Sure, you could gift your friends and family another Amazon or Starbucks gift card. But why not get a little more creative (and maybe put in a little bit more effort) and gift them something memorable and unique that they’ll love? Fret not: We've discovered cool gift ideas, no stress necessary.
Shop TODAY contributor Melissa Garcia previously stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to showcase a wide range of unique and fun gifts for anyone on your list, including the hard-to-shop-for. This curated list has gourmet Italian food gift sets, a DIY neon sign kit and New York City's best babka.
Trust us when we say that you might check everyone off your list with these neat picks, or you'll want to splurge on one for yourself.
Bestselling cool and unique gift ideas
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift, this pocket-sized mirror is perfect for anyone on the go. It features LED lights for easy touch-ups, and its compact size lets you throw it in small purses or easily tucks away in side pockets.
The token film buff in your friend circle will get a kick out of this scratchable wall art, featuring 100 of cinema's most iconic works. Just grab a coin and 'scratch' off the movie once you've watched it.
This LED neck reading light can be bended in any direction you need it to. It’s also easy on the eyes, has a long-lasting battery and contains different color and brightness levels for you to choose from. You can even use it outside of bedside reading, including cooking, sewing, handyman work and other craft activities.
I’m sorry, but have you seen anything cuter in your life? Dress up your beer with these cold beer coats, which come in four ‘coat’ color combos.
Not only do they smell incredible, these candles are basically a centerpiece in and of themselves. They are a soy blend and their fragrances include premium fragrance oil in pine and vanilla (cactus) and jasmine and white tea (poppy).
Perfect for lighting candles, this USB lighter is — you guessed it — rechargeable and also has an LED light so it can be used as a mini flashlight. The longer shape makes it great for lighting hard-to-reach wicks, and the pretty design (we love the terrazzo print of this one!) means it'll look great left out on your coffee table.
Matcha has been having a moment, and this gift set from the Gifts We Love-winning brand Jade Leaf is perfect for beginners and matcha enthusiasts. The set includes top-tier ceremonial-grade matcha, a bamboo whisk and more.
“There’s something really calming making matcha yourself and so much more affordable than buying matcha every day at your local coffee shop,” says Garcia.
Garcia says these gourmet Italian food gifts are the perfect pick for food lovers and hosts. Mercato Di Bellina offers a wide variety of sets, including pizza-making kits, organic pasta, sweets and even options for gluten-free and vegan diets.
In essence, this device offers a full-body massage that deeply kneads targeted areas to help relieve tension, stiffness and more. You can wrap it around your hips, over the shoulders or anywhere else that needs some adjustment. It even has a built-in heat function to alleviate any other discomfort you might have. One reviewer wrote, “I have had neck trouble all my life and this is the best massager I have tried ... worth it’s weight in gold for my neck.”
The book lover will appreciate all that this book nook offers. It will hold their book in place, leave it on display and even offer a spot for all of their other reading essentials.
Garcia says Goldbelly is a great option to gift treats from popular restaurants around the country, and New York’s best babka from Breads Bakery is not gate-kept. You’ll get three loaves of babka that can be enjoyed within 24 hours, or you can freeze them up to 60 days.
“It’s made with decadent French butter, Nutella, Belgian chocolate chips ... just melts in your mouth,” says Garcia.
I don’t think I’ve seen a cooler pan out there. This do-it-all piece can replace 10 — yes, 10 — traditional pieces of cookware in just one handy pan. Whether you need to fry, steam, sauté, sear, boil or strain, this pan can handle it all. I (Witonsky) ranked it the best multi-functional nonstick pan, after all!
If they’re always on-the-go, they’ll need a bag that suits their lifestyle. Case in point: the Calpak Luka Duffel Bag. Although marketed as a large weekender, this bag can be used for everyday necessities, to hold your gym gear or as an overnight tote. There’s room to hold a few days worth of clothes, a designated shoe compartment, water- and scratch-resistant fabric, multiple pockets and a trolley sleeve. In essence, it seems to have it all.
Cool and unique gifts under $50
You might’ve heard of a hair curler, but a heated eyelash one? This product might be out-of-the-ordinary, but former associate editor Sierra Hoeger says, “One of my friend’s mom has this heated eyelash curler, and she receives compliments on her eyelashes everywhere she goes! This eyelash curler helps her lashes stay curled and voluminous all day long.”
