Melbourne's Top Spots for Christmas Shopping

To celebrate the launch of the new edition of Dale Campisi’s Melbourne Precincts, we’ve asked him to share his top five hotspots for Christmas shopping.

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There’s no shortage of great shopping in Melbourne, but December always feels like the shortest month as we run about like the world is coming to an end. So improve your shopping efficiency this Christmas by visiting these local stores, run by some of the best retailers in the city. Here you’ll find something for everyone – and leave with a great big smile too.

1. Cottage Industry
67 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Pene Durston is herself a cottage industry. She makes many of the goods available in store, including one-of-a-kind souvenir tea towel cushions and the enormously popular suburban pride pennants. She’s also a keen proponent of ethically made, beautifully handcrafted wares from around the world – from African wax print umbrellas to Falcon enamel ware. The store cats, Jethro and Tully, are well known poseurs in the front window.

cottageindustrystore.blogspot.com.au

2. Shelley Panton Store
440 Malvern Rd, Prahran

Shelley Panton’s homewares store is bursting with quality goods from her own timeless pottery (thrown cups, plates, bowls and jugs) through Portuguese glassware, brassware and hand-forged deer horn knives. You’ll also find books, lighting, jewellery, knitwear and there’s plenty for the kids, too. Sign up to her store mailing list for VIP events, always impeccably catered.

shop.shelleypanton.com

3. The Boroughs
345 Lygon St, Brunswick East

Alasdair MacKinnon’s design store is a showcase of the best design and craft from Melbourne and beyond. There are regular pop-ups by local and international makers, as well unique limited run collaborations with the likes of Emily Green, Ruby MacKinnon and Utopia Goods. 

www.theboroughs.co

4. Mork Chocolate
150 Errol St, North Melbourne

If you find Christmas shopping a bit too hectic, take a break at cacao artisans Kiril Shaginov and Josefin Zernell’s Mork Chocolate Brewhouse. Here you can slake your thirst with chocolate every which way: hot, cold, shaken and even carbonated. Their chocolate powder comes in take home canisters, and is available in gift packs too.

morkchocolate.com.au

5. Harold & Maude
L2/37 Swanston St, Melbourne

Robyn Bunting’s upcycler boutique in the quirky Nicholas Building is a treasure trove of good ideas with a healthy dose of nostalgia. From kitsch to couture, a gift from here won’t get any more unique unless you make it yourself. Get your tarot read at the Muses of Mystery out back, and find that special something for the family emo at Anno Domini.

Happy shopping! 

Find out some more hot spots in Melbourne Precincts.
To find more out about Dale Campisi, head to thegentsguide.com or find him on Facebook or Instagram