Best Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

If you want to take things in a different direction, head to a local cheese shop for all the fixings for a cheese board or a charcuterie platter. New York City shoppers, don’t miss out on Murray’s Cheese’s impressive collection from around the world. Case in point: This delectable tower, which includes tangy and sweet goat cheese as well as walnut and butterscotch cow milk cheese. For those in other areas, you can still order from the brand’s website but may have to pay for expedited shipping to get your order in time.

For the one who won’t shy away from a good snack, this subscription box from Bokksu is not to be missed. Every box ships directly from Japan and includes an assortment of Japanese sweet and savory snacks, candies, teas, and more. A one-month subscription starts at $40, but for more variety, go for the three-month option.

Each month features a unique theme with treats to match. Past versions have included the “Sakura Story” box, an ode to Japan’s famed cherry blossom season, and a “Night Out in Osaka,” which includes snacks made in Osaka and inspired by its street food.

I bought a three-month subscription for a friend last year (the night before we were meant to swap gifts), and since it, of course, wouldn’t be delivered in time, I printed out a photo instead. I opted for one that was vague—to not give away what’s inside the box—but still enough to get them excited for what was to come.

Thanks to all the food delivery platforms available these days, it’s easier than ever to surprise someone from afar. Choose a gift card to an ordering system of their choice (think DoorDash, Seamless, or Uber Eats), send them a complete meal from a restaurant they love, or simply give a bottle of bubbly to toast the holidays.

For a sweet, thinking-of-you treat, try fresh baked goods from a local bakery or grocery store. Apps like FreshDirect and Instacart can be especially helpful in these instances.

If you haven’t already heard, Sally Rooney’s latest novel, “Intermezzo,” has the reading community abuzz. “Turns out everyone who told me I needed to read Sally Rooney was right,” says Angela Lashbrook, a CR senior multimedia content creator. “The Irish novelist’s latest, ‘Intermezzo,’ focuses on two brothers, a competitive chess player in his early twenties and a lawyer in his mid-thirties, as they repair—and destroy—their fractured relationship in the wake of their father’s death. Romantic entanglements both assist and get in the way of their mutual healing. Despite being only loosely plotted, this character-driven novel is a page-turner.”

“Few recent novels have affected me as much as Angie Cruz’s latest, about a 56-year-old Dominican immigrant in NYC who, after losing a job she’d held for decades, recounts her life story to a job counselor during a series of job coaching sessions,” Lashbrook says. “The protagonist and narrator, Cara Romero, is funny, outlandish, fierce, and wise, and her story is enraging and moving by turns. At only 208 pages, it’s a quick read. I’d recommend it to just about anyone.”

Among my favorite gifts to give are prints of locations that hold a special place in the giftee’s heart. Maybe it’s the restaurant where they had their first date with a significant other or a neighborhood spot they frequent.

John Donohue is the artist behind All the Restaurants, where he features his works depicting various establishments around the country. He draws each in person in ink and spends 20 minutes doing so without erasing any lines. Each limited edition print of a specific restaurant is available in two sizes (sometimes more), with only 365 versions of each. So once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

If you can’t get the print in time, once purchased, the website provides a “Gift Sheet” as a placeholder with a brief explanation of what’s to come.

Fuel their love of all things green with a gift card to Easyplant, an online shop that makes plant care, well, easy. The brand’s signature feature is that its plants come in self-watering pots that take the guesswork out of one of the harder aspects of plant care. The lowest denomination available for a gift card is $50, which is just enough to get them started with their very own potted green.

If you can’t give someone their dream vacation, help them out with their accommodations instead. An Airbnb gift card gives them access to quite literally the world, and who knows, you might just inspire their next big adventure.

One of the coolest aspects of Goldbelly is its spanning network of deliverable goods from world-famous restaurants and chefs. Indulge in crab claws from the iconic Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami, grab a slice (or six) from New York City’s famed John’s of Bleecker Street, or, if you’re feeling decadent, choose a whole brisket from the pitmasters at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas. Craving something sweet? Ina Garten’s coconut cake is a delight on so many levels.

Big Night is a New York City shop that focuses on lifestyle products and entertaining essentials. The store is chock-full of little treasures like olive-shaped candles and elevated takes on everyday items like colorful glassware—and its online shop is no different. Whether your giftee can make it out in person or prefers to shop digitally, they’ll surely delight in discovering all that the brand has to offer.