Cats + pizza = happiness, it’s simple math! Purrrfect for any cat owners on your list, this pizza cutter is surely an upgrade from their traditional (boring) kitchen tool.
Start their day off right with this dishwasher- and microwave-safe cup, which is modeled after a traditional New York bodega disposable cup. Whether they use it for their morning cup of joe, juice or just keep it on display, it’s sure to put a smile on their face. I (Witonsky) brought this coffee cup to a white elephant gift exchange one year, and let’s just say that it was stolen more than once!
Tiny yet mighty, this mini Hydro Flask will fit perfectly inside their everyday tote or work bag for a cool sip. Great for on-the-go with durable stainless steel and a leak-proof design, per the brand. It holds just over six ounces.
Ditch the standard tabletop puzzles, and build a 3D puzzle with no glue required. The option above include everything you need to bring the puzzle to life — literally. In fact, “you’re essentially building your own home decor,” mentions lifestyle expert Patrice J. Williams, who previously joined TODAY, since the puzzles can even be used to store actual plants, too.
If their hands are always cold, gift them this portable hand warmer instead of continuing to use disposable ones. According to the brand, it can keep warming for three to four hours on a full charge.
ClassPass Gift Card
Have a fitness fanatic in your life? Commerce editor Emma Stessman says you can’t go wrong with ClassPass credits, and even says a gift card is on her wish list this year. “I use it to try all different kinds of workout classes throughout the city, and it helps add variety to my workout routine, which in turn helps me stay motivated,” she says. “But I also love that you can use it for other things, too! I’ve gotten lunches, massages and facials using ClassPass credits. You can even use your credits for movie tickets now!”
Social media producer Dani Musacchio personally owns this vase and has received endless compliments on it. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this product go viral this gifting season.
Another adorable vase? This morning person-approved option is a tall, cheerful (and might we add, citrus-y) vessel that’s sure to brighten their day.
Gift someone the means of never having a sad work lunch ever again. This portable food warmer allows you to take your favorite hot meals on the go and not have to transfer it all to a microwaveable dish to warm up and eat.
SEO commerce writer Jannely Espinal isn’t the only member of the Shop TODAY team who’s a fan of these giftable, joyful earrings.
“The first time I saw associate market editor Audrey Ekman wearing these cherry earrings, I knew I needed to buy them,” Espinal says. “It’s the right amount of flair and fun without weighing your earlobe down. Even if you’re wearing black, these will pop thanks to the sparkling beads. This is an excellent gift for someone who wants to zhuzh up their attire and add a hint of elegance to their look.”
At first glance, this clock looks like a meaningless jumble of letters — until it lights up. It displays time in five minute intervals for easy reading and is super easy to set up. With such a unique digital display, telling time has never looked more sophisticated.
For the first-time parent, this baby and toddler “Sick Day” set includes all of the essentials that will ease both parent and child, thanks to its playful design. Designed by pediatric experts, they’ll receive Luna the Elephant’s Light-Up Nasal Aspirator, Noa the Narwhal’s Light-Up Nasal Bulb and Riley the Rocket’s Medicine Dispenser in this bundle.
Gifting little ones? You’re in luck. The Plip Kit from Fat Brain Toys offers endless creative fun. With multiple short, long and bendable pieces, they can build everything from sculptures to shapes and whatever comes to their imagination.
Plus, “This comes with a drawstring bag to keep the pieces organized, and the silicone is food-safe and machine-washable,” Williams notes.
“If you’re looking to replace your $5 umbrella that breaks after one use, this seems like a good investment that was made with sustainability in mind,” says senior deputy managing editor Jess Bender, further noting that “it was designed from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Also, the handle is a duck head. How cute is that?!”
The Shop TODAY team also has their eyes on these unique candles that are specially made for each day of the year. Commerce partnerships manager Victoria Herlocker is actually planning to grab a few to give as gifts.
“I think getting anything personalized is so special, which is why I want to give all my astrology-loving friends their own birthdate candle,” Herlocker says. “I’m also so curious about what my own candle says, I might need to get one for myself, too.”
