Looking for something special that'll work for anyone on your list? This gift guide covers flexible, thoughtful picks that don't rely on gendered categories or assumptions about what someone "should" like.
From conversation-starter card games to handmade ceramics and vintage posters, this curated batch of ideas from Montreal brands and shops is what you want to consult when shopping for friends, chosen family, roommates, or that person who's impossible to buy for. Prioritizing quality, craft, and genuine usefulness, we wanted to collect stuff that feel considered rather than generic, and practical rather than obligatory.
A card game from Happy Tears
Join The Main free and keep reading.
Create a free account.
Create a free account to unlock this story and get 3 articles a month, plus our weekly Bulletin.
- 3 free articles per month
- Save your favourite places & guides
- Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
- Stay connected to Montreal culture
Become an Insider.
Unlock unlimited access, exclusive guides, and member perks — and help support the independent Montreal stories we publish every week.
Subscribe- Unlimited access to all stories
- Exclusive features & local insights
- Special offers and event invites
- 10% off in our shop
- Support local storytelling
Already a member? Sign in
![The Bulletin: Three generations of Italian sandwiches, a best bartender crowned, and techno bliss [Issue #163]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthemain.ghost.io%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2026%2F01%2FMarchigiani-x-The-Main-26-1.jpg&w=256&q=75)
![The Reeds: A Novel [Stamped by Author]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0601%2F1709%2F0544%2Ffiles%2FIMG_9098.heic%3Fv%3D1730301494&w=3840&q=75)