A friend once told me you could find everything you need here on the Hill – all your holiday gift giving done walking or biking to stores run by your neighbors. No need for big box stores or drone drops, as here you’ll be assisted with personal attention and a smile when looking for a hard-to-choose teacher gift, a sweet treat for your dentist or something special for a loved one. And don’t forget to stop in for lunch, a relaxing beverage or dinner at any of the great local restaurants – knowing you aren’t facing a long drive home.
Holiday Markets
Eastern Market (225 7th St. SE, easternmarket-dc.org) boasts not only a great food emporium inside the more than 150 year-old brick building in the heart of the Hill, but the many talented artisans and vendors outside the Market. As well as the outdoor weekend market vendors, you’ll find the Flea Market at Eastern Market (easternmarket.net) operating on C Street. There isn’t much you won’t find here year-round on Saturdays and Sundays from dog accessories to vintage boots to kimchi.
The Downtown DC Holiday Market runs this year from November 22 through December 23 (closed Thanksgiving Day, November 28), on two blocks of F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW. (downtownholidaymarket.com) With its main grand entrance located on the sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery, this year you’ll find more than 40 local artists, crafters and small businesses.
Dupont Circle Holiday Market returns for 2024 in a new location for 2024. Through Dec. 23, the market will be open seven days a week along the 1500 block of 19th Street NW. The popular attraction is features more than 30 vendors and holiday-inspired seasonal treats for shoppers. Dupont Circle Main Streets will also host a pop-up on neighborhood sidewalks Dec. 7 and 8. Explore the unique offerings of more than 50 artisans along P Street NW and Connecticut Avenue. The Dupont marketplace is open Monday through Friday 12 to 8 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit dcholidaymarket.net to learn more.
Unique World: Holiday Pop-Up Market at Union Market (Dock 5 Warehouse, 1309 5th St. NE, unionmarketdc.com/series/unique-world-holiday-pop-up/, tickets required) takes place this year on Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15, each day from 11 am to 5 pm. Treat yourself and browse everything from clothing to gourmet snacks, jewelry and home goods. If you’ve got your 2025 calendar at the ready, put down the DC Big Flea Market taking place indoors at the Dulles Expo Center, January 4 and 5 (thebigfleamarket.com/dc-show).
Gifts and More
Groovy DC Cards and Gifts (321 7th St. SE, groovydc.com) is celebrating close to two decades in business. They’ve got everything you need from holiday cards, balloons and gifts including wrapping paper and all the ribbons and bows. Their selection of holiday cocktail napkins and fun Christmas crackers adds a festive air to the holiday table. A short stroll across the street from Eastern Market on C Street you find, Relume (760 C St. SE, relume.co). They carry a wide selection of new, re-purposed, upcycled and vintage candles, ornaments, earrings and artistic clothing. If you want to create a handmade gift this year, sign up for classes like Clay Flower Menorah, Rug Tufting or DIY Disco Candles! At Woven History & Silk Road (315 Seventh St. SE, wovenhistory.com) with around 5,000 rugs on display with over 200 gift items from along the silk road, including hats, intricately embroidered boots, tiles and bowls in beautiful Turkish patterns. Don’t miss the little camels of various sizes, loved by Hill children of all ages!
Hunny Bunny (311 8th St. SE, hunnybunny.boutique) is a boutique manufacturer of made-by-hand natural beauty products like moisturizer, deodorant, body and shampoo bars. Every product must pass the mom test – with healthy ingredients good enough for the owner’s two children to use. Find Diament Jewelry at the Wharf (51 District Sq. SW, diamentjewelry.com) and beyond jewelry, you’ll also see fun socks and skin care (for men, too) – and clothing that will make you smile, in this woman-run business. While you’re at the Wharf, you can also stop at Shop Made in DC (10 District Sq. SW, shopmadeindc.com) with over 500 makers represented on their shelves featuring great food items like mambo sauce, cocktail sauces, specialty canvas bags featuring riffs on the DC Flag and more.
At Frame of Mine (545 8th St. SE, frameofminedc.com) bring in that favorite movie poster, kid art or treasured object and present to someone special. For any special orders of frames or materials, there’s a December 10th deadline – or give a gift certificate to use in the upcoming year. For the cyclist in the family, stop by Daily Rider (600 H St NE, thedailyriderdc.com) for accessories, tune up gift certificate or even a new ride like the Tern models you may be eyeing ridden by parents transporting their kids to school on the Hill.
special with a matt and a frame.
Kids
There’s hardly a better gift than a class fostering a young one’s creativity whether art, dance, music or drama. CHAW’s (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE, chaw.org) very popular after school programs can be booked for one day or more each week, with special offerings during spring and summer breaks taught by a friendly and talented staff – what could be better? (And a nice side note: Dep. Dir. Brian Washington says that no child is ever turned away for inability to pay.)
