By J.P. Anderson and Fiona Good-Sirota By J.P. Anderson and Fiona Good-Sirota | November 18, 2024 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Style & Beauty, Feature, Features, Featured, Style & Beauty, Food & Drink, Guides,
Before making your list and checking it twice, explore these luxe gifts and experiences in Chicago that are sure to impress everyone on your list this holiday season.
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Artistry meets practicality with the latest design from Chicago-based brand Bukuro. Crafted from 100% top-grain leather with a suede lining and a magnetic closure, this multifaceted bag doubles as a shopping bag, handbag and clutch with an ultra-contemporary, sleek design. Shop Bukuro’s Kami Bag online or at The Center of Order and Experimentation (1727 W. Grand Ave.). From $560
Perfumer Laura Oberwetter and designer Caleb Vanden Boom established independent Chicago-based perfumery Clue in 2022. The brand develops products in-house, by hand, from its local studio and lab. Its fan-favorite scent, With The Candlestick, features top notes of cherry communion wine and cinnamon leaf, middle notes of labdanum, melted wax and burning church incense, plus base notes of hot musk and extinguished candle. Shop Clue Perfume’s With The Candlestick scent online or at The Center of Order and Experimentation (1727 W. Grand Ave.). From $140
Windy City bakeshop Eli’s Cheesecake Company is pouring some sugar on the holiday season with two signature customizable kits stocked with mini cheesecakes, cheesecake slices, chocolate bark, candied pecans, a recipe card and more. Opt for the small board for up to 12 guests or the large kit, which serves 10 to 20 visitors. Whether you’re planning to host or want to treat your loved ones to a decadent charcuterie-style experience, each set has something in store for everyone. From $120
Family-owned Polish distillery Chopin Vodka has partnered with legendary local designer Felicia Ferrone to unveil a set of four handcrafted three-ounce martini glasses and a bottle of Chopin Family Reserve Vodka. Packaged in a chic and giftable box, the collection is designed for the aspiring mixologists in your life. From $670
Give the carnivore in your life a monthly treat with a 4-pack steak subscription from iconic Chicago steakhouse Gene & Georgetti. Each bundle includes a vacuum-packed prime steak of either 8- or 12-ounce filets, 14-ounce New York strips, 20-ounce bone-in ribeyes or 24-ounce T-bone steaks. From $189
What’s more romantic than a couple’s spa experience at the Four Seasons? Having the entire completely renovated spa to yourself after hours. From 8:30 to 11 p.m., you’ll enjoy a couple’s massage on the pool deck with Champagne plus treats from the hotel’s pastry team, followed by private infinity pool and heated whirlpool access, all with stunning city views. From $2,300
Give the aspiring mixologist a gift they will love, with curated, premium-sourced cocktails from local company Hoste. From the Mezcal Negroni to the Gold Fashioned, each ready-to-serve drink has been specially crafted by local cocktail artists to please even the pickiest of connoisseurs, serving up to 10 guests. From $65
Ever dreamt of cooking Italian food like a master chef? Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or just want to polish your pasta-making skills, you and yours (up to 30 people total) can enjoy a private class from two of Chicago’s most experienced Italian chefs at this cooking school on the northwest side. Customers who purchase a $100 electronic gift certificate through Dec. 31 receive an additional $25 bonus card. December rates from $2,500; January rates from $2,000
Nestled just an hour northwest of Chicago on 450 private acres, this luxe getaway can become your group’s private playground for a one-day and night adventure. Indulge in an all-inclusive experience with personalized activities, including ATV adventures, shooting activities, golf and more, plus gourmet meals, relaxation time in the tree-top Silo Spa, and other outdoor adventures. With a private lake, entertainment room, and even winter activities, this A-list favorite offers an unmatched retreat for those seeking opulent seclusion. From $10,000
Step inside this dark, tucked-away eight-seat spot at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, and it’s not hard to imagine the room’s days as a members-only speakeasy during Prohibition. Stocked with vintage spirits and curated whiskies, it’s an atmosphere-packed destination for thoughtful imbibing—and an ideal spot for an exclusive tasting for you and nine of your nearest and dearest. $2,000
Forget the lines at the city’s public skating rinks and book the Peninsula Chicago’s 4th-floor terrace rink for an afternoon or evening with friends, family, or even to propose to that special someone. Skates are included in the fee (with a donation for each skate rental made to two children’s charities), and the rink can accommodate roughly 15 skaters at a time. December rates from $10,000; Jan./Feb. rates from $5,000 (food and beverage minimums apply).
