Tenth hour? 12 shops for last-minute holiday gifts in Montréal!

We know it: You had the best of intentions. You started thinking about it in November! But now you’re down to the wire, the holidays are days away, and you haven’t bought gifts for any of the dozen people on your list. Fear not: you’re in a shopping mecca! Montréal has got it all, the perfect thing for everyone from your second cousin to the lady who walks your dog. Here are 12 stores for the 12 days of Christmas, and the three seconds you have left to buy gifts.

For toys and board games and more

Valet d’coeur is a jam-packed mainstay on St-Denis that brims with hundreds of board games (in both English and French), puzzles, Dungeons and Dragons dice, miniature lead figurines and gaming cards.

For crafts, art supplies and toys

Brault Bouthillier is known by schools, which it supplies, but this giant store on Beaumont is a secret source of art supplies, craft supplies, stuffed toys, balls, books, stickers, puppets, costumes… there isn’t much they don’t have.

For cool knickknacks and home beautification

One of the coolest things about the Quebec home wares chain Zone Maison is how it constantly reinvents itself to keep up – even anticipate – trends. Nowadays, this cool gift emporium carries beautiful bowls, glasses, vases, hooks, linens, lamps and more.

For kitchen tools of every kind

There are few more well-stocked specialist stores in the city. Les Touilleurs, on Laurier Street West, is where you’ll find every obscure kitchen tool the avid cook on your list has been wanting, including the latest and greatest cooking books.

For tasteful and tasty treats

The aroma alone of Maison Christian Faure will have you dreaming of taste sensations. Mine the shop section for international treats including jams, crackers, sweets, meringues, liqueurs – and stop by for a pastry while you’re at it.

For a touch of industrial chic

Got a design freak on your list? Style Labo is the store for you. Whether it’s big industrial sign letters, vintage globes or cute retro-style ceiling lamps, you’ll find a million tempting objects here, all unified by a rugged, vintage aesthetic.

For the unexpected artsy find

Monastiraki is where you should go for that person who has everything, because it’s guaranteed you’ll find something quintessentially original at this colourful gallery/junk shop. How about some original art? Or a 1950s vase? Or a handful of cool zines?

For pictures that speak louder than words

This poster shop in Old Montreal is a repository for sentiment. L’Affichiste is where you’ll find that poster you and your friend sat under in Paris, or the poster of your boyfriend’s favourite movie, or the one by the artist your cousin loves.

For good reads of all kinds

A renowned publisher of local and international comic art, Drawn + Quarterly has one of Montréal’s coolest shops, on Bernard Street in Mile End. They carry all their own titles and way beyond, including novels, calendars and the funniest postcards.

For radios big and small

Layton Audio has reigned over Ste-Catherine Street for over a hundred years, and they continue to sell radios, headphones and speakers you’ll drool over. For that really special person, how about one of the new colours of Tivoli radios?

For custom bling that declares love

The vision of jewellery artist Damian Maya is truly unique, which makes any gift from Argent Tonic, his small jewel of a store on Laurier West, a truly memorable one. The vast selection of rings, bracelets and necklaces has goodies for women and men.

For world-class designer goods

Looking to make an impression? WANT Apothecary is the place for the most tasteful gifts ever, from clothing by Acne to leather goods by WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie and passing by creams, shampoos, socks and gloves – the ultimate stocking stuffers.