Labyrinth (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, labyrinthdc.com) is a community-focused, family-friendly store featuring a wide selection of non-electronic, specialty games, puzzles, and mazes for kids of every age. You’ll find expert staff ready to offer personal recommendations or go online using the Labyrinth Personal Shopper, to see lists of top-sellers, stocking stuffers or local designers – as well as events like game nights and tournaments.
For over 60 years, youth have gathered to meet new friends and have fun learning creative movement, ballet, pointe, jazz and more at St. Mark’s Dance Studio (301 A St. SE, stmarksdance.org) with beginning to advanced classes for all ages. Music on the Hill (801 D St. NE, musiconthehilldc.com) is the perfect place to find that right-sized guitar for your budding rocker or a digital piano to encourage the next Mozart. Sheet music, lessons and a wide range of instruments will set you up for a musical 2025. Private and group lessons, as well as music camps found here, too.
Books
East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, eastcitybookshop.com) is the perfect place for a gift for absolutely everyone on your list, particularly if you are starting an Icelandic holiday tradition of gifting a book to everyone on Christmas Eve. They have you covered from fiction to cookbooks, board books and noted DC authors, and they also carry a selection of toys, gifts, art supplies and literary-inspired items. If you’re searching for out of print or needing inspiration. 
A literary treasure, Capitol Hill Books (657 C St. SE, capitolhillbooks-dc.com) serves up everything from well-loved paperbacks to first editions. The store has three floors of quality used books along with a selection of new titles, first editions, and rare and collectable books. You can shop online, but there are way more books in the store than could possibly be listed on the website.
On Barracks Row, Little District Books (737 Eighth St. SE, littledistrictbooks.com) sells books representing the spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and independent publishers, curated subscription boxes, as well as fun pins and buttons for stocking stuffers.
Treats
Any experienced cook will agree, Hill’s Kitchen (713 D St. SE, hillskitchen.com) is about the best culinary emporium around – where there’s pretty much everything for cooking and baking. Through the holidays, Hill’s Kitchen has a special promotion on Staub casseroles in a variety of colors, and for sweet treats, there are custom Capitol Hill-inspired specialty chocolates and delicious upscale gelt for Hannukah. Jane Thomas, aka J. Chocolatier, will pop up December 19-24 (weather-dependent) in front of Groovy DC (321 Seventh St. SE, jchocolatier.com), offering artisan hand-made chocolate wrapped up with a bow—the fleur de sel caramels are a stocking staple. Paste & Rind Cheese Co. (904 H St. NE, pasteandrind.com) offers up a tasting bar (with wine) in-house, as well as curated cheese boards as perfect to take to a gathering with friends and family. Or give a gift of a monthy cheese selection or the advent cheese calendar —the 8 Cheeses of Hannakah or the 12 Days of Cheesemas!
Spirits are merry and bright at these local shops and delivery options are available at all. Classy Corks (801 Virginia Ave. SE, classycorksdc.com) has a wide selection of Japanese rice wines and you will find an extensive selection of spirits, wines, mixers and beer from all over the world. Exotic Wines and Spirits (801 Maryland Ave. NE, exoticwinespirits.com) for a wide array of wines, beers, bubbles, liquors and bitters. They offer seasonal sales and discounts by the case. exoticwinespirits.com. The well-known beverage consultants at Schneiders of Capitol Hill (300 Massachusetts Ave. NE, cellar.com) draw on 70 years of experience to help you find the perfect bottle for meal, stocking or under the tree. 
The treat of a prepared meal is always appreciated and La Dinette (ladinettedc.com) They provide delivery for meal subscriptions, one-off family meals for that challenging week as well as cakes and party favors for a wee one. 
Fashion
Have a person on your gift list that has a great fashion sense and also appreciates being environmentally friendly? Clothes Encounters (202 Seventh St. SE, clothesencountersdc.com) carries resale high-end store brands and haute couture from labels like Chanel and Prada, giving beautifully cared for items a second life. A Ma Maniere (1214 H St. NE, a-ma-maniere.com) offers luxury men’s street style. French for “my way,” the boutique is designed to represent and inspire a fashion forward clientele with thoughtful collabs with brands like Jordan and great gift items like a Balenciaga passport case for the world traveler on your list.
Head to the attic atelier, Paris Bleu (321 Seventh St. SE, 2nd Fl.—above Groovy DC-parisbleudc@gmail.com) you’ll find stunning patterned wool gloves, silk scarves and jewelry as well as gifts appropriate for hosts such as candles, fine soaps and tree ornaments. 
Furry Friends
At Howl to the Chief (719 Eighth St. SE, howltothechief.com) there is great selection of supplies for pets – from natural food, toys, beds and coats to leashes and collars that match. Check out the array of dog treats and birthday party kits for the pooch! If you are going out of town for the holiday you can give your dog a holiday, too at Dogtopia Navy Yard (900 M St. SE, dogtopia.com), where they also offer doggy spa services like nail trimmings, ear cleanings, bath massages and furry blowouts.
