part neighborhood hangout — a stylish space where you can browse well-crafted menswear, sip a drink from the in-store bar, and actually enjoy the shopping experience.
The vibe is effortlessly cool yet welcoming, with racks of thoughtfully curated clothing, leather goods, and accessories that speak to modern craftsmanship and laid-back sophistication. Pick up a new shirt or fun gift for the rugged men in your life and enjoy a drink break at the bar in between!
We love how this fascinating men’s concept has expanded from their edgier North Person St location. It’s one of Craig’s favorite stores for sure! Here’s what’s new for the holiday season.
Johnnie-O
High on Craig’s Christmas list this year, is an outfit or gift card from Johnnie-O in North Hills, one of his new favorite stores. The attendants are so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about men’s fashion, and the clothing range is fresh, fashionable, and colorful without any pretentiousness stitched into their style. Johnnie-O is definitely for the outdoor, sports loving man in your life. They also have clothing for boys as well! Here is their Christmas gift guide
REI
REI needs no introduction. That national outdoor retail co-op is dedicated to outfitting its members with products from all of the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling,fitness, hiking, snow sports, and travel; plus its own line of award-winning gear. And I like that they have pride gifts.
Total Wine
Looking to stock up on wine, beer or spirits for the holidays? Total Wine is a superstore and carries 8,000 different types of wine, and 1,000 different beers. They have the buying power to bring you the lowest possible prices, and their wine consultants are knowledgeable and passionate about wine. Check out their gift guide. We can also recommend the wines at the new Foxcroft Food & Wine. They have a fantastic selection of wine you can purchase for your holiday meals!
Midtown Farmers Market Holiday Market
Nothing spells delicious more than a holiday meal prepared with locally grown and sourced produce. The Midtown Farmers Market will have a special holiday market on Saturday, Nov 22, 2025 giving you the opportunity to stock up on fresh, local ingredients for your holiday meals and check off your gift list with unique items from our farmers, bakers, and artisans.
They’ll also have festive holiday programming and live music starting at 10 AM — the perfect way to kick off the season. Follow that up with …
Holiday Shop & Stroll
On the same day, in the afternoon (Sat 22, 2025; 12pm – 4pm) North Hills will have their annual Holiday Shop & Stroll. Spend $150 and receive a FREE $25 North Hills Gift Card – one per person, while supplies last.
The festive spirit continues into the evening with holiday markets, live music, and the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. We’ll be there! We find it to be the most magical tree lighting experience in the Triangle. The atmosphere in North Hills is buzzing with festivity!
If you’re bringing the kids along for some Christmas shopping, why not pop in and get your photo taken with Santa? Santa will be waiting to meet all the Raleigh children in his festive new festive home in the Lassiter District (in the former lululemon space) from Friday 21st November until December 24th.
You can discover more ways to enjoy the holidays in North Hills.
Gift Cards for North Hills Businesses
If you don’t want a physical gift, and you are shopping for someone who lives locally to North Hills, why not get them a gift card to one of the businesses there? Here are some places you can get gift cards for…
Woodhouse Spa
What do you get for those who don’t like collecting possessions? You get them a luxurious treatment for their body and soul. Woodhouse Spa offers everything from massages, facials, body treatments, nails, and waxing. We previously experienced a fantastic couples massage during our date experience in North Hills and are happy to recommend their offerings. A gift card to Woodhouse Spa could be their best gift ever. They will offer a special gift to go along with the gift cards starting Black Friday – we will be sharing that on our Instagram and Facebook – and will update this post also! Subscribe to our email so you don’t miss it! 👇
Midtown Yoga
Offering an elevated hot yoga experience for all levels, Midtown Yoga makes the practice of yoga approachable so that YOU can access the physical and mental benefits of yoga in your everyday life. You could give someone their new client special, 10 days for unlimited classes for $25 or a 10 class pack. You can also buy a gift card. See all offerings here.
iCryo
iCRYO offers whole body cryotherapy, compression therapy, infrared sauna, cryo facials, body sculpting, and IV Infusions. Their mission is to elevate the lifestyle of their guests by providing professional, affordable, and convenient cryotherapy services while raising the bar in the health and wellness market. They have gift cards.
Flour Power Cooking Classes
Do your kids love cooking? Or maybe your adult friends enjoy fun cooking classes? They have several class options including their popular Friday night Kid’s Night Out program which our Savannah did, and adult classes. They offer gift cards.
Restaurant Gift Cards
The restaurants in North Hills are fantastic and it’s here you’ll find some of our favorite places to eat in Raleigh for French, Italian, Mexican, Asian and brunch specialties. Why not purchase a gift card to one of our favorites below:
- Coquette (French Brasserie)
- Vivace (Italian)
- CO (Asian fusion)
- Giorgio (Italian)
- Bartaco (Mexican)
- STIR (Brunch favorite)
- Foxcroft Food & Wine (dine in, take home wine, or enjoy a wine dinner!)
- Tamasha (Indian and award winning)
Still not sure what to buy? A North Hills gift card where they can shop at any of the retail outlets in North Hills might be exactly what you need.
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