Whether they’re big into games and puzzles or just want to stay sharp, this vintage-looking book that’s actually a game of Boggle is sure to surprise and delight. According to the brand, it’s best for two to six players and all ages eight and up.
“I wore this during an eight-hour Oktoberfest cruise and got no less than 20 compliments about it while I was out and about,” says Bender. “It’s stupid, it’s comfy, it’s unisex — what more could I ask for?!”
No oven is needed for this pizza maker. The 1440W nonstick skillet can whip up a cheesy 12-inch pizza in just a few minutes — not to mention it is simple to clean up afterwards. And it is versatile enough to make your favorite quesadilla, omelet and crepe, too.
Cool and unique gifts under $100
Magnolia Bakery is a New York staple dessert, but you can actually get their famous banana pudding delivered nationwide. The Shop TODAY team is a fan of the dessert, and partnerships editor Kara Quill thinks the unique dish could make a fun gift.
“It has a good banana flavor, without being too in your face about it,” Quill comments. “There’s a creamy texture, but it’s not too heavy — I like that in my desserts.”
If you have a friend with an ambitious goal of visiting all 50 states, this sticker gift might give them the boost of encouragement they need to keep going.
Nonoses Inc. Crumb Couture
It’s no surprise that Bender — one of Shop TODAY’s resident foodies — has a go-to dessert-themed scent. “I’m not a huge perfume lover, but there’s something so inviting about this fragrance,” she says. “Off the bat, If you need confirmation of how ‘crumb-y’ the aroma is, I wore this over the weekend and my mom said I smelled like a buttery bakery within 30 seconds of seeing me.”
Have you been holding onto some sentimental T-shirts? No need to keep them stuffed away in a drawer now that Project Repat exists. Editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson tried the service earlier this year and says it was so worth the money. “I got a larger one made out of my concert T-shirts that’s the perfect throw blanket for my couch because it’s also a conversation piece/interesting to look at,” she raves. “I also got a throw blanket made out of my late stepdad’s T-shirts for my little sister and she absolutely loved it.”
Any pet lover is sure to appreciate this thoughtful and artsy gift. Whether it is to remember their pet or to have another keepsake, they can hang their best furry friend right on their wall forever.
Our Place Matchbook
I (Witonsky) am personally obsessed with these custom matchboxes. I’ve been seeing the trendy matches everywhere on social media and love how you can personalize your box with text or even a photo.
Put your own spin on Connect Four with this handcrafted version. It can be personalized to carve out your name, anniversary or any other meaningful sentiment.
Cool and unique gifts worth the splurge
Perfect for any journalist, this fully customizable book features a collection of The New York Times’ front pages from each year since their birth. A few editors on our team have gifted this over the years and it’s always a hit.
My (Witonsky) mom is the biggest puzzle fan I know, so when I stumbled upon these wooden puzzles I knew it would be the perfect gift. These aren’t your average puzzle pieces, though. There are what the brand calls “whimsical” shapes mixed into the bag to make it more challenging — and more fun — for those looking for a screen-free activity. I also love all of the fun categories to choose from, and know that my animal-loving mom will appreciate this bestselling cat find!
Who doesn’t want a ginormous, 10-foot-by-10-foot blanket? Bender can also vouch for this cozy blanket.
“The Big Blanket on my couch is one of the most-used things in my apartment,” Bender admits. “I pretty much fall asleep under it every night.”
We all know that one person who’s absolutely obsessed with their dog (and hey, rightly so). They will absolutely adore this custom sweater that allows them to show off their furry friend.
For that person on your list who loves to travel and try new things, this experience box makes a great gift. According to the brand, the receiver can choose from over 900 experiences in nearly 400 locations, from a zipline tour in Colorado Springs to attending Moulin Rouge in Paris, to find their next great adventure.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Patrice J. Williams and Melissa Garcia.
- Patrice J. Williams is an on-air lifestyle and fashion expert.
- Melissa Garcia is a Shop TODAY lifestyle and fashion contributor, a professional stylist and the founder of Melissa Garcia Styling.
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How we chose the best cool and unique gifts
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We use our own personal experiences with brands and shopping to find the most unique gifts on the market that are sure to be a hit.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for the foodie, traveler, coffee lover, gamer, advent calendar enthusiast, film buff and more in your life.