Wear your heart on your sleeve with a little help from CD Peacock’s first in-house jewelry collection, Love and Celebration. The family-owned local jeweler is paying homage to the Windy City with customizable designs inspired by beloved architectural landmarks, including Lincoln Park’s Honeycomb Pavillion, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and the Chicago River bridges. Available in 14-karat or 18-karat yellow, white or rose gold settings with a variety of center diamond sizes and shapes, each ring is designed to commemorate life’s most meaningful moments.
Chicago-based furniture and home accessories brand Jayson Home has partnered with New York City-based artist and designer John Derian to showcase an exclusive line of decoupaged plates. Perfect for antique-obsessed friends and family, the plates feature stunning vintage artwork reproduced under handblown glass in Derian’s studio. From $95
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Local distillery KOVAL has introduced a new addition to its internationally award-winning gin line: KOVAL Cranberry Gin Liqueur. Crafted with all-natural ingredients from organic Midwestern farmers, the fruit-flavored spirit can be used as a base for a number of seasonal cocktails, from cranberry highballs to cran-gin spritzes. From $30
Gift the RPM experience with Lettuce Entertain You’s curated holiday box. The chic package features a bottle of RPM’s savory steak salt, handcrafted bonbons, a signature candle that captures the restaurant’s essence and more. For orders shipped outside Illinois, customers will enjoy two exclusive RPM candles in replacement of a bottle of Giuliana Prosecco. From $95
There’s no more romantic spa setting in Chicago than AIRE, a dimly lit destination featuring a series of hot and cold baths set in a restored factory complete with original exposed brick, wooden beams and industrial columns. AIRE’s most unique offering? The Signature Wine Experience, where you and your partner can submerge yourself completely in antioxidant-rich wine made from Spanish Ribera del Duero red grapes while receiving a cranial massage and, afterward, an hour-long massage with grapeseed oil. From $1300
Chocolate shop Vosges Haut-Chocolat is ringing in the holiday season with its signature Nordic Forest Chalet Chocolate Advent Calendar. Complete with numbered drawers, the calendar celebrates the 25 days until Christmas with daily gifts, including fluffy marshmallows, tart blood orange caramels, buttery toffee, chocolate peppermint gnomes, candied ginger cookies and more. From $325
For the carnivore in your life, this meaty gift just might be the ultimate gesture of affection. Choose your animal, from wild boar, goat and alligator to lamb, pig and more, and Frontier executive chef and 2022 Chopped champion Brian Jupiter and his culinary team will present and serve the entire beast to your group along with delectable sides like 5-cheese mac, Caesar salad, seasonal vegetables and buttered rolls. $400-$1,199
Tucked away off the main dining room of Fulton Market hot spot The Oakville Grill & Cellar, this cozy enclave gives wine country vibes and makes an ideal spot for a tasting experience featuring vintages from top California wineries (including featured December winery Grgich Hills Estate). With room for just six, it’s a memorable gift for the oenophiles in your life. $75 per person (chef-curated charcuterie supplement $48)
Treat museum aficionados of all ages to a plush inspired by Edward Kemeys’ Lion, 1893, from the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection. The iconic sculpture that has welcomed guests to the museum’s gates since its inauguration can now be gifted to loved ones and enjoyed as a huggable toy or a statement home accent piece. From $25
See also: The 7 Best Holiday Lights Displays In Chicago
Photography by: Header by Ekaterina Morozova/iStock, Eli's Cheesecake Company photo courtesy of brand, Cellar Door and RPM photos by Lindsay Eberly; Bunker Hill Farms photo by Kellie Bucci; other photos courtesy of brands